E-mail Archive

Catlin Arctic Survey 2010; Ocean Acidification

FYI:
Note the deadline is today but please e-mail Tim if you are interested and can't make the deadline since we just received this overnight.

-------- Original Message --------

Dear Ms. Zawoysky,

As the Science Manager at the Catlin Arctic Survey (CAS), I am contacting
you over our next 2010 project on Ocean Acidification.  My background is
as a PhD researcher in molecular bioscience, (Imperial College London, UK;
Showa University, Tokyo, Japan; Institute of Neurology London, UK), with
an MSc in Environmental Technology - Energy (Imperial College London, UK).

In brief, we are a fully-funded team that organizes Arctic-based research
projects, grounded firmly in climate change science.  We have recently
completed the CAS 2009 (www.catlinarcticsurvey.com) and are currently
looking to invite a number of ocean acidification scientists for this
unique opportunity to work alongside our polar guides at our Arctic Ice
Camp (84.30N 70W) for the CAS 2010 (March/April).  Complementary data,
would also be generated by a separate, longer-range field team comprised
solely of explorers.  Full details are given at the end of this email.

We are pressing hard to get an idea of interest and numbers for this
project, thus should you be interested please don't hesitate to contact me
for further details.  I am also taking the liberty of including our
proforma, which should you be interested should be returned by 1st
December,

I look forward to hearing from you,

with regards

Tim Cullingford

--
Tim Cullingford, PhD
Science Manager
Catlin Arctic Survey

Tel: +44 207 015 0711
www.catlinarcticsurvey.com
www.arcticsurveyeducation.com

Catlin Arctic Survey 2009 - overview

The Catlin Arctic Survey ran from February through May of this year and
involved three polar explorers undertaking a scientific expedition to
measure the thickness of snow and ice cover over a transect of the Arctic
Ocean. There were three aims. Firstly to bring back a unique set of data
that would not ordinarily be available to scientists due to the location
and time of year of the study; secondly to increase awareness of the
Arctic Ocean and the rate of sea ice melt to decision makers and the man
on the street via the media; alongside an education programme; and thirdly
to ensure that the data could be used as hard evidence of the fragility of
the Arctic in the run up to COP 15 in December.

The Catlin Arctic Survey, collaborated closely with various scientific
institutions and other bodies to ensure that the data gathering,
scientific protocols and analysis were of the highest standard and
integrity. The University of Cambridge, NASA?s JPL, University College
London, the Naval Postgraduate School in California and the University of
Alberta, were our scientific partners. WWF International and their Arctic
Programme, the Canadian Ice Service, Environment Canada's weather service
and MDA (Radarsat 2) were also heavily involved in the project.

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Catlin Arctic Survey 2010 - overview

2010 sees the Catlin Arctic Survey team working with various different
scientists and scientific organisations to create a comprehensive,
multi-discipline assessment of the Arctic Ocean. The major area of study
for us this year is ocean acidification, with additional research
focussing on sea ice dynamics and snow properties. The major difference
between this project and CAS 2009 being that we are inviting scientists to
work alongside the explorers, to conduct measurements themselves.

Such an explicit bringing together of scientists and explorers has never
before been attempted in the Arctic. The plan currently being executed, is
to set up an Ice Camp several hundred kilometres off the coast of Canada
(84.30?N 70?W) amidst the last remaining section of multi-year ice.
Explorers will act as polar guides to ensure the safety and wellbeing of
scientists, whilst they themselves will be given the opportunity to
collect valuable and unique water sample data from under the ice.
Additional, complementary data, gathered over a much greater surface area
would also be generated by a separate, longer-range field team comprised solely of
explorers heading towards the North Geographic Pole. This transect would
be around 600km long, adding to the data set collected at the Ice Camp.

Given our understanding through discussions with various oceanographers
that CO2 is more easily absorbed in cold waters, the Arctic is the
preferred location for studying the issue of ocean acidification. A common
theme, however, is that obtaining such information is both prohibitively
expensive and logistically very difficult for many scientific
institutions. CAS will therefore provide the infrastructure, framework and
expertise to enable a scientific team to carry out ocean acidification
research on the Arctic Ocean. We will cover all costs, apart from the
travel to and from Resolute Bay (Canadian Arctic) and accommodation for
the short time prior to being flown onto the ice

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