FreshNorFreshNor

The freshwater budget of the Nordic Seas

A Nordic research network 2007-2009

Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen

Danish Meteorological Institute

http://freshnor.dmi.dk

Acknowledgement

• Danish Climate Centre, DMI– Jens Hesselbjerg Christensen

• Rossby Centre, SMHI– Ralf Döscher

• Icelandic Meterological Office– Tómas Jóhannesson

• Bjerknes Centre for Climate Research, Norway – Helge Drange

• Institute of Natural Research, Greenland– Søren Rysgaard

Overview

• The freshwater budget of the (Nordic) Arctic– Issues

• State-of-the-art– Oceanic transport– Greenland Ice Sheet– Surface runoff– Atmospheric circulation

• Modeling efforts

The area of interest

1980-1999 2080-2099

Projections of sea-ice change

Source: IPCC

Projections for snow cover

Source: IPCC

Greenland Ice Sheet?

Global sea level

Source: IPCC

Global sea level

Source: IPCC

Salinity trends (1958-1998)

Atlantic Pacific

Indian

World

Positive negative Source: IPCC

Themohaline circulation

Source: IPCC

Project goals• Co-ordinate Nordic modelling efforts on

regional climate aspects within the Nordic countries

• Establish a better freshwater budget for now and in the near future (until about 2050) in the western part of the Arctic– links with terrestrial hydrology

• snow, Greenland ice sheet, smaller ice caps, permafrost

• The role of freshwater changes in the marine ecosystems

Activities

• TASK 1: Break down of the hydrological cycle for Nordic Seas

• TASK 2: Atmospheric contributions to the freshwater budget

• TASK 3: Cryospheric contributions to the hydrological cycle

• TASK 4: Oceanic (including sea-ice) contribution to the freshwater budget

• TASK 5: Land surfaces contribution to the freshwater budget

• TASK 6: The role of changes in the freshwater budget - physical and biological change

Science issues

Science needs

Science needs

Outlook

• First meeting October 18-19, 2007!

• To review Nordic activities

• To establish a platform for further collaboration at a Nordic level

• Plan activities for next year(s)

Full duration of project (3 years) DKK 1.060.000

Year 1 (funding granted for 2007) 300.000Travel for PI’s and board members (10 scientists in total) 60.000

Travel for exchange students (5-8 students in total) 50.000Setting up of web homepage (salary) 45.000

Salaries, 0.5PM per institute (total 2.5PM) 125.000Co-ordination, meetings and reporting activities (co-ordinator) 55.000Year 2 (this application) 360.000

Production of a brochure explaining Nordic climate change work 60.000Travel for PI’s and board members (10 scientists in total) 60.000

Travel for exchange students (4-5 students in total) 30.000Organisation of one Nordic workshop 30.000

Salaries, 0.5PM per institute (total 2.5PM) 125.000Co-ordination, meetings and reporting activities (co-ordinator) 55.000Year 3 400.000

Travel for PI’s and board members (10 scientists in total) 60.000Travel for exchange students (5-8 students in total) 50.000Organisation of an international workshop 50.000Invitation for key note speakers 60.000Salaries, 0.5PM per institute (total 2.5PM) 125.000Co-ordination, meetings and reporting activities (co-ordinator) 55.000

Thank you!