| IMCOAST is an interdisciplinary, innovative research project, linking causes and effects within the presently observed rapid climate change in the marine coastal environment of the Antarctic Peninsula. IMCOAST builds directly on IPY-34 clicOPEN (climate change in coastal areas of the Antarctic Peninsula), and is planned as a high-resolution investigation focusing on 2 pilot areas King-George Island (KGI). The study site excels through its unique facilities with 9 permanent research stations and a strong background of information on coastal system status and functioning during the past 15 50 years (pending on the type of data). In an integrated, novel approach the team of glaciologists, geochemists, geologists and biologists will study the hierarchical chain of impacts produced by regional warming, the retreat of glaciers on the coastal sedimentary environment, patterns of deposition and sediment transport to the open ocean. Effects of changes in run-off and suspended matter will be linked to the observed shifts in the coastal biosphere, including experimental cause-effect studies of water column and benthic systems. The JRP will also evaluate impact and strength of late Holocene warm phases on the KGI coastal system. A central aim and legacy in IMCOAST will be a joint database for archiving IMCOAST and IPY-34, as well as related KGI data sets, following commonly accepted data archiving and access standards. IMCOAST will strengthen the European and international cooperation since partners from 9 European and 3 South American institutions are involved, each with long standing experience in Antarctic research or with important novel techniques, and by a unique regional data interface. |
