FRANCE KICKS OFF IPY RESEARCH

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 PARIS 000902 SIPDIS WHITE HOUSE FOR OSTP DEPT PLS PASS NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION DEPT FOR OES, STAS, OES/OA, OES/EGC, EUR/WE EMBASSIES FOR SCIENCE OFFICERS BRUSSELS FOR ESTH SMITHAM E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: SENV TPHY TSPA TSPL KSCA FR SUBJECT: FRANCE KICKS OFF IPY RESEARCH NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION ¶1. Summary: Following the March 1 launch of the fourth International Polar Year (IPY) in Paris, 70 French research teams plan to participate in 55 approved programs, evidencing keen French interest in glaciology, biology and astronomy in the polar regions. A number of the programs France will lead will add to understanding of polar climate science. In the context of IPY, a French parliamentary group recently evaluated French polar research objectives and organization. The group reported that while French polar research is reputed internationally, it would benefit by in-depth reorganization. The report advocates greater French research in the Arctic and recommends the reinforcement of Italian, German, and French partnerships as an initial step towards the creation of a future European polar research agency. End summary. -------------- A long tradition but fractured organization... -------------- ¶2. A number of public research agencies - the National Center for Scientific Research (CNRS),the French Space Agency (CNES),Meteo France, the French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea (IFREMER) and the French Atomic Commission (CEA) are all active in polar research. Numerous public services are also involved, among them the Foreign and Research Ministries, the French Polar Institute Paul Emile Victor (IPEV),and the French Southern and Antarctic Territories (TAAF). Evaluating funding devoted to polar research in France would be hazardous because of the scattered nature of polar research among agencies and other bodies involved. -------------- A word on IPEV & TAAF... -------------- ¶3. Created in 1992, IPEV represents a grouping of nine public or para-public bodies. It does not conduct research but acts as a resource agency for polar research, providing host infrastructure for scientists in polar regions and organizing expeditions (recruitment of technical staff, chartering vessels, overall organization of French objectives). It also currently engages in oceanographic research programs. IPEV is based in Brest and employs 50 permanent staff. Its budget is modest (approximately 20 million euros per year). The TAAF, established in 1955, represents an overseas territory of France, consisting of several groups of islands in the southern Indian Ocean and a sector of Antarctica. TAAF does not play any role in the Arctic (where there is no French territory). TAAF and IPEV reportedly often compete for scarce resources for similar objectives. -------------- Polar-ready vessels -------------- ¶4. Among the largest European vessels strengthened against ice operating in the polar regions is the French 130 meter, 10,000 ton "Marion Dufresne." Another French vessel used for marine science is the medium-sized polyvalent ice-strengthened "Astrolabe." France has no icebreaker, no polar-ready planes nor helicopters, apart from those based on these two liaison vessels. (None of the French bases in the Austral Ocean can be reached by plane.) -------------- Focus Antarctica -------------- ¶5. French polar research has been mostly focused on Antarctica where the French presence is strong. After the construction of the permanent Dumont d'Urville scientific research station in Terre Adelie in 1956, France built, in partnership with Italy, another permanent base, called Concordia, some 1,000 km from the coast, on the Dome C site (polar ice cap more than 3,200 m thick). The Concordia station, open in 2005, is one of only three permanent bases operating inland. France is currently running some 20 research projects in Antarctica. French and German scientists work together in the French-German Arctic Research Base on Spitsbergen. ¶6. Astronomy: Due to its stable, pure, and dry atmosphere, the Concordia station constitutes an excellent observatory for astronomical observations and is also considered the best site in the world for the visible and infrared domains. France and Italy plan to take advantage of these excellent conditions to develop several astronomical programs. The Stella Antarctica "IPY" program run and supported by French scientists seeks to develop a large international observatory at Dome C. In 2008, A-STEP (Antarctica Search for Transiting Extra-solar Planets),a 40 cm telescope of the Cote d'Azur University of Nice will be installed there to study the seismology of stars and search for transits of exoplanets. ¶7. Other: In addition to biological research, Concordia's location, far removed from the disturbances in the coastal belt, is considered ideal for seismic observations and studies of magnetism. Concordia also supports a range of research on glaciology and atmospherics. The polar instruments for detecting nuclear testing will soon be reinforced and French physicists are planning the installation of two specialized radars for ionospheric observations. The isolation, confinement, and extreme climate, are seen as especially useful in biomedical programs applicable to space flights. -------------- IPY Programs -------------- ¶8. While 70 French research teams - from CNRS, CEA, CNES, IFREMER, Meteo France, the French Museum of Natural History, and universities - will participate in 55 of the 210 multidisciplinary programs officially selected in the context of the new IPY, French scientists will lead six of the labeled IPY programs: - Hydro-sensor-FLOWS (Arctic and Antarctic glacier hydrosystems as natural sensors for recent climatic variations - CNRS leadership); - Developing Arctic modeling and observing capabilities for long-term environmental studies (DAMOCLES - CNRS leadership); funded at EU level (French contribution some 9.3 millions euros). DAMOCLES aims to reduce uncertainties in understanding climate change in the Arctic and impacts; - The Concordia program (French/Italian research station in Antarctica - headed by IPEV); - Ice and snow mass change of both polar regions using GRACE satellite gravimetry - headed by CNRS; - Stella Antarctica program, conducted by the Astrophysics Laboratory of the University of Nice, seeks to develop a large international astronomical observatory at Dome C. - Circumpolar monitoring of the biology of key-species in relation to environmental changes, headed by the Hubert Curien Institute. -------------- Space agencies play their part -------------- ¶9. The French Space Agency, CNES, taking part in IPY, will supply satellite data and help acquire in-situ measurements from balloons. The European Space Agency, ESA, has agreed to make its legacy data available through an extensive earth observation data portfolio containing current and historical data from its ERS 1, ERS 2, and Envisat satellites. ESA has also committed to helping researchers collect satellite information, notably to "understand changes in the global ice sheets." ESA satellite data - including images, microwave data, sensitive gravity measurements - will be provided free of charge and the 48 selected projects from 12 different countries will cover both Arctic and Antarctic areas. The launch of spacecraft Cryosat 2 in 2009 is expected to provide evidence on the rates at which ice cover diminishes in polar regions. ESA also supports the Polar View program, funded through the Earth watch GMES Service Element (GSE) to promote the utilization of satellites for public good and in support of public policy in the areas of sustainable economic development, marine safety, and environment. -------------- Antarctic eco-tourists? -------------- ¶10. According to some observers, IPY could provide opportunities for further evolution of the Antarctic treaty and work on a North Pole treaty. France is concerned about polar region pollution, a phenomenon buttressed by the presence of some 15,000 tourists every year in Antarctica. There appears to be interest in an annex to the 1991 Madrid Protocol, to place greater control on tourism to these hypersensitive regions. -------------- Parliamentarian report -------------- ¶11. The French parliamentary study, released mid-February (http://www.senat.fr/rap/r06-230/r06-230.html ),acknowledges France's prestigious past and current expertise in polar research but also the need to better optimize research efforts. Its main recommendations are based on the following: - Regulatory authorities and responsible ministries lack a clear vision of French strategy in the polar regions. In fact, there is not one single entity responsible for formulating a synthetic strategic vision of the French presence in the poles. - The organization of polar research suffers from conflicting views and lacks complementarity between TAAF and IPEV. - Insufficient means are devoted to polar logistics. - IPEV is gradually losing "polar specificity" because of the emphasis on oceanographic programs (ice core drilling) due to increasing costs to maintain the Marion Dufresne research vessel. - French presence in the Arctic is weak. ¶12. The report recommends reinforcing IPEV's role as "the" coordinator of French research in both polar regions. IPEV should also be responsible for defining the French strategy. Another suggestion is the possibility of designating an ambassador-at-large position to better coordinate French work in polar regions. The report proposes a significant increase of IPEV's financial means. The parliamentarians argue for the transformation of Concordia station into a multidisciplinary research station with a more European/international bent and recommend strengthening astronomical research activities. They additionally advocate the renovation of the Dumont d'Urville station to act "in complementarity" with Concordia. -------------- Not to forget Europe -------------- ¶13. At EU level, the parliamentarians recommended the pooling of terrestrial, air, and maritime means for research and the development of a European network for polar research stations already initiated with ARENA (Antarctic Research European Network for Astrophysics). While the creation of a European polar research agency does not appear likely for the time being because of opposition by the European Commission, the report recommends the use of German and Italian polar cooperation to provide impetus for a shift towards the greater integration of national efforts within the EU. The initial step would be to add German researchers at the French-Italian Concordia station and Italian researchers at the French-German station at Spitzbergen. -------------- -------------- Last but not least: Franco-American Polar Collaboration -------------- -------------- ¶14. Finally, the report underscores "France's rich relationship with the U.S.," e.g., France's participation in the 'IceCube' (neutrino discovery project),French researchers' work in Alaska, French use of U.S. logistical support in various locations. It notes that this relationship could be formalized either through a global agreement or the creation of a joint laboratory "which would be the cement of a long lasting partnership whatever future developments." STAPLETON