International Polar Year 200708

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International Polar Year 2007-08
http//us-ipy.org
Polar Research Board www.nas.edu/prb
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Why an IPY now?
Global changes are amplified in the polar regions
The polar regions are changing rapidly. Are we
on the threshold of global change?
Polar regions record global events
Arctic Temperature Change 1961 to 1990
New tools are emerging that enable a new era of
exploration
ODP core
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IPY History
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IGY Accomplishments
Global standardization of techniques
Ionosphere
Ozone layer
Jet stream
Plate tectonics
3-D studies of atmosphere
Van Allen (radiation) belts
EXPLORER 1
Aurora phenomena
Thickness of Antarctic ice sheet
SPUTNIK
Seismic gravimetric transects of Antarctica
Satellites for exploration and remote sensing
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IGY Societal Political
Achievements
Established science as a driving force for
exploration
Promoted cultural awareness
Established permanent observation stations
1959 Antarctic Treaty
Groundbreaking, world-wide, coordinated
scientific enterprise
Synergistic relationship between science
military
Scientific cooperation despite political stress
Importance of governmental sponsorship of science
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IPY 2007-08 Vision
International interdisciplinary research to

• Expand understanding of the key roles of the
  polar regions in the globally-linked environment
• Explore the unknown
• Improve our ability to detect changes
• Communicate knowledge to the public and decision
  makers
• Train the next generation of engineers,
  scientists, and leaders

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PossibleScience Themes
Glaciology
Business
Geophysics
Economics
Biogeochemistry
Understanding Change in the Polar Regions
Health Sciences
Geology
Linguistics
Ecology
Biology
Management
Remote Sensing
Education
Meteorology
Art
Space weather
Exploring New Frontiers
Communication
Oceanography
Sociology
Astronomy
Economics
Geochemistry
Ethnic Studies
Engineering
Anthropology
Paleo-Studies
Psychology
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International Endorsements

• Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)
• Committee of Managers of National Antarctic
  Programmes (COMNAP)
• US Polar Research Board (US-PRB)
• European Polar Board (EPB)
• International Arctic Science Council (IASC)
• Forum of Arctic Operators (FARO)
• US National Aeronautics and Space Administration
  (NASA)
• European Space Agency (ESA)
• Arctic Ocean Science Board (AOSB)
• Arctic and SubArctic Ocean Flux Study (ASOF)
• Arctic Climate Impacts Assessment (ACIA)
• Arctic Science Council

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International Collaboration
IPY Nations as of January 2004

• Argentina
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Canada
• Chile
• China
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• India

• Italy
• Japan
• Russia
• South Africa
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Netherlands
• New Zealand
• Norway
• United Kingdom
• United States of America

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Who is organizing
the US IPY Effort?
US National Committee to the IPY
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IPY Planning Timeline
Community Input
Draft report available for community comment
community agency
planning
input for vision science
Draft input
2004
05
07
08
06
2003
coordination outreach
synthesis, writing, revising
NAS funds planning
International Polar Year
U.S. report publication
U.S. National Committee Organization
U.S. report due to International IPY committee
Committee Action
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For More Information

• Updated IPY information is available from the
  USNC IPY web site at
• http//us-ipy.org