International Polar Year 2007-2009Increasing Our Understanding of the Polar Regions

& Raising Awareness of their Global Importance

Martin O. Jeffries

National Science FoundationOffice of Polar Programs

GLOBE WorkshopGallaudet University, 27 June 2007

What is IPY?What is IPY?

International Polar Year will take place between March 2007 and March 2009.

IPY will be a period of intense, coordinated studies of physical, biological, and human and social processes, interactions and feedbacks in the Arctic and Antarctica.

During IPY, researchers will work at the frontiers of polar science to improve our knowledge and understanding of the role of the polar regions in the global environmental system.

Reflecting on the thousands of scientific observations made during the Second Austro-Hungarian Polar Expedition, 1872-1874, Weyprecht wrote: “But whatever interest all these observations may possess, they do not possess the scientific value, even supported by long column of figures, which under other circumstances might have been the case. They only furnish us with a picture of the extreme effects of the forces of Nature in the Arctic regions, but leave us completely in the dark with respect to their causes.” (1875, J. Royal Geogr. Soc., XLV, 1-33.

C. Weyprecht: scientist and co-commander of the 2nd Austro-Hungarian Polar Expedition (1872-1874) from Novaya Zemlya to Franz Josef Land.

C. Weyprecht1838-1881

FRANZ JOSEF LAND

NOVAYA ZEMLYATeg

ethoff t

rack

Carl Weyprecht Carl Weyprecht & The First IPY - I& The First IPY - I

Illustrations courtesy of Kevin Wood, University of Washington, and Jim Overland, NOAA-PMEL, Seattle.

Carl Weyprecht Carl Weyprecht & The First IPY - II& The First IPY - II

Nations should cooperate not compete in the Arctic.

Need coordinated expeditions dedicated to scientific research to achieve not only What and How (knowledge), but also Why (understanding).

Use same instruments and protocols for an observing period of at least one year.

Scientific knowledge and understanding depends on comparison of synchronous observations.

Weyprecht died in 1881, but his ideas were implemented during IPY 1882-83.

Date unknown

12 primary stations12+ auxiliary

United States

Russia

Netherlands

Sweden

Russia

UK/Canada

United States

Denmark

Germany

FinlandAustria Norway

The First IPY, 1882-83The First IPY, 1882-83

The contents of this slide courtesy of Kevin Wood, University of Washington, and Jim Overland, NOAA-PMEL, Seattle.

Results of the First IPY

Wood, K. and J. E. Overland. 2006. Climate Lessons from the First International Polar Year. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, 87, 1685-1697.

IPY 1882-83 data and image collection available at: http://www.arctic.noaa.gov/aro/ipy-1

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Sea level pressure

(mb)

• First analysis of the synchronous meteorological observations (SAT, SLP) recorded during the first IPY.

• Comparison with 30-year reference period 1968-97.

• Comparison with first-person accounts of the Arctic environment in 1882-83.

• Evidence of a strong North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) signature.

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Surface air tem

perature (°C

)

The Second International Polar Year: 1932-1933Magnetic, auroral and meteorological observations at a network of stations in the Arctic and Antarctic would materially advance present knowledge and understanding (of these phenomena) not only within polar regions but in general ... This increased knowledge would be of practical application to problems connected with terrestrial magnetism, marine and aerial navigation, wireless telegraphy and weather forecasting. IPY2 involved 44 nations, which established 40 permanent stations in the Arctic during a period of global economic disruption - the Great Depression.

International Polar YearInternational Polar Year

The International Geophysical Year (IGY): 1957-1958From the centre of the Earth to the centre of the Sun, with an emphasis on the polar regions; Antarctic Treaty, 1961.

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• http://www.cmdl.noaa.gov/obop/spo/igy_history.html

• http://www.nas.edu/history/igy/• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IGY

International Polar YearInternational Polar Year

Stamps for Stamps for IPY 2007-09IPY 2007-09

IPY & Our Changing Polar RegionsIPY & Our Changing Polar Regions The Fourth International Polar Year is not simply the 50th

Anniversary of IGY/IPY3, the 75th Anniversary of IPY2 and the 125th Anniversary of IPY1.

It also occurs at a time of significant environmental change in both polar regions, as exemplified by the changing cryosphere, oceans, terrestrial ecosystems and climate.

Hence the vitally important goal of IPY4 – to improve our knowledge and understanding of the role of the polar regions in the global climate and environmental system. - Why are the polar regions changing so dramatically? - What are the magnitude and consequences of change in the polar

regions? Effects on people, flora, fauna, land, ocean & atmosphere. - How do the polar regions affect the rest of the World? - How does the rest of the World affect the polar regions?

IPY Is Not Just a Research ProgramIPY Is Not Just a Research ProgramIn addition to research programs, the U.S. Vision for IPY, formulated by the US National Committee for IPY (Polar Research Board, National Academies) makes the following recommendations with respect to education and outreach:

1. Develop programs in education and outreach that build on the inherent public interest in the polar regions and

provide a broad lay audience with a deeper understanding of the polar regions;

2. Create opportunities for education, training and outreach for

all age groups that build on existing models, as well as involve the development of new and innovative approaches; and

3. Develop the next generation of researchers, educators, professionals and leaders, and include under-represented and minority groups.

US Vision For IPY: http://books.nap.edu/catalog/11013.html

The IPY HoneycombThe IPY Honeycomb

Today, over 225 projects have been endorsed by the Joint Committee, encompassing ~50,000 researchers and 50-60 nations.

IPY International Programme Office, Cambridge, UK: http://www.ipy.org

US Inter-Agency IPY Web site:http://www.us-ipy.gov/

Canadian IPY Web site:http://www.ipy-api.ca/english/

IPY 2007-2009: SummaryIPY 2007-2009: Summary