Land and Sea - Land and Sea - Polar Ecosystems and Climate ChangePolar Ecosystems and Climate Change

Kathy GorskiEinstein Fellow

NSF/Office of Polar Programs

IPY 1 - 1881 to 1884IPY 1 - 1881 to 1884

• First coordinated international effort• Focus on meterology and geophysics• Other events in history

– Jesse James is killed– Twain publishes Huckleberry Finn– Picasso is born– American Red Cross is established by Clara

Barton

IPY 2 - 1932 to 1933IPY 2 - 1932 to 1933• Attention paid to good scientific process• Scientifically, still focused on meterology• Deliberate choice for one calendar year for IPY • Events in history

– Great Depression– Lindbergh’s son kidnapped– FBI Crime Lab and Radio City Music Hall open– FDR’s first “Fireside Chats”– Construction begins for Golden Gatge Bridge

IPY 3 - 1957 to 1958IPY 3 - 1957 to 1958

• Melds with IGY• Interest in ice depths develops• Events in history

– Sputnik launches– “Leave it to Beaver” premieres– Pink Flamingoes are manufactured– “The Music Man” opens on Broadway– TANG breakfast crystals first introduced– The Jim Henson company is founded

IPY 4 - 2007 to 2008IPY 4 - 2007 to 2008• From March 2007 through March 2009

– Provides two research seasons at each pole• Projects >200• People >50,000• Countries >60

IPY GoalsIPY Goals• Assess environmental status and change in polar

regions• Understand past change and predict future change• Link between polar and global processes• Look for new frontiers in science exploration in

polar regions• Use unique vantage point to observe Earth and

space from poles• Examine human dimensions and sustainablity of

circumpolar societies