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International Polar Year
A major international science initiative will begin in March 2007 and run until March 2009. Known as the International Polar Year, the initiative encourages scientists to undertake an intense, coordinated period of interdisciplinary research. The goal is compiling a comprehensive picture of the earth's polar regions at this time.
The polar regions, although remote, have profound significance for the Earth's climate and its oceans. Conditions at the North and South Poles interact with the oceans, atmosphere, and land masses. In turn, these influence environment, ecosystems, and human society the world over.
The first International Polar Year was declared in 1882-1883. Along with subsequent international science initiatives, it produced fundamental changes in our understanding of global processes.
The most recent initiative - the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958 " involved 80,000 scientists from 67 countries. Today's new technologies will further expand scientists" reach into the inhospitable polar regions. Earth observation satellites, computers, remotely operated vehicles and many new scientific techniques can all help deepen our understanding.
Measuring the earth systems of the polar regions is more important now than ever. The poles are highly sensitive to climate change, which appears to be accelerating globally. This raises concerns for the future of polar ecosystems and Arctic societies. Additional goals of the IPY including educating the public about polar regions, and involving a new generation of earth scientists in this important work.
IPY activities and goals are presented through these and other websites.
To visit the W2O's International Polar Year Online Event Site, click here.
To read the World Ocean Observer: International Polar Year 2007 Will Mark a Major Leap in Our Understanding and Appreciation of Polar Ecosystems by Tundi Agardy, PhD., click here.
International Polar Year
History of Polar Years
International Polar Year and the International Space Station
Regional and National Sites
Additional Resources
NOAA Bibliography for the International Polar Year
Polar Discovery - Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
Researchers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) are on their
way to a North Pole ice camp to deploy instruments that will make year-round
observations of the water beneath the Arctic ice cap to learn more about the
changing global climate. The ice camp team is meeting up with a photographer
and writer, who are filing daily dispatches and conducting live teleconferences
with students and museum visitors across the U.S. as part of an education effort
known as “Live from the Poles.”
U.S. Geological Survey
USGS Resources for the International Polar Year
National Science Foundation Office of Polar Programs
U.S. Senate Resolution - International Polar Year
Poles Together Outreach and Education
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada - IPY site
Institute of Arctic Studies, Dartmouth College
Learn more about the Northern peoples and environment in which IPY research
is taking place
ARCUS brings together the distributed human and facilites resources of the Arctic
research community.
History of International Polar Years
First International Polar Year, 1881-1884
Second International Polar Year, 1932-1933
Third International Polar Year / International Geophysical Year, 1957-1958
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