The State of Polar Research

Monday, 02 March 2009 13:31

Multidisciplinary research from the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 provides new evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions. The World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) and the International Council for Science (ICSU) have published The State of Polar Research, providing the latest research and new evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the Polar regions. According to its findings, snow and ice are melting in both Antarctica and the Arctic, affecting human livelihoods and local plant and animal life.

The wide-ranging IPY findings result from more than 160 endorsed science projects assembled from researchers in more than 60 countries. Launched in March 2007, the IPY covers a two-year period to March 2009 to allow for observations during the alternate seasons in both polar regions. A joint project of WMO and ICSU, IPY spearheaded efforts to better monitor and understand the Arctic and Antarctic regions, with international funding support of about US$ 1.2 billion over the two-year period.

“The International Polar Year 2007 – 2008 came at a crossroads for the planet’s future” said Michel Jarraud, Secretary-General of WMO. “The new evidence resulting from polar research will strengthen the scientific basis on which we build future actions.”

Catherine Bréchignac, President of ICSU, adds “the planning for IPY set ambitious goals that have been achieved, and even exceeded, thanks to the tireless efforts, enthusiasm, and imagination of thousands of scientists, working with teachers, artists, and many other collaborators.”

The increased threats posed by climate change make polar research a special priority. The “State of Polar Research” document not only describes some of the striking discoveries during IPY, it also recommends priorities for future action to ensure that society is best informed about ongoing polar change and its likely future evolution and global impacts. A major IPY science conference will take place in Oslo in June 2010.

For more information about IPY, including the “State of Polar Research” report, go to www.ipy.org
For photographs of scientists at work in the Arctic region, on exhibit at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, between 16 February and 23 March 2009, please visit: www.wmo.int/artgallery/
The report is available for download in English, Spanish, French, Russian, German, Norwegian, Portuguese, Inuktitut, Japanese.