International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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IPY 20 07–20 08
expectations of a ‘step function in activity’ during an
IPY period. For the first time, geophysical observations
of a much greater density and a much larger spatial
scale are available across the polar regions. This
increased observational capacity is the foremost
achievement of the Polar Earth Observing Network
during IPY.
Many of the new data are being provided to the
global science community either in near-real-time via
remote communication systems, or shortly after data
is retrieved from remote sites, and is available through
established archiving facilities. As some data sets
remain sequestered, a challenge remains in meeting
IPY data goals. A broader data-sharing agreement
,and compiling project metadata and data access, are
continuing program goals.
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary
scientific research
As outlined in previous sections, scientific
investigations on a broad range of topics utilizing the
new polar geophysical observations are underway.
Initial results are beginning to emerge as evidenced
by the large number of studies cited here. Results of
particular societal relevance will include prediction
of mass fluxes of polar ice sheets, improved models
of glacial isostatic adjustment, and better modeling
and prediction of sea-level change. Improved
understanding of continental evolution, plate and
intraplate deformation processes, and feedback
processes between ice sheets and the solid earth, will
provide fundamental new insights into the workings
of the polar and global earth systems. Opportunities
for interdisciplinary studies between communities
studying geophysical, climate, atmospheric and
space weather phenomena are provided by new
data sets from sectors of the polar regions where
few measurements have previously been made. The
synoptic scale and scope of the new observational
data will surely lead to serendipitous scientific
discoveries that we have not yet imagined.
Essential to reaching the full potential for
scientific outcomes of the new observational data
are integrated, multidisciplinary analyses. Examples
include integration of geodetic observations with
complementary seismic imaging studies to place new
and robust constraints on solid-earth ‘rebound’, ice
mass change and the contribution of polar ice sheets
to sea level change, and the integration of geodetic
and seismic investigations of glacial earthquakes
to understand what their signals tell us about ice
dynamics and response of ice sheets to climate
change. Geographical integration, combining results
and insights obtained from both poles, is also vital.
Enhanced modeling capabilities must be developed
to integrate data sets, assimilate the improved
data sets and boundary conditions effectively, and
improve model predictions. Providing a framework for
collaborative, interdisciplinary, international research
is a key future challenge for the POLENET programme.
Technical advances
The major challenges of remote deploy ments in
polar regions are to provide year-round power, including
through the several months of darkness at polar
latitudes, to minimize logistical requirements to reach
and maintain stations at very remote locations, and
to operate the instruments in extreme environmental
conditions. Major advances have been made in these
areas during the IPY period. The U.S. National Science
Foundation invested in technical development for this
type of instrumentation. Detailed information from
this effort on engineering developments for GPS deployments
are found in Willis (2008a,b), Johns (2008),
and online from the UNAVCO facility (http://facility.
unavco.org/project_support/polar/remote/remote.
html). Detailed information on new seismic engineering
developments are provided on line by the
PASSCAL Instrument Center (www.passcal.nmt.edu/
content/polar-programs). Best practices information
for autonomous systems construction, power supplies
and satellite communications are provided via
these websites to the polar science community. Additional
development efforts from many nations and
disciplines are described in abstracts from sessions
on instrumentation development in polar regions
that have been held at international meetings, such
as European Geosciences Union annual assemblies,
throughout the IPY period.
Polar outreach and new polar scientists
The POLENET programme has convened a range
of international workshops and thematic sessions
at international geoscience meetings to encourage