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International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

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Fig. 4.1-2. Students<br />

in Portugal took part<br />

in ice experiments at<br />

the Lisbon Pavilion<br />

of Knowledge for the<br />

launch of IPY.<br />

(Photo: José Xavier)<br />

490<br />

IPY 20 07–20 08<br />

working group prepared and distributed press releases.<br />

The tradition of a virtual ‘balloon launch’ on Tagzania<br />

was also continued for each of the <strong>Polar</strong> Days.<br />

Many of the Days also included ‘live events’ using<br />

various web-casting, video-conferencing and radio<br />

formats (Fig. 4.1-3). During the events, students and<br />

others could speak directly with IPY researchers<br />

and ask questions. Many of these events have been<br />

archived and can be accessed on the IPY website. The<br />

IPO and the EOC Subcommittee worked with different<br />

researchers, partners and collaborators on each of the<br />

<strong>Polar</strong> Days. The Days evolved into <strong>Polar</strong> Weeks due to<br />

their popularity and to incorporate multiple events<br />

and time zones. Highlights of each of the <strong>Polar</strong> Days<br />

are briefly described below.<br />

Sea Ice – 21 September 2007<br />

In September 2007, the National Snow and Ice Data<br />

Center announced that the Arctic summer minimum<br />

sea ice extent was at an all-time low. At this time, the<br />

German vessel <strong>Polar</strong>stern was in the Arctic on a sea ice<br />

research trip that was part of the DAMOCLES project.<br />

At the same time, the Australian-led SIPEX project was<br />

studying sea ice in the Antarctic. SIPEX was part of the<br />

larger IPY-endorsed ASPeCt sea ice research project.<br />

SIPEX involved 45 scientists from eight different<br />

countries, as well as two teachers who developed<br />

educational activities and real-time opportunities<br />

for classrooms and media around the world. The sea<br />

ice <strong>Polar</strong> Day included a live radio interview with sea<br />

ice scientists on board the Australian research vessel<br />

Aurora Australis. Activities related to sea ice, posters,<br />

information about IPY sea ice projects, contact<br />

information for sea ice scientists and relevant links all<br />

were included on the IPY website. The activity flyer<br />

was posted in 18 different languages.<br />

Ice Sheets – 13 December 2007<br />

The December <strong>Polar</strong> Day focused on ice sheets to<br />

take advantage of several IPY Antarctic traverses that<br />

were taking place during the austral summer. Daily<br />

web updates were available from the Norwegian-U.S.<br />

Scientific Traverse of Antarctica, the U.S. <strong>International</strong><br />

Trans-Antarctic Scientific Expedition and the Swedish-<br />

Japanese Traverse. The educational activity flyer was<br />

translated into 19 different languages.<br />

Changing Earth, Past and Present<br />

– 12 March 2007<br />

Changing Earth was based on IPY research into<br />

how the polar regions have changed and continue<br />

to change over a variety of timescales. This <strong>Polar</strong> Day

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