International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

250 were identified to be common to both poles and
the remarkable similarity of the microbial systems between
the poles.
Major outcomes from IPY social science and
humanities research included the multi-level and
adaptive nature of governance of the ‘international
spaces,’ such as Antarctica, the Central Arctic Basin,
High Seas and Outer Space (Shadian and Tennberg,
2009). This outcome originated in large part from the
historical studies of IGY 1957-1958 and previous IPYs
(Barr and Lüdecke, 2010; Elzinga, 2009; Launius et
al., 2010); the celebration of the 50th anniversary of
the Antarctic Treaty and the new role of the United
Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)
in the Arctic Policy debate.
The IPY efforts fostered the recognition of complex
relationships among various drivers of change
through the inclusion of local communities, their
voices and perspectives in the interdisciplinary studies
of climate change. Often more immediate challenges
stem from the many social agents, such as local system
of governance, economic development, break-up in
community support networks and culture shifts. In
certain areas in the Arctic, the purported ‘threat’ of
climate change masks or distorts the impact of more
immediate factors, such as the alienation of property
rights, appropriation of land, disempowerment of
indigenous communities and more restricted resource
management regimes (Konstantinov, 2010). Climate
change, environmental change or global warming
should be considered an added stressor to the already
challenging local conditions.
Theme 4: Frontiers of Science in the
Polar Regions
The fourth theme sought to investigate the
unknowns at the frontiers of science in the polar
regions. While few geographic frontiers remain on
the earth’s surface, scientific frontiers aimed to be
investigated during IPY exist beneath the polar ice
sheets and under the ice-covered oceans, as well as
at the intersections of science disciplines. Targets
proposed during the planning process included:
characterizing of the sub-ice and deep ocean polar
ecosystems, determining the pattern and structure
of polar marine and terrestrial biodiversity, at all
trophic levels, and elucidating the nature of earth’s
crust beneath the polar ice cover. A number of these
frontier questions were addressed during IPY.
During IGY 1957–1958 a large mountain range,
the Gamburtsev Mountains, was discovered by
Fig. 5.1-5. 3D view
of the subglacial
Gamburtsev
Mountains relief from
inverted airborne
gravity data.
(Courtesy: M. Studinger)
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