International Polar Year 2007–2008 - WMO

International Polar Decade 1
Eduard Sarukhanian and Odd Rogne
Reviewer:
Anders Karlqvist
Introduction
The idea to launch an International Polar Decade
(IPD), based on scientific advances and lessons learned
during IPY 2007–2008, was first discussed at and
supported by the 60th session of the WMO Executive
Council in June 2008 (WMO, 2008).
The Council recognized the success of IPY’s first year;
the large investments made by governments to this international
campaign and the growing requirements
of the scientific and local communities to continue sustained
observations and research in the polar regions
beyond IPY 2007–2008. Consequently, the Council proposed
that WMO, in consultation with ICSU and other
international organizations, consider the launch of an
International Polar Decade as a long-term program for
research and observations in polar regions.
The IPD idea was subsequently discussed at several
international fora, including the conference, The Arctic:
Observing the Environmental Changes and Facing their
Challenges organized by the European Union (Monaco,
November 2008); the Conference on the IPY Legacy
organized by UNESCO (Monaco, March 2009); and
the workshop, Space and the Arctic sponsored by the
European Commission, European Space Agency (ESA)
and EUMETSAT (The European Organisation for the
Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites, Stockholm,
October 2009).
The IPD initiative was also considered by IASC
(Bergen, March 2009) and by the Sixth Ministerial
Meeting of the Arctic Council (Tromsø, April 2009),
where Ministers representing the eight Arctic States
“welcomed commitments to deliver a lasting legacy
from the IPY and decided to consider the proposal
to arrange an International Polar Decade” (Tromsø
Declaration, 2009). Two weeks earlier, the Antarctic
Treaty Consultative Meeting (April 2009) called
on members to “work with SCAR and COMNAP to
maintain, extend and develop long-term scientific
monitoring and scientific observations in Antarctica
and the surrounding Southern Ocean” (Resolution
9-ATCM XXXII).
Noting the general positive response to the
IPD initiative expressed by the international polar
community, the 61st session of the WMO Executive
Council (June 2009) requested its Panel on Polar
Observations, Research and Services (EC-PORS) to
consider modalities and plans for the IPD, focusing
on decadal needs and issues of long-term character
in order to make recommendations to the Council.
The first session of EC-PORS, held in Ottawa, Canada
in October 2009, was very supportive of launching
the IPD. The session participants recognized the need
to engage a broad spectrum of partners, including
those outside the physical science community (social
sciences, human health research, etc.). They also
noted the significant contribution that space agencies
made to IPY 2007–2008. The next session of EC-PORS,
held in Hobart, Australia in October 2010, was charged
with considering this broader IPD concept based on
communications with interested parties.
IPD scientific requirements
The IPD concept can be developed using the major
findings and conclusions of IPY 2007–2008 as outlined
in the Joint Committee’s Statement (Allison et al.,
2009) and expanded in this Summary Report. The
starting point is recognizing that the polar regions
are an integral and rapidly changing part of the Earth
system and have an influence on the rest of the globe.
Preliminary IPY findings reveal new evidence of the
widespread effects of global warming in the polar
regions inter alia:
• Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing mass,
contributing to the sea level rise.
• The minimum extent of year-round sea ice in the
Arctic decreased during summer 2007 to its lowest
level since satellite records began 30 years ago; an
unprecedented rate of sea-ice drift was observed.
• Large pools of carbon are stored as methane in
permafrost. Thawing permafrost threatens to destabilize
the stored methane, an active greenhouse
gas, and send it into the atmosphere. Substantial
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