The Polar regions of the world, both north and south, may seem to be barren expanses of snow and ice, but this perception is only a myth. These ice-covered regions of land and sea play a critical role in the heat balance of the planet, and as such are tightly linked to atmospheric and ocean circulation patterns on a global scale. Polar seas and coastal habitats are home to many of the densest aggregations of life on the planet. Within the ice, soil, and rocks of the Arctic and Antarctic lay the keys to the history of the Earth, and important clues about its future. And survival of the cultural heritage of many indigenous peoples is uniquely tied to fragile polar ecosystems. For these reasons and many others, Polar regions will soon receive considerable attention, by researchers and the public alike, during the upcoming International Polar Year (IPY).

The first IPY took place from 1882-1883, and was followed 50 years later by the 2nd IPY. These efforts provided many of the first data sets on the biology, oceanography, meteorology, and climatology of the Arctic, and gave the first hints at the importance of Polar areas. New technology available during the International Geophysical Year (1957-1958) allowed views of these areas from airplanes, satellites, and large, ice-going vessels. Data generated during this effort led to and continue to frame our theories about how polar systems function, and how Polar regions are linked to the warmer areas of the Earth. In 1957 the exploration of Antarctica was in focus. Many nations established winter bases and in 1959 the political legacy of IGY was materialized through the Antarctic Treaty System that regulates activity south of 60° S. Now, 50 years later, unprecedented financial and human resources from countries around the world will be used to enhance the scientific and sociological knowledge of the region; educate a new generation of students in science, engineering, and technology; and increase public awareness of the roles played by polar regions and the threats to their sustainability. Thirty nations have their own national IPY organizing committees, and scientists, educators, and the media from many more countries are expected to participate in IPY activities. So much work has been planned that the ‘year’ has been expanded to two field seasons in each polar environment, and will run from March 2007 to March 2009.

Much has been learned about the Polar regions in the past 50 years, and perhaps the most important is that the integrity of these regions is being threatened by climate change.  Measurements confirm that high latitude areas are already experiencing serious impacts from global warming, including warmer sea and air temperatures, reduced ice cover and ice thickness, and changes in the structure of some ecosystems. Model studies predict that these effects will intensify as climate change will be most pronounced near the poles. Even the most conservative models estimate that the Arctic Ocean will be ice-free during summer within 100 years. A changed Arctic means altered weather and climate patterns, changes in ocean currents, poleward expansion of some species – and potential for extinction of many others. What this will mean for life on Earth, from bacteria to humans, is a main focus of many of the planned research programs for IPY. The upcoming IPY will, then, serve as a catalyst for developing new views of the historical and present-day functioning of Arctic and Antarctic systems to provide insights into their future.

Another reason why this is the right time for the IPY is that human interests in developing the Polar regions is expanding dramatically. Harvesting of biological resources, from krill to fish to whales, is expanding toward both poles. As ice becomes thinner and disappears from some coastal areas in the Arctic, shipping traffic is expected to increase north of the Eurasian and North American land masses. And with increased technology and decreased ice, exploration and extraction of fossil fuels in previously inaccessible areas has already intensified. There will probably be both direct and indirect effects on local ecosystems due to these activities, with consequences for peoples and economies of the regions.

Just as the International Geophysical Year had a lasting impact on Polar science, IPY will have a legacy that extends for decades after the last sample is collected in March 2009. Scientifically, the intense sampling and resulting data sets will fuel many years of analysis and be used to build new models and theories about system function. Literally hundreds of new scientists will be trained in Polar science to enter academic, governmental, and private research institutions. New technologies will be developed to investigate Polar environments, including some that may be useful for extraterrestrial exploration. New networks of research infrastructure (ships, moored observational systems, etc.) will continue to aid research efforts for years to come. Also, enhanced international collaboration on questions of truly global significance will foster closer links in science, education, and technology, among the many nations contributing to IPY activities. Finally, the ambition for IPY is to leave a legacy that gives future generations of scientists easier access to the Arctic.

Tromsø, as the Arctic gateway, will play an important role in IPY activities, largely through funding secured from the Research Council of Norway. Projects with participating institutions from Tromsø that have been identified as likely to receive funding address questions within diverse fields of geology, paleontology, ecosystem studies, oceanography, indigenous populations, contaminant transport and biomagnification, and marine mammals and seabirds. Local research institutions involved include the University of Tromsø, the Norwegian Polar Institute, Akvaplan-niva, the Institute of Marine Research, the Norwegian Institute for Nature, and the Norwegian Institute for Air Research. These institutions have a history of working together, and take advantage of an ideal location and set of infrastructure from which to launch research efforts at both poles.

Links:
International IPY secretariat: http://www.ipy.org
Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research: http://www.scar.org/
Norwegian IPY site: http://www.polaryear.no
US IPY sites: http://www.us-ipy.gov and http://dels.nas.edu/us-ipy/
Canadian IPY site: http://www.ipy-api.ca/

Inuit Circumpolar Conference: http://www.inuitcircumpolar.com
British Antarctic Survey: http://www.antarctica.ac.uk/
Norwegian Antarctic Station: http://pdf.comnap.aq/comnap/comnap.nsf/P/StationsByName/NOtrol

University of Tromsø: http://www.uit.no
Norwegian Polar Institute: http://www.npolar.no
Akvaplan-niva: http://www.akvaplan.niva.no
Institute of Marine Research: http://www.imr.no
Norwegian Institute for Nature Research: http://www.nina.no
Norwegian Institute for Air Research: http://www.nilu.no

Arctic Climate Impact Assessment: http://www.acia.uaf.edu/
United Nations Climate Change site: http://climatechange.unep.net/
European Commission site on climate change:  http://ec.europa.eu/environment/climat/home_en.htm