Research to study global warming in north, south poles
Thousands of scientists from over 60 countries began preparing this week for what is being touted as the largest polar research program in 50 years. With a major focus on global warming, the fourth International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008, a program of the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO) will officially begin on March 1.
Citing February's first phase of the Fourth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), WMO secretary-general Michel Jarraud said the north and south poles are "highly vulnerable to rising temperatures."
Scientists are to carry out 220 science and outreach projects in both the north and south polar regions. UN said the IPY projects will focus on learning about the past, present and future environmental status of the polar regions, while advancing understanding about the interactions between those regions and the rest of the globe.
IPY International Program Office director David Carlson disclosed that the polar research program addresses challenges in "funding, data sharing, and, most importantly, the surprising and rapidly changing nature of the polar regions." He said: "But we have an enormous strength: international enthusiasm and cooperation, at a higher level and across a wider range of science than most of us will see at any other time in our careers. IPY will succeed because of this scientific urgency and energy."
The official international launch ceremony for the research will take place on March 1 in Paris at the Palais de la DГѓВ©couverte. Previous IPY editions took place between 1882-83, 1932-33, and 1957-58.
Source: United Nations
February 28, 2007
Posted in: Antarctica