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Thousands
of scientists from 60 countries will be conducting research
during International Polar Year 2007-2008 and will, for
the first time during an International Polar Year, be
armed with satellite measurements offering complete coverage
of the polar regions, which play a vital role in the Earth's
climate and ecosystems.
Having access to near-continuous satellite data of these
regions over long periods of time is important for scientists
to identify and analyze long-term climatic trends and
changes. ESA will provide current and historical data,
dating back 15 years, from its ERS-1, ERS-2 and Envisat
satellites as well as data collected from a number of
non-ESA satellites.
Dr. David Carlson, Director of the International Programe
Office for the Polar Year, predicts many uses of satellite
data: "Many researchers use satellite data as part
of their daily activities. During IPY those researchers
will push to extract more and more information from the
satellites, particularly to understand recent and current
distributions of snow and ice. We will use every form
of satellite data - passive visual, active microwave,
and even sensitive gravity measurements - to understand
changes in the global ice sheets."
Since their advent satellites have contributed to a greater
understanding of polar regions, helped identify the strong
links these regions have with Earth’s terrestrial,
ocean and atmospheric processes and made startling observations.
For example, within days of its launch in 2002, ESA’s
environmental satellite Envisat captured the disintegration
of the Larsen-B ice shelf in Antarctica, surprising scientists
because of the rapid rate at which the shelf broke apart.
International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 aims to enhance
international collaboration in polar region research and
monitoring, link researchers across different fields to
address questions and issues lying beyond the scope of
individual disciplines, ensure data collected under the
IPY are made available in an open and timely manner and
intensify the recovery of relevant historical data and
ensure these also are made openly available.
Legacies of past International Polar Years
IPY has been celebrated three times over the last 125
years – in 1882-1883, 1932-1933 and 1957-1958. Scientific
and exploring programs borne out of each IPY have led
to scientific advancements, new discoveries and an increased
understanding of many geophysical phenomena that influence
the Earth’s global systems.
In addition to setting the first precedent for internationally
coordinated scientific campaigns, past IPY accomplishments
include the establishment of the first year-round research
station inland from the Antarctic coast, the addition
of more Antarctic stations, the initiation of the global
space age and the ratification of the Antarctic Treaty
in 1961, which suspended all territorial claims and designated
the continent as a place for ‘peace and science’.
Dr. Carlson foresees several legacies from this IPY.
"We conduct this IPY with a sense of urgency, driven
by a sense of change. One legacy, driven by that sense
of urgency, will occur as researchers shorten the time
it takes to incorporate new data, such as satellite data,
directly into predictive models. Another legacy will come
from the unique scientific breadth of this IPY, where
social, biological and physical scientists will learn,
in some cases for the first time, how to combine their
ideas and tools to gain a comprehensive understanding
of the polar regions."
Data Opportunity
ESA will provide access to Earth observation data free
of charge to selected projects covering the Arctic and
Antarctic regions. Data, as well as the exploitation of
historical archives, from the following missions will
be made available: ESA’s Envisat, ERS 1 and -2, GOCE
and SMOS (when available) and Third Party Missions including
Japan’s ALOS and the French Space Agency’s (CNES)
Spot-4.
Third Party Mission is a term for an international mission
whose data is also acquired, processed and archived by
ESA's multi-mission ground systems. Data from such missions
are distributed under specific agreements with other space
agencies or mission operators.
ESA is now accepting proposals from users wishing to
obtain the satellite data for scientific research and
application development in support of the IPY 2007-2008.
The deadline for submission is 15 September 2006 with
data delivery beginning in March 2007.
IPY is co-sponsored by the International Council for
Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization
(WMO) and is endorsed by 31 nations. The idea of IPY was
inspired by the Austrian explorer Karl Weyprecht, who
was a scientist and co-commander of the Austro-Hungarian
Polar Expedition of 1872-1874.
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