International polar year

The international polar Année (API - in English, International Whodunnit Year , IPY) is a recurring event of international collaboration in the field of the study of the polar regions (Arctique and the Antarctic). This “label” was created following the report that the scientific observation of the phenomena Géophysique S and climatological could be done effectively only by the means of an international coordination, either only by nations alone. The first edition was imagined by Karl Weyprecht, a naval officer Austro-Hungarian which considering the project to be carried out forever of alive sound, in 1882-1883. The years 2007 to 2009 are those of the fourth edition.

Various international polar Years

1882-1883

The first API one of the history is organized on the initiative of Karl Weyprecht, which wants to federate the great scientific nations of then. The stakes are vast: all is to be made as regards Climatologie, so that the projects are interested as much in the Météorologie of short term that to the variations of long scale, like with the Géophysique. Twelve countries maintain fifteen observation stations for two years: thirteen forwardings are organized in Arctique, two in the Antarctic.

1932-1933

The idea of one second edition is raised by the World Meteorological Organization, which especially wishes to advance in the study of the magnetic anomalies. Other subjects are evoked, like northern lights, the Jet Stream, the variations in {{exp|18}} O and of course the Meteorology in general. The preliminary draft envisages observations spread out over one year, in the existing stations of the Arctic and the Antarctic. Forty countries are mobilized, but the exhaustive results will be published only in 1951, the Second world war slowing down their analysis.

1956-1957

The third edition is called International Geophysical Année. It was characterized by the massive use of technologies inherited the war and reinvested in the scientific field, to start with the Radar. Many forwardings in the Antarctic are placed under the voluntary coordination of seventy countries, into full Cold war. Into final, twelve countries only maintain sixty-five stations on the southern continent. ACTED leads to the signature of the Traité on the Antarctic in 1959.

2007-2009

Organized by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and the International counsel for science (ICSU), it relates to the Northern Hemisphere as well as the Southern hemisphere, and of which one of the objectives is better to include/understand the driving role of the polar regions in the regulation of the terrestrial climate. Forwardings are largely multi-field. In France, it will request research organizations such as Weather-France, IFREMER, the French polar Institut - Paul Emile Victor, ECA or CNRS.

The goal is to coordinate scientific projects of scale. The operation began on March 1st, 2007 - with its official launch with Paris - and will last until March 1st, 2009. These two years will make it possible to have a complete cycle winter/be with each pole.

This new edition will be also the occasion to sensitize the general public with the central role which the poles in the current environmental problems play. For that, many centers of French scientific culture are mobilized to propose public demonstrations such as exposures, meeting-debates, animations, etc

The next events related to API are described on this page.

The direction is ensured by the professor Chris Rapley and the doctor Robin Bell, under the authority of David Carlson.

See too

Internal bonds

Arctic | the Antarctic
History of the climate
Climate warming: the contemporary concern

External bonds

international polar Year 2007-2008
'' International Year Whodunnit 2007-2008
Site of the IPEV
Site of the operation " Odyssey blanche"
Article of the Le Figaro newspaper on the policy for API the 2007-2008

Random links: