The 60-country, $1.2 billion, International Polar Year (IPY) research effort wrapped up on Wednesday at the World Meteorological Organization in Geneva. This multidisciplinary effort, from March 2007 to March 2009, compiled evidence of the widespread effects of global warming in the polar regions, and a better understanding of pollutant transport, species’ evolution, storm formation, and other measures.
At the culmination of this wide-ranging effort, with more than 160 science projects completed, a wrap-up report on the “State of Polar Research” was released. This document describes the discoveries that were made, and outlines ongoing research priorities for the future.
“IPY has provided a critical boost to polar research during a time in which the global environment is changing faster than ever in human history. It now appears clear that the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets are losing mass contributing to sea level rise. Warming in the Antarctic is much more widespread than it was thought prior to the IPY, and it now appears that the rate of ice loss from Greenland is increasing”
The IPY Oslo Science Conference will take place in Oslo, Norway in June 8-12, 2010. This event will further quantify IPY’s accomplishments, and will present the full breadth of IPY activities.
