Robin E. Bell, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, 61 Route 9W, Palisades, NY 10964
The International Polar Year 2007-8 is the largest coordinated effort to understand the polar regions in our lifetime. This international program of science, discovery and education involves more than 50,000 scientists from 62 nations. The IPY 2007–2008 Antarctic Earth System Science themes are to determine the polar regions’ present environmental status, to quantify and understand past and present polar change, to advance our understanding of the links between polar regions and the globe, and to investigate the polar frontiers of science. POLENET will capture the status of the polar lithosphere through new instrument arrays, ANDRILL and ACE will focus on past change, PLATES and GATES will advance our understanding of the tele-connections between Antarctica and the global plate circuit, AGAP and SALE-United will study unknown sub-glacial mountains and lakes. A new era of international collaboration will emerge along with a new generation of Antarctic scientists.
