HR: 16:00h
AN: C32C-01 INVITED     [PDF]
TI: A half century perspective on the International Geophysical Year (IGY) - A Template for the International Polar Year 2007 (IPY 2007)?
AU: * Behrendt, J C
EM: behrendj@colorado.edu
AF: INSTAAR, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0450 United States
AB: In 1956 I sailed for Antarctica to spend 18 months as a graduate student participating in geophysical-glaciological investigations, as part of the 18-month IGY. This led to a career in geophysics, which has taken me to all of the continents and oceans. As we approach the IPY 2007, the changes in technology and our understanding of the earth over the past half century are breathtaking to contemplate. Although 70 countries participated in IGY, the disciplines were restricted to geophysics. Originally the Third Polar Year, the name was changed to IGY in 1952, at the suggestion of Sydney Chapman. The geographical area comprised the entire earth. The highest priority was given to "problems requiring concurrent synoptic observations at many points involving cooperative observations by many stations." One category was reserved for research on topics such as ocean levels, weather patterns, and the distribution of glacier ice "to establish basic information for subsequent comparison at later epochs." IPY 2007 seems such an epoch. A major international efforts was concentrated in Antarctica, although only 12 counties participated. Glaciology, seismology, auroral studies, ionospheric soundings, magnetic field measurements, and other solar-terrestrial, and meteorological observations comprised the scientific station activities. The only major field activities away from the stations were the oversnow geophysical-glaciological traverses, which made seismic measurements of ice thickness and other ice properties; gravity and magnetic anomaly profiles; and determination of snow accumulation and mean annual temperature. The most intensive of the oversnow traverse programs were those of the U.S. and USSR. Geology and topographic mapping were excluded from the Antarctica because of potential complications due to territorial claims and the possibility of mineral resource discoveries. Despite this, significant geologic findings, such as the discovery of the Dufek intrusion, were made by glaciologists and geophysicists with geologic training. Biology was not an IGY discipline, but even in this case, noted ornithologist, Carl Ekland (at Wilkes Station), carried out significant investigations of skuas. Physical oceanographic investigations resulted in geologic and biological sampling of the sea floor as well. A very few of the significant accomplishments of the IGY include the discovery of the Van Allen belts (the symbol of the IGY was a satellite circling the earth); the observation (at Mauna Loa) and recognition of the rapid global increase in carbon dioxide; the first major models of Arctic sea ice formation, decay, and drift; and the mapping of the midocean ridge system. In Antarctica, a first approximation of the mass of the ice sheet including the order of magnitude thicker ice than previously known (4 km) was a highlight. A baseline of mean annual temperatures measured (to about 0.1 degree accuracy) at about 40 km intervals along thousands of km of oversnow traverses was defined. Three World Data Centers were established; scientific results and data were deposited and made freely available to all. The peaceful international cooperation in Antarctica led directly to the signing of the Antarctic Treaty in 1959, with the first disarmament and freedom of inspection and scientific investigations clauses in history, covering a large area of the earth. I anticipate even greater international scientific cooperation from the IPY 2007. A new generation of polar scientists was developed as a result of IGY; a few of us are still active in Antarctic research. A similar result will provide continuity for the next 50 years.
DE: 1700 HISTORY OF GEOPHYSICS
DE: 1827 Glaciology (1863)
DE: 7200 SEISMOLOGY
SC: Cryosphere [C]
MN: 2003 Fall Meeting