International Polar Year comes to an end

Scientific folklore used to state that the typical Arctic family is five: two parents, two children and an anthropologist. But northern peoples are now very much involved in the research of their own habitat.

50 years ago scientists from across the globe engaged in a collaborated year long effort called the International Geophysical Year. Today sees the official end of the largest international science collaboration since then — the International Polar Year (IPY).

This massive study has come at a critical time. According to the BBC this "60-country, $1.2bn (£830m) effort has seen knowledge about the poles, and their influence on the rest of the planet, increase hugely. That knowledge is not just about ice and polar bears, but also about Arctic peoples and global climate systems."

Although the IPY has just ended many projects are ongoing, and others are scheduled for future dates. Early results show that "the whole ice/ocean/atmosphere system in both hemispheres is changing faster than we thought." (Dr David Carlson, IPY international office director) Because of this it's expected that similar efforts will become more frequent.

Boat sails free from icy shackles
One interesting project that came to an end as the IPY was starting was a strengthened ice-boat set adrift in the Arctic ice with a 10 man crew on board. The French vessel Tara was allowed to drift across the Arctic, following the track of the Fram, a Norwegian vessel that did it 100 years before.

According to Dr Carlson, "All of our models - how fast the ice drifts, how fast the currents flow, and in fact all our logistics - were based on the fact that it was going to take 30 to 36 months. But it went across in just 14. That was a signal to us that not just ice but the whole Arctic system is in a fundamentally different state than 12 months before."

In other words, big changes have taken place in just 12 months, much to the amazement of scientists, and much to the alarm of ordinary people like you and I who will have to live with the consequences!