WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 HISTORY OF THE INTERNATIONAL POLAR YEAR 1 st IPY 1882/83 initiated by 2 nd Meteorological Congress 11 countries established 14 new research stations in Northern and Southern Polar regions 44 met stations and observatories throughout world carried out special obs during IPY Conducted during cooling period at end of 19 th century 2nd IPY 1932/33 Initiated by IMO 44 nations operating 26 met stations in Northern polar region More emphasis on augmenting existing observing network worldwide, rather than just polar areas Conducted during “warming period” International Geophysical Year 1957/58 WMO/ICSU collaboration in worldwide effort (not just polar) 67 countries, many of 2000 stations established are still in operation Conducted during cooling

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 International Polar Year 2007/08 “Anniversary” of past IPY’s and IGY 14 th World Meteorological Congress (May 2003) approved “Holding of a 3 rd International Polar Year in 2007/08” Acknowledgement of importance of research into processes governing environmental change in the polar regions, and also elaborating monitoring and forecasting systems, taking account of the sensitivity of high latitude regions on our planet to natural and human impacts.

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 WMO SUGGESTIONS FOR IPY Improvement and further development of the WWW GOS in the polar regions, including re-activation of existing and establishing new surface and upper-air synoptic stations, increasing the number of drifting buoys, VOS, and ASAP, particularly in the Southern Ocean, extending the AMDAR programme over the polar regions, and the use of existing components of the space-based subsystem, as well as new operational polar-orbiting satellite series flying with new observational capabilities for polar regions; Enhancement of monitoring of the ozone layer, with an increased spatial and temporal coverage, using ground-based optical remote sensing instrumentation and ozone sondes. Stratospheric aircraft campaigns should be made at both poles with a full complement of measurements necessary to study the chemical and physical properties throughout one to two years period; Intensification of long-term integrated measurement/modelling of the transport of greenhouse gases and aerosols, particularly to the Arctic, and carrying out a study of processes of atmosphere-surface ocean interactions in order to minimize the impact of chemicals on the polar ecology;

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 WMO SUGGESTIONS FOR IPY Assessment of global-to-regional influences on initiation, evolution and predictability of high impact weather events of polar circulation within the framework of the WWRP component programme THORPEX: a Global Atmospheric Research Programme; Establishment of a comprehensive database of polar climate data to carry out specialized studies of current, and assessment and projection of future, climate change in polar regions, as well as investigation of teleconnections between polar regions and the lower latitudes, in an effort to improve implementation of climate prediction, through CLIPS, for more populated areas; Intensification of polar climate studies addressing the role of stratosphere-troposphere coupling, cryospheric processes and feedbacks through which the cryosphere interacts with other components of the climate system; assessment of the impacts of past and future climatic variability and change on components of the cryosphere and their consequences, particularly for global energy and water budgets, frozen ground conditions, sea level change, and the maintenance of polar sea-ice covers in the framework of the WCRP Projects CliC, CLIVAR and SPARC;

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 WMO SUGGESTIONS FOR IPY Investigation of physical processes in polar oceans, such as the formation of deep water, sea ice formation and melting, iceberg discharge, atmosphere-ocean interaction as well as the role of polar oceans in climate change. Establishment of the Arctic Ocean and the Southern Ocean Observing Systems, including the reactivation of existing and the establishment new sea level measurements stations as part of GLOSS, strengthening of the IABP and IPAB ice drifter networks, deployment of ocean moorings, Upward Looking Sonars for ice drift, and Argo floats in Southern Ocean, establishing of research stations on drifting ice and conducting marine expeditions on board ships, icebreakers, submarines, national airborne visual and radar patrols, supplemented by satellites with active and passive microwave sensors, optical scanners and sounding instruments; Further development of capabilities to observe and model or parameterize the hydrological cycle of regions with cold climate, and to achieve quantitative understanding of fresh water input to the Arctic Basin and Southern Ocean. The implementation of an Arctic-HYCOS project should provide data on river input to the Arctic basin over the entire Arctic drainage area.

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 ICSU and International Polar Year 2007/08 (Initial Outline Science Plan April 20, 2004) The official period of the IPY will be from 1 st March 2007 until 1 st March 2009 to allow observations during all seasons, and the possibility two summer field seasons, in each polar region. The geographic focus will extend over latitudes from approximately 60 (50?) deg to the pole, both north and south. Five Themes: (1) To determine the present environmental status of the polar regions by quantifying their spatial and temporal variability. (2) To quantify, and understand, past and present environmental and human change in the polar regions in order to improve predictions (3) To advance our understanding of polar - global teleconnections on all scales, and of the processes controlling these interactions. (4) To investigate the unknowns at the frontiers of science in the polar regions. (5) To use the unique vantage point of the polar regions to develop and enhance observatories studying the Earth's inner core, the Earth's magnetic field, geospace, the Sun and beyond.

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 ICSU and International Polar Year 2007/08 Five emerging observational initiatives serve the scientific themes: (1) A synoptic set of multidisciplinary observations to establish the status of the polar environment in (2)The acquisition of key data sets necessary to understand factors controlling change in the polar environment (3)The establishment of a legacy of multidisciplinary observational networks (4)The launch of internationally coordinated, multidisciplinary expeditions into new scientific frontiers (5) The implementation of polar observatories to study important facets of Planet Earth and beyond

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 Status of knowledge about various elements of polar climate system Oceans: coverage by T/S observations under sea-ice with acceptable resolution remains a challenge – AOOS, ITP, covered in AOSB-CliC prop. -> move ahead Arctic, SO GOOS O-A interface: sea-ice - thickness observation and DA need development (CryoSat), - models exhibit big differences in projections, surface fluxes - huge biases and uncertainty, carbon balance – significant uncertainty, unknown bias. Land – significant changes in cryosphere, problems with hydrological observations; vegetation, land change, carbon cycle, fluxes – all constitute one big problem Atmosphere: polar boundary layer structure unresolved, clouds/radiation exhibit trends, significant biases, smaller scale baric disturbances (several SATs). Stratosphere: massive challenges – dynamic interaction with troposphere, effect of O 3 on climate, unexplained trends in LS humidity, data deficit,…

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 Approach: Circumpolar snapshot, 2-year long, resolving all energetic variability in time and space, including all essential variables for the ocean, land, cryosphere, atmosphere up to high altitudes, beyond “physical” domain (Theme 1) Data work Validation, calibration (the earlier the better) 2-year series data assimilation enabling  polar re-analysis of the whole system for the past (beyond currently on-going efforts),  future projections. (Theme 2)

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 CEOP provides a basis, but what “add- ons” will be needed? Polar regions reference sites (“supersites”): both land-based and in the ocean, multidisciplinary Inclusive approach: circumpolar coverage of the whole column from ocean bottom to the stratosphere encompassing polar vortices, increased attention to all elements of cryosphere (both SH and NH, this can be added to existing survey plans), use of remote and in- situ data to resolve variability of space and time Enhanced data assimilation (include chemistry, cryosphere, ocean, hydrology, C-cycle, etc.) Adequate data policy and management

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 Existing planning elements: Ideas submitted to IPY PG including proposals by AOSB-CliC, SO CLIVAR, US CLIVAR, OASIS, AICI, IPAB, SOLAS, SPARC, Antarctic transects, etc. “Fate of the Polar Cryosphere” based on experience of Canadian “CRYSYS” – state of the cryosphere, precipitation, biogeochemical, human dimension, data management Data management proposals by WMO and CliC, legacy of ACSYS data sets and studies, existing data sets Experience of WCRP/CEOP – CEOPII ( ) ESSP Integrated Regional Studies in the Arctic and Antarctic. IPY is a chance to launch them. This is an excellent bridge to human dimension issues More…

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 Current situation Joint WMO/ICSU Committee – formed, WCRO well represented IPY Program Office - distributed, part in Geneva (+ another country) Letter in October asking for pre-proposals (set format for submission)  Deadline Jan 15  Reviewed by experts on JC and others  Decision mid-June who will be offered official IPY stamp - but there will be follow-on opportunity to submit Data management - WMO and CliC CIPO submissons Aims to put pieces together Must be internationally co-ordinated WMO Intercommission WG - chair Qin Dahe (CMA), WCRP rep. – B. Goodison IPY concept is evolving

WGSF-I, Halifax, October 2004 Summary - ACTION WCRP is organizing a pan-WCRP working group to facilitate its contribution to IPY including planning of coordinated enhanced observations. CliC leads this work BUT WE NEED contacts from the projects (ASAP) We need to know ASAP what you, your agency, colleagues, country are planning as IPY activities/projects that are WCRP related Contacts are V. Ryabinin and B. Goodison and all the volunteers/contributors we can muster We are open to barbs, arrows, darts, and money – as well as comments and suggestions