PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS ‘The Arctic and the Antarctic have a number of points in common: low temperatures, darkness that lasts for several weeks or months in winter, ‘and enormous expanses of ice. There are several different types of ice at the poles, including “Sea ice, which isa vast expanse of frozen seawater with varying extent and thickness depending on the time of year; Land ice- ice caps, ice sheets, glaciers, ice shelves and icebergs which consis solely of freshwater ce Seaiceandanicebere inthe background b, leecap Ice capsand ice sheets are large expanses of ice formed by the build-up and compression of several layers of snow over time. The difference between the two is that ice caps cover small © areas of land (smaller than 50,000 km) while ice sheets are larger (more than 50,000 km’), usually covering entire landmasses. You can find ice caps in celand and northern Canada, while ice sheets covernearly all of Greenland and Antarctica. Aglacier isa kind of “ce river® that “drains” ice from the interior of the ice sheets into the sea. Where the land meets the water, the ice can extend over the water in the form of an ice shelf As ance shelf slowly grows and advances into the ocean, chunks of ice at the end of it break off (in a process known as calving) and form icebergs. However, once we get past these initial simi larities, it does not take long to realize that the Arcticand the Antarctic are two totally different regions,A PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS ‘The two regions differ in that: *@ The Arctic isan ocean surrounded by land- Canada, Norway, United States (Alaska), Ru Finland, Sweden, Denmark (Greenland) and Iceland- while Antarctica isa continent surrounded by an ocean; ‘@ There are about four million people living inthe Arctic whereas Antarctica has no permanent human inhabitants; ‘@ The political situation is different: Eight sovereign countries as indicated above have territory in the Arctic while the Antarctic Treaty System (which includes the Antarctic Treaty ratified in 2961 and the Madrid Protocol signed inag92) creates a framework that puts the Antarctic outside the control of any particular state and defines itas a continent devoted to peace and science. The word “Arctic” comes from the Greek word “arktik6s” meaning “ofthe bear’, in reference to the constellation Ursa Major also known as the Great Bear which includes the Big Dipper) found in the northern sky. There are at least three ways to define the border of the Arctic: 11.Zone within which air temperature never rises above 10°C during the warmest month, 2. Territory situated inside the Arctic Circle (everything north of 66°33" N); 3. Territory north of the tree line (point at which trees can no longer grow). Asits name suggests, Antarctica s located at the “opposite” (= ant) end of the planet compared tothe Arctic, The Antarctic Convergence, which encircles Antarctica and forms the outer limit of the Antarctic, is where cold Antarctic waters meet with the relatively warmer waters of the subrAntarctic. Geography of the poles The main geographic characteristics ofthe poles are as follows: THE ARCTIC “Geographic North Pole located approximately Inthe centre of the arctic Ocean ‘@0cean covered toa large extent by permanent seaice; ‘@ Holds almost 10% ofall the Earth's continental ice and 7% of the world’s reserves of freshwater; “@ Area: 21 million km (24 million km of which is the arctic Ocean); ‘® Record minimum temperature:-68°C (Verkhoyansk, Siberia). The Arctic(In blue: seaice extent) ‘THE ANTARCTIC ‘Geographic South Pole located more or less in the centre of Antarctica at an altitude of 2,850metres; ‘The continents covered with a thick ice cap up to=5 km thick; “@ Holds 90% of the Earth’s continental ice and ‘over 60% of the planet's freshwater reserves; ‘Area: 14 million km? (with an additional 20 million km: of seaice in winter), ‘Record minimum temperature:-89°C (ostok station, 2983). The Antarctic (In blue: sea ice extent)PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS cy Génerakintroduction to.the.Pdlar Regiens’ » 32 6 36 38 General location and direction ofthe warm surface red)and cold deep water (blue) currentsofthe thermohaline circulation (Map by Robert Simmon, adapted from the IPCC 2001 and Rahmstor! 2002) In spite of the distance separating the two Polar Regions, they both play a major role on aglobal scale, Firstly, they represent the two coldest places on the planet. They prevent the Earth from heating up too quickly since snow on ice reflects 80% of the energy from the sun's rays it receives, unlike the ocean for example, which absorbs most of the energy it receives from the sun. The Polar Regions also help regulate global climate via the thermohaline circulation. Also called the Ocean Conveyor Belt, this global ocean systems created by variations in water density (which varies with water temperature and salinity). f A \ y é 0 Why are Polar Regions important? the past. Analysing ice cores taken from ice sheets Secondly, because the Polar Regions are a kind of archive for the Earth. During its formation, theice trapped air bubbles, which cont of information about the Earth’s climate alot allows us to examine our planet's climate history and better understand the connection between the level of greenhouse gases (GHGs) and average elobal temperature, Thirdly, because they are the regions of the planet where the effects of climate change are the most visible, Polar Regions are our early ‘warning system,Main features of the climate in both Polar Regions are the extreme cold and the long winter, which lasts nine months out of the year in some places. Despite these similarities, however, there are many differences between the climate of the Arctic and the Antarctic. Inthe Arctic, there area number of different climatic regions depending on the latitude, altitude, distance from the coast (the climate is colder inland) and whether there are marine currents in the vicinity. The Antarcticisa very dry continent. nthe heart of theice sheet, there is only 2to § em of precipi- tation per yearn the form of snow. Almost every PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS EN erature uence irre Sr a part of the continent has an average annual temperature lower than minus 25°C. Temperatures are slightly milder at the coast and on the Antarctic. Peninsula than they are inland. The climate on the Sub-Antarctic Islands is warmer still thanks towarm ocean currents, ‘The Polar Regions are important indicators of climate change because the study of ice cores has allowed us to learn more about past climates {air bubbles trapped in the ice at the time it froze on an ice sheet retain all of the information about the composition of the atmosphere at that time}, and because they are the regions where the impacts of climate change have been most apparent. Inwhite-Artic seaiceextentin September 2008 {endof boreal summer n orange, 19792000average ‘minimum summer seaice extent Inwhite-Antarctcsea iceextentin March 2008 {end of austra summer In orange, 1979-2000 average ‘minimum summer seaice extentPRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS Polat_Regions.and Climate Change Climate Change in the Arctic Climate change has been especially noticeable in the Arctic, Temperatures there have increased twiceas quickly as the world average, and according to the latest report from the IPCC (intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - ww ipcc ch) the likely average level of warming in the Arctic will be somewhere between 2and 9°C between now and the end of this century. The impacts of climate change on the Arctic have been threefold ‘® Both the surface area and thickness of the sea ice have been shrinking and scientists are predicting that we may see summer sea ice cover in the Arctic disappear completely some- time between 2023 and 2040 (depending on the projections); ‘@The ice sheet over Greenland is losing mass; ‘ Permafrost-the layer of soil that is permanently frozen n cold regions - is melting, Indigenous people in particular are suffering from these changes. Traditional hunting practices are becoming impossible as the sea ice and ice cover on lakes and other waterways has become dangerously fragile and unpredictable in many areas Inuit vilage The melting of permafrost inthe North can cause permanent damage to existing infrastructures. Polar bear ‘Melting ice also brings other threats to the Arctic Ocean. New shipping routes are opening up. The Arctic subsoil, which is rich in deposits of oil, diamonds, gold, silver, copper, lead and other natural resources, will be much easier to mine and drill once the ice has melted. The inevitable pollution generated by exploiting these resources will only add to the already major problems facing the fragile Arctic environment. As the permafrost thaws roads and houses are collapsing, The polar flora and fauna are also being affected. Polar bears for example already have toswim increasingly longer distances to find food (mainly seals) because their natural habitat - the sea ice is disappearing, The climate change-induced melting of the ice and permafrost in the Arctic in turn causes the climate to change at an accelerated rate. This creates what is called a positive feedback loop because: @Light-coloured snow and ice reflect mostoof the energy they recelve from the sun, while darker ‘ocean water absorbs most of the sun’s energy Itrecelves. As the ice melts, more and more energy is absorbed by the ocean, The resulting warming accelerates the melting of the sea ice. ‘PAs the permafrost melts, it releases carbon dioxide and methane, both greenhouse gases. ‘As their concentration in the atmosphere Increases, so does the temperature, which causes further meltingPRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS el Climate Change in the Antarctic Climate change is also being felt in the Antarctic, albeit ess severely thanin the Arctic. This is due notably to the Antarctic Circumpolar Current, which isolates Antarctica and its massive ice sheet from exposure to warmer waters. The impacts of climate change are most apparent ‘on the Antarctic Peninsula, where the disinte- gration or breakup of some of the large ice shelves such as the Larsen B in 2002 or the Wilkins in 2008 has occurred. In total, itis estimated that more than 23,000 km of Antarctic ice shelf has disappeared in the last 40 years. Climate change has impacted the Antarctic fauna The arrival of species adapted to warmer climates demonstrates that the western part of Antarctica is beginning to feel the effects of “9 warming Another impact has been decreasing krill populations. Krill are small, shrimp-like animals that grow up to about 6 cm. As krill is at the bottom of the food web, their reduced numbers affect many other animals, such as the Adélie penguin, which depend on them for food. ‘Adele penguins Worldwide Consequences of Climate Change in Polar Regions ‘s the temperature increases with global warming, water temperatures increase, which ‘causes the water to expand and take up more space, raising sea levels. Melting land ice (ice caps, ice sheets, glaciers) leads to additional sea level rise (contrary to the melting of seaice, which does not affect sea levels as it already floats on the water, in the same way that ice cubes that melt in aglass of water do not cause itto overfiow). | According to the latest IPCC report, sea levels could increase by 28 to 59 cmby the end of the 2ast century. However, since the publication of this report in 2007, further studies have shown that the Greenland Ice Sheet has melted in the last few years ata fasterrate than previously predicted. Recent forecasts indicate that sea level could rise by one metre by 2300. Sea level rise affects coastal regions as well as islands around the world. The densely populated megadeltas such as the Ganges- Brahmaputra, ‘Mekong and Nile Deltas are especially vulnerable tosea level rise. For reference, ifthe Greenland Ice Sheet were to melt completely, it would raise sea level by ‘7 metres. f the Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt completely, it would raise sea level by 60 metres! By adding freshwater to the oceans, the melting of ce in the Polar Regions could also impact the worldwide ocean currents and consequently global climate regulation. Meking ce covernuit village PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS People-living. in thePolar Regions The Arctic Indigenous peoples have been living in the Arctic. for avery long time. itis believed that, with the ‘exception of the S4mi in northern Scandinavia, most of the first inhabitants of the Arctic originally ‘came from Asia. Most indigenous Arctic peoples have traditionally been nomadic or semi-nomadic, living off the land and sea. Some traditionally hunt and fish, like the Inuit or Aleut, while others practice rein- deer husbandry, like the SAmi or Nenets. They Used to be the sole occupants of their land until recently, having witnessed foreign cultures en- roach on their land and their way of life. While ‘some indigenous peoples have been able to con- tinue leading a traditional life, most have had to adopt different way of life from their ancestors. Many have settled down in one place, ending their traditionally nomadic ways, and seen a loss of traditions and cultural identity to some extent. or another. industrialization, the construction Of roads and pipelines, the melting of the Arctic Seaiice and the introduction of new technologies have had an impact on them, making their tradi- tional way of life increasingly difficult to follow with dramatic social repercussions. Today, many indigenous peoples have become financially dependent on the governments of the countries Where they now find themselves living, There are four million people living in the Arctic today, indigenous people represent a majority ‘of the population in some places such as Green- land and Northern Canada, but are generally a minority in other parts of the Arctic. There are ‘many indigenous populations in the Arctic: ‘Sami, Nenets, Dolgan, Evenk, Yakut, Chukchi, Even, Aleut, Inuit, etc. Many indigenous peoples would like to have their rights and autonomy restored. There have been several encouraging developments in this: ‘@ Greenland, where approximately 80% of the Population is of Inuit origin, was granted a significant level of political autonomy in 3978, although itis still a territory of Denmark ‘In Canada, anew territory, Nunavut (“our land” in nuit), was created in 1999 where 85% of the population is of Inuit origin. “@1n Norway, Finland and Sweden, S4mi people elect representatives to Sami Parliaments; however they only have the power to advise national governments. The national Norwe- gian assembly recognised through law that the Sami culture and languages should receive equal treatment to Norwegian culture. ‘Indigenous people are represented in the Arctic Council, The Ottawa Declaration of 1996 formally established the Arctic Council as a high-level intergovernmental forum to provide a means for promoting cooperation, coordina- tion and interaction among the Arctic states, with the involvement of the Arctic indigenous ‘communities and other Arctic inhabitants in issues that concern them (sustainable develop- ment, environmental protection..). ‘Arcticindigenous peoples are directly affected by climate change. Diminishing sea ice extent and thickness has affected their ability to hunt, melting permafrost has resulted in collapsing infrastructure, and the weather has been becom- ing increasingly unpredictable, indigenous com- munities have been playing a key role in raising awareness on climate change in the Arctic and have been calling on governments to act. Antarctica No one lives in Antarctica ona permanent basis,PRESERVE THE POLAK REGIONS AND GLACIERS The poles have fascinated explorers for centuries. Below and on the next page are some examples of past and recent expeditions to the North and South Poles. 2893 Fridjof Nansen launches an expedition inwhich his ship, the Fram, is allowed todrift inthe Arctic seaice to the North Pole. As the rate of the ce driftis not sufficient, he continues on skis with a companion before finally turning back 380km from the North Pole. 3909 -—_—Robert Peary and Matthew Henson, accompanied by 37 Inuit, are the first people to reach the North Pole. Frederic Cook claims to have accomplished the same feat one year earlier, but after studying their logbooks and position tecords, the US Congress decided that A Peary isthe first tohave conquered . on themain deck the North Pole. Yet its possible that neither of the two actually reached the North Pole. The first half of the 2oth century witnesses a period of systematic exploration of the unknown ‘areas of the Arctic zones. These explorers include ine ‘Arctic Are Fist crossing ofthe arctic rom Siberia Greenland Knud Rasmussen, Lauge Koch and Paul-Emile vathe North Poe by Alam Hubert and Dixie Oansercoerin 2007 Victor. Since 2960, many great adventurers have performed many feats of endurance and daring ‘on the seaice of the Arctic Ocean, including: 19682969 Wally Herbert and three companions ross the Arctic basin from one side tothe other on foot, dragging sledges behind them, 43985 -—_Jean-Louis Etienne reaches the North Pole solo on skis, pulling a pulka 499 Alain Hubert and Didier Goetghebeur reach the North Pole unaided in 94 days, setting out from the Canadian FarNorth, 2002 —_Jean-Louls Etienne is dropped off at the North Pole in his “Polar Observer” survival module. 3007 Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer ski across the Arctic seaiice from Siberia, toGreenland.\ Prestove YE POLAe #tcioNs Ano GLACtEAS frsterpedeants erinthe Exploration at the South Pole 3989 _Jean-Louis Etienneand his team 4773__ James Cookreaches the antarctic complete the longest crossing of Circle. Antarctica (6300 km) in seven months 1820 —_EF.Bellingshausen and his men dis- con dog sledge. coverthat Antarcticaisacontinent. 99 _LivAnesen becomes the first woman 1897-1899 First scientific expedition led by to reach the South Pole soto on skis. Frederick Cook, Roald Amundsen and 1997-1998 Alain Hubert and Dixie Dansercoer ‘Adrien Victor Joseph de Gerlache. ‘ross the whole continent (3,924 kr), ‘Their ship, the Belgica, is the first ‘on skis, using traction kites to propel, vessel to overwinter in Antarctica themselves. ‘Movember The first Japanese Antarctic Expedition 3911, Led by Lt Nobu Shirase sails south aboard the Kainan Maru and lands at the Bay of Whales. December Roald Amundsen and his team are the ae firstto reach the South Pole. January Robert Scott repeats the feat; however 332 drained of all their strength, the entire team of British explorers perish on their way back. 1957-1958 Vivian Fuchs leads a mechanized expedition, making the first complete ‘crossing of the continent. Roald Amundsen: “Tehing an observation atthe polePRESERVE THE POLAR fi Apmencde Weds Plants and animals inthe Polar Regions are adapted to the extreme conditions that prevail there: very low temperatures, strong winds, poor soll that is often frozen solid, long nights inwinter and long days in summer. The flora and fauna in these parts of the world have developed different strategies to stand up to theharsh conditions they livein. For example, plants in these regions are small and grow in clumps to protect themselves from the cold. They tend tobe covered in protective down or grow horizontally rather than vertically to keep. out of the wind, Polar animals are covered with fur, thick plumage or substantial layers of fat or blubber to insulate themselves from the cold. They have small ears and tails so that any loss of body heat is kept to a minimum, While some species may live at both poles, many only live in either the Arctic or the Antarctic. For example, polar bears only live in the Arctic while penguins only live in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore a polar bear and a penguin will never meet one another! Walruses aller vale GIONS AND GLACIERS Sg ieee Flora and Fauna in the Arctic The isothermal limit that defines the Arctic (one within which air temperature never rises above 20°C in July) is more or ess where taiga (coniferous forest ofthe high northern latitudes) ends and tundra steppe-like region having very little and very short vegetation consisting of a few trees growing at ground level, herbaceous plants, moss and lichen) begins. This is whatis knowns the“tree line.” Permafrost ground usually frozen solid at a certain depth-is found in the very north of the taiga and in ll the tundra. Only the topos to ‘metre of the permafrost thaws during the summer, transforming the landscape into a vast, partly melted bogey area where the growing season for plants is limited to just a few weeks. ‘Anumber of mammals live on the tundra, such asthe wolf, Arctic fox, hare, musk ox, reindeer, lemming (small rodent), as well as numerous birds species and several hundred insects. Polar bears live mainly on the sea ice where they hunt seals year-round There is a vast array of marine fauna, including, whales, seals, walruses and seabirds, as well as ‘many fish and invertebrates. During the short window available to breed, phytoplankton (micro- scopic algae) proliferate in incredible numbers and serve as food for kril, various species of tiny crustaceans ranging from 8 mm to7cm in length. To take full advantage ofthis short but very inten- sive period of animal and plant productivity, almost 200 types of birds come to nest in these high latitudes. During this period, the Arcticis home to the largest population of marine birds in the world, reachinginto the millions and including various species such as terns, fulmars, gulls, guillemots, razorbills and many others.PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS. Flora and Fauna in the Antarctic he interior of Antarctica has virtually no life at all. he largest land animal found in the interior of the frozen continent isa wingless insect no ‘more than 12 mm in length. AS far as florais concerned, there are just two lowering plants on the entire continent, and they are located on the Antarctic Peninsula, where the climate is less harsh. Elsewhere on the continent only mosses and lichens are found. This lack of plant life is due to the severity ofthe climate, as well as the fact that nearly the entire continents covered in ice (less than 2% of the landmass is ice-free). arcticTern Chinstrap Penguin (top to bottom) Emperor Penguins Snow Petre Albatros Antarctic life is concentrated in the coastal regions and sub-Antarctc Islands. In fact, flora and fauna in Antarctica are mainly found in marine environments. The cold waters of Antarctica are rich in nutrients carried from the great depths of the Southern Ocean up towards the surface by powerful currents. These nutrients enable a large quantity of microscopic algae to develop, which in turn allows krill to multiply. ‘The surface waters are dominated by penguins, albatrosses, ptrels, seals and whales. Flora and Fauna Common to Both Polar Regions krill and whales live both in the Antarctic and in the Arctic. Different species of seals live in their respective habitats in the Antarctic and Arctic, One species of bird- the Arctic tern travels from one pole to the other each year.‘rele fod web PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS ‘Antarctic food web The Future of Polar Flora and Fauna Climate change affects the flora and the fauna at both poles. This can lead elther to species adapting to these changes or extinction. If one species is threatened, the whole food web canbe affected. The geographic distribution of populations may shift northwards as the climate warms, These are some examples of climate change impacting the floraand fauna in the Arctic: “@Taiga is encroaching into what was once tundra, the habitat of thousands of migratory birds while tundrais shrinkingas there are no colder places for tundra flora and fauna to go; @As the seaice shrinks, so does the polar bear’s habitat and accessibility to its main source of food, seals; “@ Species are migrating north. The red fox for example has been venturing further and further to the north, encroaching on the Arctic fox's normal habitat. Being smaller and less aggressive, the Arctic foxis often unable to compete with the red fox. Other threats to the Nora and fauna include human activities which lead to a loss and disrup- tion of natural habitats (eg. mining, oll and gas exploration, construction of roads and pipe- {ines in the arctic). Human activity also disrupts natural habitats through non-sustainable living resource harvesting such as overfishing and is also responsible for the introduction of harmful pollutants such as PCBs (Polychlorinated biphe- nyls) and mercury, which can accumulate to toxic levelsin animals on top of the food web. ‘The Antarctic Treaty System protects flora and fauna in Antarctica, In contrast, the Arctic has a number of protected areas on land, butvery few marine protected areas, Marine protected areas will become increasingly important as a way to conserve Arctic ecosystems.PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS Polar Regions are of great interest to scientists for several reasons: they are the coldest regions on Earth with huge masses of ice, they area ‘unique environment, they include ecosystems of particular importance and are ideal places to make astronomical observations, What's more, they are our archives of past climates and the regions of the planet where the effects of climate change are the most visible. Research in the Polar Regions Polar research mainly concerns the following fields: “@ Glaclology is the study of ice and snow. For example, glaciologists study the trans: formation of snow into ice, the interactions between air and snow, and permafrost (sol that remains permanently frozen beyond a certain depth). “2 Oceanography is the study of the oceans and the seas. This includes for example ocean currents, the exchanges between oceans and atmosphere and even plate tectonics, “© Geology isthe study of the composition, structure, physical properties, dynamics, and history of the Earth, especially as recorded in materials such as rocks, and the processes by which they are formed, moved, and changed. “@ Seismology is the study of seismic activity (e.g. earthquakes) and the propagation of seismic waves inside the Earth ‘© Biology is the study of life in all its forms: cells, complex organisms (plants and animals) and ecosystems. Microbiology is the study of microorganisms, such as bacteria % Meteorology isthe study of weather. © Climatology isthe study of the climate. ‘ Astronomy is the study of celestial bodies such as stars, planets, moons, asteroids, etc “@ Human science includes every discipline that studies humans and their achievements, eT CS ETE rw POET eR Dome dillplttorm Depending on the field of research, studies are carried out on land or conducted from research ships travelling on the polar oceans. All fields of research are complementary to one another and help us gain a better understanding not only of the Polar Regions, but also of the climate system and of climate change. ‘The study of ce in the Polar Regions has led toa better understanding of current climate change. Ice sheets in Antarctica and in Greenland were formed over millions of years by the accumulation ‘of snow compressed into ce as additional layers ‘of snow built up over time, trapping air bubbles inthe iceas it formed. So by drilling deep into theice sheet, scientists can extract ice cores (cylindrical samples of ice extracted vertically from the ice sheet) and researchers can: © Date the different layers of ce; ‘9 Study the composition of the ice in the different layers, which provides information about the air temperature at the time the ice formed; ‘® Study the air bubbles trapped in the ice, which are representative of the composition of the atmosphere (including greenhouse gases concentrations such as carbon dioxide and methane) at the time theice formed, SeAsa result, scientists have been able to tracea record of the historical evolution of atmospheric temperature and concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. Research carried out at Vostok Station in Antarctica has provided data going back 420,000 years, while more recent research at Dome C (EPICA project: Antarctica) has allowed researchers to look 800,000 years into the past. This has not only allowed scientists to learn about past climates and how climate on Earth has evolved over the past several hundreds of thousands of years, butit has also shown that the temperature on Earth is closely linked to the concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmos- phere, making it possible to forecast how the climate may change in the future as greenhouse gases concentrations continue to rise. Meteorological Station The International Polar Year (IPY) The last two years have been very busy for polar scientists within the framework of the 4th Inter- national Polar Year (IPY), which started in March 2007 and ended in March 2009 (www ipy.org), although some research programmes are still ongoing and most data and conclusions from research conducted during the IPY will not be published until 2020 at the earliest. The gth IPY follows three earlier international polar years organised in 1882-83, 932-33, and 1957-58 also called International Geophysical Year or IGY), The 4th IPY was international in scope, having been organized through the International Council for Science (ICSU) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO).A total of 218 officially 4 endorsed projects have been or still are being carried out, including 135 projects in the Arctic, 37 projects in the Antarctic, and 66 projects covering both poles. In total, some 50,000 technicians and scientists were mobilized during the gth Py.PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS Antarctica: A Continent Dedicated to Research During the international Geophysical Year (\GY) of 1957-58 more than forty permanent scientific bases were builtin Antarctica, The Antarctic Treaty, signed on ast December 1959 by 12 coun: ties (Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Chile, France, Japan, New Zealand, Norway, Russia, South Africa, United kingdom and United States), expanded on the international scientific cooperation that had taken place during the IGY. The signatory countries further expanded the scope of the treaty by adding amendments, including the 1991 Madrid Protocol, which forbids any exploitation of natural mineral and oil reserves in Antarctica until 20g and designates Antarctica asa “a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science.” Today there are 47 signatories to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS) and over 60 active research stations in Antarctica, some of which are manned only during the austral summer, while others manned all year-round, The average total ‘occupation of Antarctica (including all Antarctic stations) during the austral winter s alittle over 11000 people and can rise to over 4000 people during the austral summer. Icesampling and diferent depths Antarcticicecores Research in the Arctic ‘Twelve principal research stations were estab- lished in the Arctic during the frst IPY. In addition to.anumber of noteworthy scientific advances (in meteorology, magnetism, atmospheric and ionospheric sciences), the second IPY saw numer: ‘ous permanent observation stations established in the Arctic. The first base to be built on ice was constructed by the Russians in 2937, close to the North Pole. The Arcticis currently a scientific hotspot because of the important impact that climate ‘change is having on the region, and during the 4th IPY, the indigenous peoples of the Arctic lent their knowledge to a number of research projects. Many research projects during the ‘4th IPY used indigenous peoples’ traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) in conjunction with research in the natural sciences to improve our understanding of the Arctic climate system and find ways for Arctic inhabitants to adapt to the changing climate.PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS Seu Xo} b 2 : E Princess Elisabeth Antarctic research tation The international Polar Foundation (IPF) was created with the aim of providing a novel inter face between science and society. The IPF seeks to bring about a keener appreciation of the role of science and scientific research in the Polar Regions in particular through the re-examination of the world and the impact of human actions on the environment. Co-founded by Belgian explorer and civil engineer Alain Hubert, and Professors Emeriti André Berger, climatologist at the Université Catholique de Louvain, and Hugo Decleir,glaciologist at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, the IPF was established as.a charitable non-profit organisation in 2002. Mission The International Polar Foundation communicates and educates about polar science and polar research as a way to understand key environ- mental and climate mechanisms, The IPF also promotes innovative and multifaceted responses to the complex challenges raised by the need for action on sustainable development. ‘Inform the wider public on the importance of polar research in understanding how the Earth's climate functions, and disseminate the results of research on the Polar Regions and on climate change 4 Educate the wider public by offering new tools and resources that will allow the educational community to efficiently communicate complex ideas to the younger generations. % Demonstrate that action can be taken today inorder to address the causes and adapt our lifestyles in the face of current climate change. To this end, the IPF realizes and offers its sup- port to exemplary sustainable development initiatives. Websites The IPF operates four different websites: ‘® PolarFoundation: Presents the IPF's objectives, structure, projects and accomplishments. www polarfoundation.org ‘® SciencePoles: Popularizes polar science and re- search findings across a variety of disciplines. wwwsciencepoles.org “ EducaPoles: Offers educational tools and projects relating to climate change and the Polar Regions www.educapoles.org “© ExploraPoles: Provides an overview of polar expeditions and explorers and introduces the Polar Regions. www explorapoles.orgPRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS Princess Elisabeth Antarctica First “Zero Emission” Polar Research Station Within the context of the International Polar Year (\PY) 2007-2008 and with a commission from the Belgian Federal Government, the International Polar Foundation set out to design, build and finance, through both private and public sponsor ship, the first “zero emission” station in Antarctica, The Princess Elisabeth station brings together passive building technologies, high-tech energy management controls, renewable energy sources and water treatment facilities into a first ofits kind polar research station. Unique in its design and construction, the Princess Elisabeth station takes us in the right direction with regards to the need to rethink the future in light of climate change, Being the first. “zero emission” station in Antarctica, the Princess Elisabeth Station isa milestone in sustainable development and shows that the climate challenge is not insurmountable where thereis determination and strong collaboration between peoples, sectors and countries, wwwantarcticstation org Chass Zero mission Polaris Climate Change Observatory The Polaris Climate Change Observatory will provide a novel type of communication interface between science and society by making available to the general public the latest information from ongoing research thatis refining our understand- ing of a dynamic and complex system: the Earth. The first Polaris Center Observatory will open to the public in 2022, showcasing the findings of research conducted during the IPY and the latest updates from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). The center will thus ‘ensure the IPY's legacy for future generations. www polarfoundation org Class Zero Emission ‘An Innovative National Educational Programme on Climate Change Initiated by the International Polar Foundation, Class Zero Emission is an interactive workshop designed to educate schoolchildren about the urgency of climate change and the importance of the Polar Regions in the global climate system. Directed towards pupils between 10 and 38 years ‘old, the workshop focuses on 4 themes: climate change, the Polar Regions, polar science & expe- ditions and sustainable development. Each theme is addressed using interactive IPF teaching tools such as 30 puzzles of the Arctic and Antarctic, polar photographs, scientific ex: periments, multimedia animations, films, games, ete, After one year operating in Belgium, the CZE programme will be made available for implementation in other countries. wwweducapoles.orgaN atta Gl Beerese ater) Peete eee LCs Beane coeur eae? Denice) Pee omnes TSeRS TER recne een eet Fey pe‘seb Pa Regn 2 acer wi kif Dd Rac en nen ene cre Belarusskly Dom Pechati nti SOP e Fu} 103:03:2009)tN f a cr Pee aoe eo SS ECCT a CeBulgarska philatelia & Numismatika eeee sein sre ehuny 09 Rae Wade eeeBerensSuomi / Finland [= TTtsar al: 40%30.mm 30x40 mm 28032009 PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS AND GLACIERS « France LA PROTECTION DES POLESKelpuarints addayis Tpooraota Tay ‘Apaunior TTep) PerretJulie Edel Hardenberg Joh. Enschedé Stamps $0.00x4350mm, 29-01-2009 : ED e900. Kalaalit Nunaat —Gronland Sooonnnnnnanannanasasaonnnnnnnnnns=Hungarian Banknote Printing Shareholding Co. pred rey Sree) 27-032009 Preserve the BoteIcnen tc Genes os SRD Et Eee Prater 80x120mmGuruh Ramdhani Biashecs rt Graphic {Gx2s31mm hex 80mm 36032009SRR Tr er (Fy) International Polar Year 2007-2009 ¥ GEXA RWLSS | JAPAN Pera etncnee e cee TeNELC Inet eer is bel ey oma Beret peed 30-06-2009eee renee)i 6) Preserve the) Polar Regions and|Glaciers A A 5 cara SilSEEMS tac) or ROVal oh, Enschedé, Netherlands SESE ONT Curae pray eaeinai Vamasescu 23,500 sheetlets The Postage Stamps Printing House, Bucharest. <33x48mm 330x100mm 23-032009 as PRESERVE THE POLAR REGIONS ANO GLACIERS Catan eT eATPYAST UATasix107aam 11-02-2009 IE THE POLAREREGIONS AND GLACIERS reSiren ea May Mura Meus ere- Participating Postal Admi Andorra www laposte fr Australia www auspost.com.au/stamps Azerbaijan wwwazermarka.az Aland www posten ax Belgid / Belgique wwwphilately post be Bulgaria / Boarapuat www_.bgpost.bg Canada www canadapost.ca/collecting eska Republika www.ceskaposta.cz. Chile www.correas.cl France www.laposte.fr Foroyar wwwstamps,o Hellas www philotelismos.gr Helvetia wwwswisspost.ch/philashop = (= = & = Slitsry istrations Indonesia werw posindonesia coid Island / Iceland wevw stamps is Japan/ Aa wvvw.post japanpost jp Kalaallit Nunaat / Greenland www stamps gl Kazakhstan / KasaKcran www kazpost.kz/en/ Latvija wove pasts.Iv Lietuva wine post It Magyarorszag / Hungary wwe posta.hu/belyeg New Zealand worw.napost.co.nz/stamps Norge wwveposten.no Romania/Romania worwromfilatelia.ro Suomi / Finland www posti.fi/goshopping towable - Credits ne Illustrations introduction: International Polar Foundation: ACEH Text: international Polar Foundation, Grussels Belgium) ‘page’s 7,8, 0, age 23 (Walruses, Lichen), page 24 (Emperor Penguins, Chinstrap Penguin, Snow Petrel), pages, 37 & 20 International Polar Foundation/R. Robert page 4-6 (banner), page right), page 9 bottom left & bottom right), page 3628 (banner), page 28, page 29 International Polar Foundation /G, Chapelle page (lft) Uwe ils page (top left) International Polar Foundation /A. Hubert: page 12(lett) Robert Simmon, adapted from the IPCC 2001 and Rahmstorf 2002: pages NOAAAt The Ends ofthe Earth Collection: page 22 (top) Treasures of the NOAA Library Collection /Archival Photograph by Mtr Steve Nicklas, NOS, NGS: page 32 bottom) Konstantine: page 13-15 (banner) ‘Nain De Broyer: page 23 [Killer Whale) page 24 (Ten, Albatros) International Polar Foundation/A. wilmotte: page 14 (Moss) Gullaume Dargaud 1992-2008; page 16