International Polar “Year” - March 1,2007 - March 1, 2009

1. International Polar “Year” - March 1,2007 - March 1, 2009

2. The IPY Process • International Level - ICSU planning committee - Bell and Rapley, co-chairs • will create a new joint ICSU-WMO planning group in October, 2004 • National Level - US National Committee for the IPY - Mary Albert, chair • -- US National Committee was charged with writing an initial • document, the “vision report”, produced by the • National Academy • -- A smaller group was convened for an Implementation workshop • in July with government agencies -will produce a smaller • “workshop report”

3. The “Vision Report” • Written by the U.S. National Committee with community input • Released May 19, 2004; Currently being printed • Main Themes: • Understanding Change in Polar Regions • Exploring New Scientific Frontiers • Recommendations call for: • “This wide-ranging program of basic research… will help understand major • geological processes such as sea-floor spreading, explore the subglacial topography • and bedrock geology of regions important for earth’s climate history, map the structure • of the earth’s interior, and explore the links between mantle structure and surface • processes….” • “Invest in new capabilities essential to support interdisciplinary research… • The IPY field component should aggressively seek to further develop innovative • strategies for polar exploration.” • “The IPY should be used as an opportunity to design and implement • multidisciplinary polar observing networks that will provide a long-term perspective”

4. Anomalous Elevation and Uplift History of East Antarctica Deglaciated Topography Geology of East Antarctica Coupled Climate- Ice Sheet Models From DeConto & Pollard [2003] and Fitzsimmons [2003]

5. Seismic Velocity at 150 km depth S wave velocity perturbation (%) Velocity model from M. Ritzwoller & N. Shipiro

6. Implementation Workshop Report • Workshop took place at the National Academy July 8-9 • Purpose was to get agencies involved in IPY planning • and foster communication between agencies • Some of the Agencies involved: NSF, NOAA, USGS • DOE, NASA, State Department • Interesting comments: • NSF -- one area of interest is study of large ice sheets • and the bedrock geology beneath • USGS -- priorities are seismology, geodesy, autonomous • observatories, and a seismic observatory at • the south pole.

7. Outlook • Arctic program will probably fund SEARCH • (Study of Environmental ARctic CHange) • Antarctic program there is a lot of emphasis on • multidisciplinary observing systems • Other items discussed: Science LC-130 • Subglacial Lakes • There is some chance of a special multi-agency • appropriation for IPY • Need to work with agencies to develop plans

8. Large Scale Deployments Now Feasible in Antarctica -- Autonomous sensors deployed for several years -- Continuous recording – broadband sensors -- Use solar and wind power ANUBIS and TAMSEIS deployments (Penn State and Washington University)

9. Structure and Evolution of the Antarctic Plate (SEAP) Workshop • March, 2003 in Boulder CO • ~ 80 participants • Recommendations: • International Program • Establishment of ~10 permanent • seismic stations on the interior • Systematic coverage of • Antarctica with a moving array • Focused experiments in key • regions Figure from B. Kennett, ANU