The UK is doing its bit to support International Polar Year (IPY) ? the largest polar research programme in 50 years.

More than 50,000 people from over 60 nations have joined forces in a co-ordinated scientific effort to gain a better understanding of the North and South Poles and how they relate to climate change, ecosystems and different societies.

nternational Polar Year 2007-08: gaining a better scientific understanding of the North and South Poles

Polar regions uncovered

The International Council for Science (ICSU) and World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) programme focuses on six scientific key areas:

The environmental status of the polar regions
Understanding past change and predicting future change
Links between Polar and global processes
Bringing science frontiers to polar regions
Observing the Earth and Space from the Poles
The sustainability of circumpolar societies.

The official launch of IPY 2007-08 kicks off in March and includes a range of campaigns to educate and involve the public as well as the next generation of scientists and leaders.

International Polar Year in the UK

The UK's IPY launched on 26 February at a ceremony at The Royal Society in London attended by HRH the Princess Royal.

Leading scientists described how the international scientific community will work together to address the serious global threat of climate change, rising sea-levels and the impact these will have on people all over the world.

Climate change: the big issue

Professor Chris Rapley, Director of the British Antarctic Survey (BAS), is one of the architects of International Polar Year.

In a video message from Antarctica he said: "The change of phase from snow and ice to water is the biggest tipping point in the Earth’s system and so, although the International Polar Year covers a huge range of science, for me the big issue is climate change and the impact that it’s having here.

"So, over the next two years, I’m looking forward to major progress on key issues, such as 'How are the ice sheets responding?' and indeed the trillion dollar question from the point of view of sea-level rise, ‘How much, how quickly?'"

Projects across the country

The UK has been a leader in polar science and exploration for more than two centuries, and is playing a major role in IPY.

Around 65 UK institutions ? including 40 universities, research council institutes, government departments, museums and science centres ? are taking part in more than 120 IPY projects across the country.

Brits pushing the frontiers of science

Science and Innovation Minister, Malcolm Wicks, has already visited the BAS's Rothera Research Station between 20-25 February to see first-hand the UK Government-funded facility and its research into global environmental issues for himself.

Commenting on his visit, Wicks said: “The British Antarctic Survey is flying the flag of British science leadership. It's important to see at first-hand British science at its best.

"Polar research has never been more important than now. International Polar Year will push the frontiers of science to help answer pressing global scientific questions."
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国际极地年

图片:2007-08国际极地年：从科学的角度更深入地了解地球两极的状况

目前，英国正在投入精力支持国际极地年50年以来最大规模的极地科考活动。

这项科考活动涉及全球60多个国家，由五万多名英国和外国科学家共同协力完成，其目的是为了深入分析和了解地球南北极的状况以及其对气候变化、生态系统和不同社会形态的影响。

极地考察系列活动

国际科学委员会与世界气象组织希望这次极地科考活动能对以下六个重要方面进行科学考察：

• 两极地区的环境状况

• 了解两极地区以往的变化，并预测将来的发展趋势

• 极地与全球进程

• 将前沿科学运用到极地考察当中

• 从极地观察宇宙的变化

• 极地联合会的可持续性

三月份启动的2007-08国际极地年活动所涉及的一系列考察项目，将为公众和新一代的科 学家及政要提供有价值的研究资料。

国际极地年在英国科考活动

国际极地年在英国的科考活动于2月26日在英国皇家学会于伦敦举办的一个活动仪式上宣布正式启动，皇室公主应邀出席。

国内外的一流科学家在启动仪式上就国际科考小组将如何协力应对气候变化、海平面上升等严峻威胁以及其对全人类所造成的影响进行了陈述。

气候变化问题是头等大事

英国南极调查局局长Chris Rapley博士也是国际极地年科考小组的负责人之一。

Chris Rapley博士来自南极的视频录音这样说道：“从冰雪到水的转化状态是地球系统环境的临界点，因此，尽管国际极地年的考察项目涵盖了大量的科学领域，然而，我认为，气候变化以及其对极地的影响才是关键的问题。所以，在接下来的两年时间里，我将关注一些重要问题的突出进展，如‘冰原的变化趋势’――实际上这是一个价值上万亿美元科研资金的考察海平面上升情况（上涨幅度与上涨速度）的研究项目。”

全国范围内展开活动

英国从事极地研究与探测项目已经有两个多世纪的历史了，是这一方面的领头军，并在国际极地年的科考活动中扮演着重要角色。

目前，英国已经有约65个机构――包括40家高等院校、研究所、政府机构、博物馆和科研 中心――参与了国际极地年的120多个科考项目的研究工作。

推动英国尖端科学的发展

英国科学和革新部部长Malcolm Wicks已经于2月20日至2月25日考察了英国南极调查局 Rothera Station实验室，第一时间了解了由英国政府出资提供的研究设备，并亲自掌握 科研小组在全球环境问题上的进展情况。

谈到此次考察，Wicks说：“英国南极调查局引领着英国科学研究的发展，是英国尖端科学的基地。极地研究进入了一个前所未有的重要阶段。国际极地年将推动发展尖端科技，帮助解答亟待解决的全球性科研难题。”