U.S. Department of the Interior

U.S. Geological Survey

Fact Sheet 2007-3013

February 2007

International Polar Year: Science at the Ends of the Earth

Printed on recycled paper

In response to unprecedented changes in 

the fragile polar regions of our planet, the 

International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 will 

encompass many scientific studies designed 

to improve our understanding of polar change 

and its effects on Earth’s ecosystems and 

people. For 2 years, U.S. Geological Survey 

(USGS) researchers will don arctic gear and 

join scientists from more than 60 countries to 

conduct coordinated research and analysis in 

the Arctic and Antarctic.

Polar regions play a critical role in the global 

climate system—and changing conditions in 

these often remote areas greatly affect biological, atmospheric, and human systems around 

the world. In the 50 years since the last IPY, 

scientists have seen that Antarctic ice shelves 

and glaciers worldwide are thinning and 

retreating, permafrost is thawing, and Arctic 

sea-ice cover is decreasing. The loss of sea-ice 

cover adversely affects marine mammal populations and leaves coastal Alaskan villages 

vulnerable to winter storm erosion. Thawing 

permafrost threatens the integrity of roads, 

buildings, and other vulnerable infrastructure 

and affects the mobility of local populations.

USGS Work in Polar Regions

During the IPY, scientists will conduct 

research at both poles, collecting information on polar conditions and studying their 

interaction with and influence on oceans, the 

atmosphere, land masses, and ecosystems to 

understand current and forecast future global 

climate. The USGS has a long tradition of 

research in the polar regions and, through IPY 

2007-2008, our scientists will lead many polar 

projects, including the ones highlighted here:

Glacier Studies Project

Most of the world’s glaciers have decreased 

in size and volume in the last decade, raising 

sea level globally and depleting centuries-old 

stores of freshwater in high-mountain regions. 

USGS scientists are working with more than 

130 U.S. and foreign researchers to study 

planetwide changes in glaciers as part of the 

U.S. Climate Change Science Program. The 

project will culminate in the production of a 

satellite image atlas of the world’s glaciers, as 

well as coastal-change and glaciological maps 

of Antarctica.

Sea-Ice Change and Arctic Life

The future of many Arctic animals and ecosystems is linked to the fate of the Arctic ice 

pack. At the USGS Alaska Science Center, 

scientists study polar bears, walruses, and 

their essential sea-ice habitats. As ice moves 

farther north or degrades due to climate 

warming, animals are forced to migrate to 

less favorable areas. USGS and Canadian 

scientists have already documented a decline 

in the Western Hudson Bay polar bear population. Researchers are also examining changes 

in freshwater discharges and shifts in the 

distribution of plants, fish, migratory birds, 

and other wildlife. This timely research helps 

provide solid information on which to base 

critical decisions.

Arctic Petroleum Resource Assessment

The USGS World Petroleum Assessment 

of 2000 indicated that a large portion of the 

world’s remaining oil and gas resources may 

occur in the Arctic. In 2003, the USGS began 

a thorough and rigorous assessment of the 

petroleum resources in the Arctic. The first 

results of this study will be completed during 

the IPY.

Landsat 7 Image Mosaic of Antarctica 

(LIMA)

In cooperation with the British Antarctic Survey and the National Aeronautics and Space 

Administration (NASA), the USGS is creating 

a high-quality remotely sensed mosaic of Antarctica from more than 1,200 Landsat scenes. 

The LIMA IPY Web portal will provide a site 

for scientists to view maps, share research 

activities and resources, and distribute data. 

The portal is designed to aid online access to 

the Antarctic Landsat mosaic and the underlying scenes used in the mosaic, which will be 

available for download.

Arctic Permafrost Thawing in the Yukon 

River Basin

USGS scientists are working with U.S. and 

Canadian agencies, universities, and tribes 

to understand and predict climate-induced 

changes to the air, water, land, plants, and animals within the Yukon River Basin. The study 

is a benchmark for understanding and tracking 

changes to biological communities, stored carbon, the water cycle, and human infrastructure 

in the Arctic and sub-Arctic region as a result 

of permafrost thawing and landscape change.

The U.S. Antarctic Photography 

Collection

This is the world’s largest and oldest collection of Antarctic aerial photography, consisting of about 400,000 photos dating back to 

the 1940s. It represents a valuable source of 

historical data. Users will be able to download 

these images from the Internet at no cost.

Benchmark Glacier Program

Glaciers grow and shrink in response to climate variations. USGS scientists are measuring winter snow accumulation, summer snow 

and ice melt, glacier geometry, climate variables, and stream runoff at three U.S. glaciers. 

These glaciers, located in Washington State, 

coastal Alaska, and interior Alaska, represent 

three regions with different climates, each 

containing a large number of glaciers. This 

ongoing 50-year record—the longest such 

record in North America—is improving our 

understanding of the effects of climate change 

on glaciers, water resources, and glacierrelated hazards.

For more information on IPY and related 

USGS activities, please visit: 

http://www.usgs.gov/ipy