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Supporting and training the next generation of researchers is crucial to continuous knowledge and leadership in Arctic research. An increasing number of Arctic organizations have developed initiatives to provide travel support for Early Career Researchers (ECRs) to participate in workshops, conferences and meetings and to network with internationally renowned scientific leaders. However, there has been little evaluation of the effectiveness of these initiatives. As a contribution to the 3rd International Conference on Arctic Research Planning, a study was conducted to analyze the career paths of ECRs who received travel funding from the International Arctic Science Committee between the start of the International Polar Year (2007–2008) and 2013. Two surveys were used: one sent to ECRs who received IASC travel support and one as a specific event study to those unsuccessfully applied for IASC travel support to the IPY 2010 Conference. The results of the surveys indicate that travel support was beneficial to both the research and careers of the respondents, especially if the ECR was engaged with a task or responsibility at the event. Survey responses also included suggestions on how funds could be better used to support the next generation of Arctic researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The research data landscape of the last International Polar Year was dramatically different from its predecessors. Data scientists documented lessons learned about management of large, diverse, andinterdisciplinary datasets to inform future development and practices. Improved, iterative, and adaptive data curation and system development methods to address these challenges will be facilitated by building collaborations locally and globally across the ‘data ecosystem', thus, shaping and sustaining an international data infrastructure to fulfil modern scientific needs and societal expectations. International coordination is necessary to achieve convergence between domain-specific data systems and hence enable multidisciplinary approaches needed to solve the Global Challenges.

The Arctic Ocean boundary monitoring array has been maintained over many years by six research institutes located worldwide. Our approach to Arctic Ocean boundary measurements is generating significant scientific outcomes. However, it is not always easy to access Arctic data. On the basis of our last five years' experience of assembling pan-Arctic boundary data, and considering the success of Argo, I propose that Arctic data policy should be driven by specific scientific-based requirements. Otherwise, it will be hard to implement the International Polar Year data policy. This approach would also help to establish a consensus of future Arctic science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polar information falls into at least six categories: information about researchers, organizations, research facilities, research projects, research datasets, and publications. The management of polar research datasets has been the focus of significant attention in recent years, but it is only one piece of the polar information world. The other information types are needed to provide context to, and extract knowledge from, the raw data. Here, I discuss the possibilities for linking the various types of information categories in Canada to create a truly holistic view of Canadian Arctic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Polar Data Centre of the National Institute of Polar Research has had the responsibility to manage the data for Japan as a National Antarctic Data Centre for the last two decades. During the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008, a considerable number of multidisciplinary metadata that mainly came from IPY-endorsed projects involving Japanese activities were compiled by the data centre. Although long-term stewardship of those amalgamated metadata falls to the data centre, the efforts are in collaboration with the Global Change Master Directory, the Polar Information Commons, and the newly established World Data System of the International Council for Science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The legacy of the International Polar Year 2007–2008 (IPY) includes advances in open data and meaningful progress towards interoperability of data, systems, and standards. Enabled by metadata brokering technologies and by the growing adoption of international metadata standards, federated data search welcomes diversity in Arctic data and recognizes the value of expertise in community data repositories. Federated search enables specialized data holdings to be discovered by broader audiences and complements the role of metadata registries such as the Global Change Master Directory, providing interoperability across the Arctic web-of-repositories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The panarctic region is tightly connected to subarctic regions by through-flowing Atlantic and Pacific water masses and, as such, local changes in ice cover, ocean properties and ecosystem dynamics cannot be fully understood separately from large-scale oceanographic structures and advective processes. The Canadian International Polar Year (IPY) project Canada's Three Oceans (C3O) and the related Joint Ocean Ice Study (JOIS) have collected oceanographic data along a transit extending around northern North America to establish an initial, large-scale baseline against which present and future changes can be gauged. Special focus was given to the shelf and the basin regions of the Canada Basin and the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. We use the first results from physical and geochemical data obtained during the summer of 2007 to discuss linkages between the Arctic and Subarctic domains and trace the cascade of key processes that affect contemporary ocean structure. A review of the literature, combined with these observations, is used to identify early signs of ongoing change throughout the three oceans surrounding northern North America including ocean warming and freshening, seaice melting, increased hypoxia, reduced pH and altered biogeography.[Traduit par la rédaction] L'Arctique boréal est étroitement raccordé au subarctique par des flux transversaux de masses d'eau atlantique et pacifique et, de ce fait, on ne peut pas expliquer complètement les changements locaux dans la couverture de glace, dans les propriétés de l'océan et dans la dynamique des écosystèmes sans tenir compte des structures et des processus d'advection océanographiques à grande échelle. Le projet canadien Les trois océans du Canada (C3O) de l'Année polaire internationale (API) et la Joint Ocean Ice Study (JOIS) connexe ont recueilli des données océanographiques le long d'un trajet contournant le nord de l'Amérique du Nord afin d'établir une base de référence initiale à grande échelle pouvant permettre d'évaluer les changements présents et futurs. On a porté une attention spéciale aux régions de plate-forme continentale et de bassin du Bassin Canada et de l'archipel Arctique canadien. Cet article présente les premiers résultats des données physiques et géochimiques obtenues durant l'été 2007 pour expliciter les liens entre les domaines arctiques et subarctiques et décrire la cascade de processus clés qui influencent la structure océanique contemporaine. Nous examinons la documentation, que nous utilisons de pair avec ces observations, pour identifier les signes avant-coureurs des changements en cours dans les trois océans bordant le nord de l'Amérique du Nord, notamment le réchauffement et le refroidissement des océans, la fonte de la glace de mer, l'accroissement de l'hypoxie, la réduction du pH et la modification de la biogéographie. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Circumpolar Flaw Lead (CFL) system study is a Canadian-led International Polar Year (IPY) initiative with over 350 participants from 27 countries. The study is multidisciplinary in nature, integrating physical sciences, biological sciences and Inuvialuit traditional knowledge. The CFL study is designed to investigate the importance of changing climate processes in the flaw lead system of the northern hemisphere on the physical, biogeochemical and biological components of the Arctic marine system. The circumpolar flaw lead is a perennial characteristic of the Arctic throughout the winter season and forms when the mobile multi-year (MY) pack ice moves away from coastal fast ice, creating recurrent and interconnected polynyas in the Norwegian, Icelandic, North American and Siberian sectors of the Arctic. The CFL study was 293 days in duration and involved the overwintering of the Canadian research icebreaker CCGS Amundsen in the Cape Bathurst flaw lead throughout the annual sea-ice cycle of 2007-2008.In this paper we provide an introduction to the CFL project and then use preliminary data from the field season to describe the physical flaw lead system, as observed during the CFL overwintering project. Preliminary data show that ocean circulation is affected by eddy propagation into Amundsen Gulf (AG). Upwelling features arising along the ice edge and along abrupt topography are also detected and identified as important processes that bring nutrient rich waters up to the euphotic zone. Analysis of sea-ice relative vorticity and sea-ice area by ice type in the AG during the CFL study illustrates increased variability in ice vorticity in late autumn 2007 and an increase in new and young ice areas in the AG during winter. Analysis of atmospheric data show that a strong northeast-southwest pressure gradient present over the AG in autumn may be a synoptic-scale atmospheric response to sensible and latent heat fluxes arising from areas of open water persisting into late November 2007. The median atmospheric boundary layer temperature profile over the Cape Bathurst flaw lead during the winter season was stable but much less so when compared to Russian ice island stations.[Traduit par la rédaction] L'étude du système du chenal de séparation circumpolaire (CSC) est une initiative de l'Année polaire internationale (API) menée par le Canada et à laquelle 350 participants provenant de 27 pays ont pris part. L'étude, de nature multidisciplinaire, fait appel aux sciences physiques et biologiques ainsi qu'au savoir traditionnel Inuvialuit. L'étude du CSC vise à examiner les répercussions des processus climatiques changeants dans le système du chenal de séparation de l'hémisphère Nord sur les composantes physiques, biogéochimiques et biologiques du système marin arctique. Le CSC est une caractéristique permanente de l'Arctique durant la saison d'hiver et se forme quand la banquise mobile de glace de plusieurs années s'éloigne de la banquise côtière fixe en créant des polynies récurrentes et interconnectées dans les secteurs norvégien, islandais, nord-américain et sibérien de l'Arctique. Pour mener l'étude du CSC, qui a duré 293 jours, le brise-glace de recherche canadien NGCC Amundsen est demeuré dans le chenal de séparation du cap Bathurst tout l'hiver, c'est-à-dire pendant tout le cycle annuel des glaces de mer de 2007-2008.Dans cet article, nous fournissons une introduction au projet du CSC, puis nous utilisons les données préliminaires de la saison sur le terrain pour décrire le système physique du chenal de séparation, tel qu'observé durant l'hiver du projet du CSC. Les données préliminaires montrent que la circulation océanique est influencée par la propagation de tourbillon dans le golfe d'Amundsen (GA). Des caractéristiques de remontée d'eau le long de la lisière des glaces et le long d'éléments topographiques abrupts ont aussi été observées et identifiées comme des processus importants apportant des eaux riches en nutriments jusqu'à la zone euphotique. L'analyse de la vorticité relative de la glace de mer et de la superficie de la glace de mer par type dans le GA durant l'étude du CSC révèle une variabilité accrue dans la vorticité de la glace à la fin de l'automne 2007 et un accroissement des superficies de nouvelle et de jeune glace dans le GA durant l'hiver. L'analyse des données atmosphériques montre que la présence d'un fort gradient de pression nord est - sud ouest au-dessus du GA en automne peut être une réponse atmosphérique d'échelle synoptique aux flux de chaleur sensible et latente à partir des zones d'eaux libres qui ont persisté jusque vers la fin de novembre 2007. Le profil thermique de la couche limite atmosphérique médiane au-dessus du chenal de séparation du cap Bathurst durant la saison hivernale était stable, mais beaucoup moins que les profils observés aux stations des îles de glace russes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The International Polar Year 2007–2008 (IPY) has provided an opportunity for biology to show itself as an important part of Antarctic science in a manner in which it was not seen during earlier Polar Years. Of the 15 endorsed biological projects in Antarctica, 7 included more than 20 scientists and could be deemed truly international. Four were conducted in the marine environment, and one each in the fields of biological invasions, microbial ecology, and terrestrial ecology, and one was SCAR’s over-arching ‘Evolution and Biodiversity in the Antarctic’. The marine projects have left a robust legacy of data for future research into the consequences of environmental change, and into future decisions about marine protected areas. Studies on introductions of exotic organisms reveal an ever-present threat to the warmer parts of the high-latitude Southern Ocean, or parts which might become warmer with climate change. Studies on microbial ecology reveal great complexity of ecosystems with high numbers of unknown species. Terrestrial research has shown how vulnerable the Antarctic is to accidental introductions, and how productive the soils can be under changed climate conditions. Antarctic biology has come-of-age during IPY 2007–2008 and the campaign has set the scene for future research. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Transdisciplinary Research Integration Center (TRIC) advances the basic objectives under the umbrella of the Research Organization of Information and Systems (ROIS). The TRIC co-ordinates the development of novel fields of research within the Inter-University Research Institute Corporation of Japan. The TRIC program fosters integrated research and develops information platforms that support the quest for new paradigms in the fields of Earth science and life systems. The project, “Environmental and Genetic Approach for Life on Earth with a Study of Relevant Modeling and Prediction Techniques (EAGLE)” began under the TRIC program in 2005. The goal of the EAGLE project is to improve our understanding of ecosystems on Earth and to investigate the mechanisms leading to the evolution of life and the adaptation of species as a result of past environmental changes. The EAGLE project is also positioned as a national project of the “Microbiological and Ecological Responses to Global Environmental Changes in polar regions (MERGE) program”, so called, “MERGE-Japan” which was initiated as part of the International Polar Year (IPY, 2007–2008). A general outline of the current achievements and discussion of the EAGLE project during the IPY period are presented in this progress report. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: As a contribution to the International Polar Year program MERGE (Microbiological and Ecological Responses to Global Environmental change in polar regions), studies were conducted on the terrestrial and aquatic microbial ecosystems of northern Canada (details at: http://www.cen.ulaval.ca/merge/). The habitats included permafrost soils, saline coldwater springs, supraglacial lakes on ice shelves, epishelf lakes in fjords, deep meromictic lakes, and shallow lakes, ponds and streams. Microbiological samples from each habitat were analysed by HPLC pigment assays, light and fluorescence microscopy, and DNA sequencing. The results show a remarkably diverse microflora of viruses, Archaea (including ammonium oxidisers and methanotrophs), Bacteria (including filamentous sulfur-oxidisers in a saline spring and benthic mats of Cyanobacteria in many waterbodies), and protists (including microbial eukaryotes in snowbanks and ciliates in ice-dammed lakes). In summer 2008, we recorded extreme warming at Ward Hunt Island and vicinity, the northern limit of the Canadian high Arctic, with air temperatures up to 20.5°C. This was accompanied by pronounced changes in microbial habitats: deepening of the permafrost active layer; loss of perennial lake ice and sea ice; loss of ice-dammed freshwater lakes; and 23% loss of total ice shelf area, including complete break-up and loss of the Markham Ice Shelf cryo-ecosystem. These observations underscore the vulnerability of Arctic microbial ecosystems to ongoing climate change. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: An integrated program, “Microbiological and ecological responses to global environmental changes in polar regions” (MERGE), was proposed in the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007–2008 and endorsed by the IPY committee as a coordinating proposal. MERGE hosts original proposals to the IPY and facilitates their funding. MERGE selected three key questions to produce scientific achievements. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms in terrestrial, lacustrine, and supraglacial habitats were targeted according to diversity and biogeography; food webs and ecosystem evolution; and linkages between biological, chemical, and physical processes in the supraglacial biome. MERGE hosted 13 original and seven additional proposals, with two full proposals. It respected the priorities and achievements of the individual proposals and aimed to unify their significant results. Ideas and projects followed a bottom-up rather than a top-down approach. We intend to inform the MERGE community of the initial results and encourage ongoing collaboration. Scientists from non-polar regions have also participated and are encouraged to remain involved in MERGE. MERGE is formed by scientists from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Egypt, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Spain, UK, Uruguay, USA, and Vietnam, and associates from Chile, Denmark, Netherlands, and Norway. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: The Global Interagency IPY Polar Snapshot Year (GIIPSY), the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Space Task Group (STG) for the International Polar Year (IPY), and the Integrated Global Observing Strategy Cryosphere Theme are related projects involved in the implementation of recommendations for spaceborne observations during the IPY. Science requirements are being compiled by GIIPSY and IGOS Cryosphere, which are also seeking to identify ways in which the resources of space-faring countries can be used to achieve the scientific objectives without putting undue burden on any single organization. The STG brings together space agencies from around the world to coordinate their IPY activities. Thus far, the space agencies have worked to develop IPY data ‘portfolios’ that, in total, aim to satisfy a significant number of scientific requirements. The data legacy and the experience gained in developing scientific consensus and space agency collaborations will provide a strong foundation for the continued observations planned through IGOS Cryosphere. This paper discusses the progress made by GIIPSY, STG and IGOS Cryosphere entities in coordinating international efforts to collect spaceborne ‘snapshots’ of the polar regions during the IPY, and in establishing a preliminary structure for sustaining observations into the future. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

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The article discusses the 2007-2008 International Polar Year (IPY), a period during which an international effort will be made to raise funds and explore solutions to many of the problems facing the world's polar regions. The author explores the scientific advancements that have been made since the last IPY in 1957-1958, especially with the advent of supercomputers. Several research topics related to the polar regions are discussed including the migration of the polar ice caps.

The article focuses on the International Polar Year of 2007-2008, international and collaborative science and outreach in Polar regions. It represents one of the most ambitious co-ordinated international science programmes ever attempted. The poles are recognised as sensitive barometers of environmental change and exceptional archives of what the Earth was like before. Furthermore, the said event are being launched every three months and focuses on specific aspect of real and current research.