The International Polar Year (2007-09): An impetus to polar research.

The article focuses on the International Polar Year (IPY) program from March 2007 to March 2009. The purpose of IPY is to offer an international and interdisciplinary approach in order to understand the behavior of the polar regions and to facilitate observation during all seasons. The characteristic of previous IPYs is the role of polar regions in the broader earth system. Capacity building, public awareness and information dissemination are among the expected legacy of the IPY campaign.