Thursday, February 8, 2007

Thursday Thirteen #8


13 things about International Polar Year (IPY)!


1. I was buying post stamps and saw that the latest issue is dedicated to The 2007, International Polar Year. On the stamp is portrait of great Serbian scientist Milutin Milankovic. 2. So what is actually IPY? It’s international project to promote scientific researches on one of the most unknown regions on the planet; because North and South Pole have the crucial significance for life on Earth. So scientists from around the world will initiate a new era in polar research by participating in International Polar Year 2007-2008. Working across many disciplines, the scientists will conduct field observations, research and analysis to build upon current knowledge and increase our understanding of the roles that both polar regions play in global processes.
3. Carl Weyprecht (1838-1881), scientist and co-commander of an Austro-Hungarian expedition to the North Pole during the 1870s, is credited with inspiring the first International Polar Year. Weyprecht defined the basic principles of Arctic exploration, calling for nations to establish a network of Arctic research posts and to collaborate in data collection and scientific observation. But Weyprecht died before first IPY occurred in 1882-1883. 4. Fifty years later (1932-1933) a second IPY occurred with approximately 40 countries who participated. They established numerous permanent research stations in the Arctic and prompted advances in meteorology, atmospheric sciences, geomagnetism and the 'mapping' of ionospheric phenomena that advanced radio-science and technology. 5. In 1957-1958, 67 nations were involved in the International Geophysical Year, which continued the legacy of international scientific cooperation while commemorating the 75th and 25th anniversaries of the first two International
Polar Years. 6. 2007 is fourth IPY but first one which will have climatic changes as priority theme which is not strange since we are confronting with Global Warming phenomenon which has its effect on the poles.
7. That very sensitive balance of sun, water and ice has enormous influence on life on Earth which is raising concerns and fears since global warming will upset that fine balance. 8. There are proves of huge ice melting on both poles thanks to raising temperature of 2 degrees Celsius on planetary level since 1900. 9. That maybe doesn’t sound that dangerous but raising temperature is causing huge weather and climatic changes; with this tempo of warming ‘till the end of the century see level will be few meters higher.
10. Poles are magnificent, beautiful places where Sun is moving only by horizon; nights are few months long and the landscape is shaped by icy winds. 11. North Pole is one icy plate that floats on Arctic Ocean; constantly changeable region with fantastic creatures above and under the ice. 12. Colder, South Pole lies on the top of massive, frozen Antarctic. Average ice thickness there is more that 2200 meters. That ice is representing 90% of all ice on the Planet and 70% of drinking water. Under that icy mass (believe it or not) is world full of life! There are fishes with natural ‘antifreeze’ in their bloodstream; giant medusas with arms 15meters long.
13. On the bottom of Antarctic’s lakes there is some sort of “gelatin” of microbiologic world and the scientists think that those communities might be very similar with life communities that have had existed on Mars few billion years ago. Therefore those icy, polar worlds could reveal us many secrets about our Planet but also about some distant worlds. That is one reason more to raise our ecological culture and conscious.

Links to other Thursday Thirteens!
(leave your link in comments, I’ll add you here!)
::::: uisce ::::: Wylie Kinson ::::: twiga92 ::::: maggie ::::: Miss Profe ::::: amy ::::: Babystepper ::::: jam ::::: mike ::::: raggedy ::::: Susan Helene Gottfried :::::

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The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!




20 comments:

Uisce said...

Hello, Leanne sent me! It never ceases to amaze me how educational TT can be. yours was really interesting! I think I could use some kind of antifreeze in me this time of year, too! Happy TT, mine is up!

Milan-zzz said...

Hey uisce thanks for stopping by and for compliments.
So you’d use antifreeze? We have 16 degrees Celsius at the moment which is enormously high for Feb. ... talking about climatic changes ...

Wylie Kinson said...

Bee-ooo-tiful pics!!

twiga92 said...

That is pretty interesting! Hubby and I would love to visit Antarctica someday. Do they need secretaries and computer geeks on these stations? :-)

Milan-zzz said...

Thank you Wylie :)

twiga I doubt the need secretaries but who knows?
Gosh to you that would be another continent to live on!?

withthanksgiving said...

Awesome. Your list is very informative!

Milan-zzz said...

thanks maggie :)

Anonymous said...

These are fascinating facts! And I love the pic from "A Christmas Story".

Milan-zzz said...

Thank you so much miss profe! She is gorgeous! :)

Unknown said...

What a great list and pictures! Thanks for posting

Carina said...

I enjoy learning something new from TTs. Thanks for the opportunity!

JAM said...

Something I've never heard of, which is probably why you made this list. Very fascinating stuff.

Especially #13, I've never heard about this gelatin-like biology on the bottom of Antactica's lakes.

Mike said...

A very good post and educational too. I hope they find out lots when they study these areas. Thanks for stopping by my blog.

Milan-zzz said...

Thanks everyone for stopping by.
Well I found out lots of things after I bought that IPY stamps when I started searching info about what it’s all about. Indeed I was very surprised when I heard about life under Antarctic’s massive ice; I mean medusas with arms 15 meters long! Sounds like Julius Verne LOL

Raggedy said...

WOW! What a great list and fantastic pictures!
Terrific Thursday Thirteen!
Thank you for your visit to mine.
Have a wonderful day!
Happy TT'ing!
*^_^
(=':'=)
(")_ (")Š
Raggedy

Susan Helene Gottfried said...

Oh, Milan, it's been nagging me all day that I forgot to visit someone's TT today. Guess who I realized it was...

I'm ashamed. You know you're at the top of my list. (Can I plead the fact that I've only been home for a total of about two hours today? And I spent half an hour of that watching for a late school bus?)

Another amazing TT, my friend. Let's all do something extra to take care of our Earth

Milan-zzz said...

Thank you reggedy :)

Oh shg don’t be silly! Personally I’m little annoyed when I feel pressure to post comments ON Thursday. I like to make a coffee in the mornings and calmly to read (and post comments) TTs in next few days.

karen! said...

Great post. I have to admit that I knew nothing about IPY before I read it.

Lotus Reads said...

Wow, I always learn something new when I come to your blog, Milan and this post was no exception, thank you! It is nice to be reminded that the environment needs our attention. Sometimes my little world gets so busy, I forget.

Milan-zzz said...

Thank you Karen and lotus but hey, I’m not living encyclopedia. I didn’t know either. When I saw that stamp issue with great Milutin Milanković (I’ll write about him for sure) I start to look what is IPY exactly and then thought it might be interesting for others too :)