News
Watch this page for project updates. We will upload progress reports during the patrol (communication links permitting), including photos, video, media interviews, press releases and scientific publications as they are available.
Ellesmere, IPY, ArcticNet and Polar Data
April 29, 2008
The Arctic is currently the focus of a significant amount of research and media interest. The Ellesmere Ice Shelf Patrol is part of a larger scientific event, the International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-08, a global scientific programme focused on research in the Arctic and the Antarctic. Through international collaboration and cooperation scientists are aiming to investigate the current state of the polar regions and what affects a changing climate is having on polar ecosystems and communities.
The largest Arctic research project in Canada is ArcticNet, a Network of Centres of Excellence of Canada that brings together scientists and managers in the natural, human health and social sciences with their partners in Inuit organizations, northern communities, federal and provincial agencies and the private sector to study the impacts of climate change in the coastal Canadian Arctic. The Ellesmere Ice Shelf Patrol scientists are also involved closely with ArcticNet, and data acquired on the patrol will be shared with fellow ArcticNet scientists.
But where does all the data go?
A Polar Data Catalogue has been developed that will act as a library for all polar data being collected during IPY and beyond. The online library is currently being updated with metadata (description of the data collected, including the who, what, when, where and how it was collected) and is freely accessible by everyone. This is of particular interest to Arctic peoples, who for the first time can easily find out what research is being conducted in the north that is of interest to their community.
Please visit www.polardata.ca
© 2008 Ellesmere Ice Shelves