The third International Polar Year (IPY) is currently being planned for 2007-2008. The first IPY was in 1882-83, and the second was 50 years later, 1932-33. The International Geophysical Year (IGY) was 1957-58. The third IPY will be the 50th anniversary of the IGY.

This web site http://ipy.gsfc.nasa.gov/ contains some background and goals. There will be presentations at AGU in December for the purpose of gathering community input and constructing a scientific outline.

This web site http://www-bprc.mps.ohio-state.edu/jbox/IPY/ describes Ken Jezek's plan for the IPY, called "A Snapshot from Space". He wants to "develop and execute an international plan for coordinated spaceborne and in situ observations of the polar regions and polar processes". He's making a presentation at AGU in December.

On October 3 Ken wrote:

Any recommendation from the ASFUWG (positive of course!) on the IPY Snapshot idea would be welcome. I have been talking with Duncan Wingham and he is happy to include Cryosat in the list. He will be talking to ESTEC about how to finagle Envisat into the picture. Clair Parkinson thinks Aqua can make a contribution. We need to link up with the Japanese. I also plan to pursue the Indian Space Agency and their optical capabilities. No reply from Jay Zwally about ICESAT. I spoke briefly with Ghassem Asrar about the idea and he thought it was a good idea - he felt it was not something NASA was doing already.

Proposed resolution from the ASFUWG:

The Alaska SAR Facility User Working Group supports and encourages the initiative entitled "A Snapshot from Space" that is being planned in connection with the third International Polar Year. We also urge other scientific organizations, remote sensing programs and facilities, and government agencies to support "A Snapshot from Space" and the IPY in order to advance our understanding of the polar regions and their impact on the global environment.
Approved by the ASF User Working Group, October 29, 2002