Preserve the Polar Regions and Glaciers Artwork: Annemarie Wessels The International Polar Year (IPY) is an extensive international scientific programme, which focuses on the Arctic and Antarctic Polar Regions. It started in March 2007 and will continue until March 2009. To raise awareness of this programme and the changes in climate, especially the warming of the Polar Regions and melting of glaciers, the South African Post Office joins the international community with a special stamp issue. The two-year IPY programme is one of the most ambitious internationally coordinated scientific programmes ever attempted. The Polar Regions are of great importance for the Earth’s climate and environments, as well as ecosystems and people. In recent times concern has been expressed about the effect of climate change on these regions. Acquiring a better understanding of these regions enables the scientific community to develop global climate models, which cover the interaction and influence of the oceans, atmosphere and landmasses. The programme, which is backed by the International Science Council (ICSU), aims to inform and educate the public, and help to train the next generation of engineers, scientists and leaders in the field of polar and research. IPY is organised through ICSU and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The 2007/09 programme is actually the fourth “polar year”. It follows similar programmes undertaken in 1882/83, 1932/33, and 1957/58. In order to have full and equal coverage of both the Arctic and the Antarctic, IPY covers two full annual cycles from March 2007 to March 2009. It involves more than 200 different projects and thousands of scientists from more than 60 nations exploring a wide range of physical, biological and social research topics. It is also seen as an extraordinary opportunity to demonstrate, follow, and get involved with cutting-edge science in real-time. The polar areas have many unique phenomena. For example, circulatory systems for air and water, as well as the majority of the Earth’s magnetic field lines, reach the surface. Thick glaciers have trapped air and water from ancient times. It is easiest to observe these phenomena near the poles. The poles are expensive places to visit, because they are distant, cold and deserted. Infrastructure is very basic and the terrain is rough. It often consists of ice blocks with crevasses between them. To make these regions more accessible and render research projects more viable, international cooperative programmes share the costs and maximize the number of coordinated scientific observations. The IPY is the most prominent example of such an international cooperative programme. South Africa has a long-standing association with Antarctica. Over the past 50 years, this country has maintained a research presence in Antarctica and The Prince Edward Islands comprising a group of two small islands, namely Marion Island and Prince Edward Island, located in the far southern waters of the Indian Ocean. Supported by the South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP), researchers in different fields are joining forces with colleagues around the world. Their research is an attempt to understand what is happening in the Polar Regions, and the implications for the future of the planet. SANAP’s five themes, namely earth sciences; biological sciences; physical sciences; engineering; and the social sciences, law, and humanities, collectively make up the Antarctic Research Strategy for South Africa (ARESSA), tying in with the themes of IPY. The following countries are joining South Africa in issuing stamps to raise awareness of the IPY programme: Australia, Belgium, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Estonia, Faroe Islands, Finland, France, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, India, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland, Uruguay and Åland Islands.Here is link to all the Designs:http://www.posti.fi/postimerkkikeskus/preservethepolarregionsandglaciers.html South Africa’s philatelic contribution, to be issued on 2 March 2009, consists of a first-day cover and one miniature sheet containing two stamps. It depicts an Antarctic landscape showing both underwater and above-water wildlife. The symbol in the bottom right-hand corner is the ice crystal, which is the unifying graphic element used in the designs of all participating countries. The Standard Rate postage stamp in the top half of the miniature sheet features the Light-mantled Sooty Albatross (Phoebetria palpebrata.) The International Small Letter postage stamp at the bottom features a Jelly Fish (Dipulmaris) with Amphipods (small living creatures that lives on the Jelly Fish) visible on it. Emperor Penguins (Aptenodytes forsteri) diving into the water are depicted to the left of the two stamps. Two Deep-sea Spiny Lanternfish (Myctophum spinosum) are seen below them in the deeper waters, while Starfish (Odontaster validus) are shown on the seafloor and to the right of the two stamps. The South African Post Office is proud to publicise this important initiative as a worldwide attempt to focus the world’s attention on preserving the Polar Regions. References: |