A major undertaking in the area of cryospheric research and observations in the near-term perspective is the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY). The Theme developed recommendations for the IPY activities associated with the cryosphere, including maintenaning existing systems to monitor the cryosphere and an assessment of gaps in the cryospheric observing system, developing a global snapshot of the cryosphere during the IPY, establishing supersites that would include cryospheric observations in their set of measurements, extending the the WCRP Coordinated Enhanced Observing Period (CEOP) activities over the polar regions, establishing the initial elements of the Arctic Ocean observing system, and starting the implementation of the Arctic HYCOS project.

The WCRP Climate and Cryosphere (CliC) project submitted a proposal to the IPY International Planning Group (IPG) for the coordination of activities leading to an assessment of the state of the cryosphere.  While this is separate from the IGOS Cryosphere Theme development effort, the two are certainly related.  We anticipate that much of the Theme development will feed into the IPY proposal development, and the Theme provides an excellent opportunity to influence IPY activities.  An Expression of Intent (EoI) from CliC was submitted to the IPY IPG on January 14, 2005.  The full proposal (draft) was submitted June 30, 2005. It was was endorsed by the JC in August 2005. Visit our IPY "State and Fate of the Cryosphere" site for more information.

Of course, there are many other planned IPY projects that involve the cryosphere, and some of the investigators are important contributors to the Cryosphere Theme effort.  For example, the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), the co-lead in the Theme development, is very involved in IPY, as is International Permafrost Association (IPA).

More information on IPY is available at http://www.ipy.org.