The Arctic and Antarctic are interesting for many types of researchers. For example, glaciologists study the ice and snow, while oceanographers look at the oceans. The ice, snow and oceans in the Arctic and Antarctic affect the global climate and are presently changing as a result of global warming. Biologists research the plants and animals, which are specially adapted to the polar regions and will be some of the first in the world to be affected by climate change. Social science researchers study the people of the Arctic, who are very affected by environmental changes. The many other types of researchers who work in these regions include geologists (who study rocks), astronomers (who study outer space), and meteorologists (who study the weather). How do researchers study the polar regions? They visit the regions and take measurements from towns, permanent research stations, temporary field stations, or ships. Researchers can also collect data from satellites and from automated ground instruments that monitor conditions in remote locations.
This poster is a part of a set of five posters for the International Polar Year, IPY 2007-2009. As editorial objectives, we - the editorial staff - have tried to address the questions: Why, and how, are the Polar Regions and polar research important to all people on Earth? Our goals has been that these should be a broad sample of polar issues, and that they would work as a "textbook" on a wall. High-school age students has been identified as the main target group. Each poster stands on its own but is recognizable as part of the series through the common design template. The lifespan of these products is not limited to the IPY period (March 2007 - March 2009) and the ambition is that these will be useful beyond this period.
Research in the Polar Regions poster gives background and overview information presenting what research is done and how - in the Polar Regions, and in particular for the International Polar Year.
This poster has been prepared with the intent for printing by any interested party. The poster can be downloaded for free and unrestricted. Please see http://www.grida.no/polar/ipy/2843.aspx for more information.