International Polar Year!

The penguins are celebrating. IPY has begun!

Everybody celebrate! The International Polar Year had begun! Through March 2009 (wait a second: isn’t that two polar years? Oh, well… who said Earth Scientists could do math?) Earth Scientists from all over the world will concentrate their efforts on understanding Earth’s polar regions. There will be all kinds of special expeditions, meetings, and collaborative studies focused on better understanding the poles. The start of the IPY is particularly poignant this time round because of the increased focus on and concern about climate change. The poles are very sensitive thermometers for rising global temperatures and are affected much more by climate change than the more temperate equitorial regions.

Personally, I hope this means that there’s a trip to Antarctica in my future… hey, there’s a volcano there.

Mt. Erebus Volcano in Antarctica



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  1. Here's to Erebus being in your future, Evelyn! That would make an interesting contrast to the Indian Ocean / South Pacific.

    Though I suppose parts of Antactica are in the South Pacific. As far south as you can get and still be in the Pacific, anyway. What ocean is Erebus closest to? I'll have to consult Google Earth…

  2. Oh wait, sorry, I had it wrong. The souls were "dumped" AROUND the volcanoes, not in them.

    From that wikipedia link:

    "Xenu is said to have dumped his surplus population around volcanoes, like this one on Hawaii, and blown them up with hydrogen bombs"

  3. Through March 2009 (wait a second: isnâ€™t that two polar years?)

    Yeah, they should've called it the bipolar year! … *crickets* … Tap, tap, tap. Is this thing on?

  4. Bipolar!!!!!!

    I appreciate such humor mister king.

    And Xenu wouldn't have been able to fit a hydrogen bomb in there if it was stuffed to the rim with cute penguins.

  5. Does that mean seawater is in direct contact with the mantle? If not, then what IS in contact with the mantle?

    And wouldn't that cause an extremely cold spot on the mantle (well, cold compared to its average temperature)?

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