SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH

1. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH An Update from Colin Summerhayes Executive Director SCAR website: www.scar.org

2. SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEE ON ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SCAR initiates, develops, and coordinates high quality international scientific research in the Antarctic and on the role of the Antarctic region in the Earth system, so adding value to national research. MAIN ACTIVITIES • Scientific Research • Data Exchange • Education & Outreach • Policy Advice • Management

3. SCAR RESEARCH PROGRAMMES Past Climate – (ACE) uses geological & palaeoclimate data and ice sheet models to study Antarctic climate and glacial history. Modern Climate – (AGCS) studies the nature of the atmospheric and oceanic linkages between the climate of the Antarctic and elsewhere. Biological Responses – (EBA) explores the evolutionary history of Antarctic biota, the influence of diversity on ecosystems, and the biota’s response to change. Under the Ice – (SALE) explores the mysterious world of fresh water under the Antarctic ice sheet. Sun - Earth Interactions – (ICESTAR) studies the bipolar effects of Sun-Earth interactions, and upper and lower atmosphere connections.

4. OTHER SCAR SCIENCE TOPICS • Ocean and Atmosphere • Acoustics in the Marine Environment • Oceanography • Census of Antarctic Marine Life (CAML) • Continuous Plankton Recorder (CPR) • Marine Biodiversity Information Network • International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean • Operational Meteorology

5. OTHER SCAR SCIENCE TOPICS • Ice and Rock • Ice Sheet Mass Balance and Sea Level • Permafrost and Periglacial Environments • Ice Drilling Technologies • Sub-Ice Geological Exploration • Antarctic Neotectonics • Geodetic Infrastructure of Antarctica • Antarctic Digital Magnetic Anomaly Project

6. OTHER SCAR SCIENCE TOPICS • Environment & Monitoring • Biological Monitoring • Birds & Seals • Human Biology & Medicine • Environmental Contamination • Pan-Antarctic Observing Network • King George Island Science Coordination • Antarctic Astronomy & Astrophysics

7. SCAR DATA AND INFORMATION Joint Committee on Antarctic Data Management (JCADM) helps nations to develop & manage National Antarctic Data Centres and to make data available to all through the Antarctic Master Directory (AMD) Standing Committee on Antarctic Geographic Information (SC-AGI)manages the Antarctic Digital Database (ADD), the Composite Gazetteer of Antarctica, the Antarctic Map Catalogue and the King George Island GIS project.

8. POLICY ADVICE • Standing Committee on Antarctic Treaty System (SC-ATS) • provides objective and independent scientific advice to:- • Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting (ATCM), • Committee on Environmental Protection (CEP), • Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), • Advisory Committee to the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels (ACAP).

9. SCAR EDUCATION & OUTREACH SCAR Fellowshipsencourage the active involvement of young scientists and engineers in Antarctic scientific research, and strengthen international capacity and cooperation. International Antarctic Institute provides distance learning courses from a number of universities History of Antarctic Research Group studies development of post IGY Antarctic research in the context of SCAR.

10. SCAR MANAGEMENT SCAR Delegatesrepresent the Members & decide on the overall science programme and budget. Executive Committee represents the Delegates & manages SCAR business inter-sessionally. Standing Scientific Groups (SSGs)) manage pan-Antarctic scientific research across the nations & establish research groups to address specific science tasks. SCAR Secretariat the 100% people - facilitates communication and coordination, manages the work programme and budget.

11. SCAR PARTNERS iAnZone– International Antarctic Zone Programme IASC– International Arctic Science Committee ICED– Integrating Climate and Ecosystem Dynamics IGOS-P– Integrated Global Observing Strategy Partnership IPA– International Permafrost Association IPICS– International Partnerships in Ice Core Sciences SO-GLOBEC– Global Ocean Ecosystem Dynamics, Southern Ocean component SCOR– Scientific Committee on Oceanic Research SCOSTEP– Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics WCRP– World Climate Research Programme ICSU - 8 scientific unions

12. SCAR HIGHLIGHTS FOR 2006 • Antarctic plateau is the best place on Earth for surface-based astronomy; • Southern Ocean warmed at mid-depths by 0.2ºC (more warming prevented by cooling by volcanic dust); • Winter troposphere warmed 0.5 – 0.7ºC/decade over the last 30 years; • Climate models suggest there will be 25% less sea ice and central Antarctica will warm by 3ºC by 2100 ; • A biogeographical ‘divide’ between the biota of the Peninsula and the rest of the continent, suggests that the biota survive in refugia during glacials; • A subglacial hydrologic system links subglacial lakes and lubricates ice streams beneath the polar plateau

13. FUTURE PLANS • CAML and MarBIN Workshops, Poland , June 2007; • ACE session on "Climate and ice in Antarctica and the Southern Ocean since the LGM; INQUA, Cairns, July 2007; • 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences (ISAES), Sta Barbara, August 2007 • 2nd Workshop on Recent High Latitude Climate Change, Seattle, October 2007 • SCAR-IASC Open Science Conference, St Petersburg, July 2008 • 10th SCAR Biology Symposium, Sapporo, 2009 • Numerous IPY activities 2007-2009

14. THEEND Thank you for your attention SCAR website: www.scar.org