Early history of sudden commencement investigation and some newly discovered historical facts

The history of the research on the SC (sudden commencement) of magnetic storms before World War II is studied in this paper. Since geomagnetic research activities before World War II are still not yet fully known, this paper aims to reveal some historical facts related to SC investigation at that time. The first conclusion of this paper is the possible first discoverer of the simultaneity of SC at distant locations. We show that a Portuguese scientist had already pointed it out 16 years earlier than believed. The second conclusion is the role and activities of Aikitu Tanakadate as the reporter of the SC investigation committee of STME (Section of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity) and IATME (International Association of Terrestrial Magnetism and Electricity) in the IGGU (International Geodetic and Geophysical Union) or IUGG (International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics). Very little was known about his activities as the reporter of this committee. Our investigation at the Tanakadate Aikitu Memorial Science Museum disclosed how he acted and what he thought of SC, based on his frequent letters to and from other scientists. The third conclusion concerns SC research carried out by Japanese scientists during the period of the Second International Polar Year (1932–1933). Not only Tanakadate but also many other Japanese scientists participated in SC research during this international project. This formed a traditional basis of SC investigation in Japan, prompting a number of Japanese scientists to study SC after World War II.

The disputed sound of the aurora borealis: sensing liminal noise during the First and Second International Polar Years, 1882–3 and 1932–3

This paper discusses heightened interest in the potential audibility of the aurora borealis during the First and Second International Polar Years (IPYs) of 1882–3 and 1932–3. Galvanized by a growing volume of local accounts expressing belief in the elusive noises, written by the inhabitants of the Shetland Islands, northern Canada, and Norway, auroral researchers of each era were determined to establish the objectivity of auroral sound. There was considerable speculation within the auroral research community as to whether the apparent noises were imagined or illusory, connected to discussions about the possibility of low-altitude aurorae. The anglophone auroral sound debate primarily played out within the official reports of IPY expeditions, the journal Nature , and a Shetland Island newspaper. I argue that the embodied senses were used exclusively to register the liminal sounds of the aurora across the two periods, despite developments in sound recording technologies, the primacy of mechanical objectivity, and instruments transported to the polar regions for the investigation of visual features of the phenomenon. This overlooked episode complicates narratives of polar science in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries by revealing a faith in the corporeal senses and the significant role of amateur observers.

Portuguese Polar Program Annual Report 2020

The Portuguese Polar Program - PROPOLAR is funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia ( based at Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território ( of the University of Lisbon ( The coordination of PROPOLAR is led by the Centro de Estudos Geográficos from Instituto de Geografia e Ordenamento do Território University of Lisbon (CEG/IGOT ULISBOA), under a Coordinating Committee that includes members from 4 other research centres, namely the Centro de Ciências do Mar University of Algarve (CCMAR UALG), the Centro de Ciências do Mar e do Ambiente University of Coimbra (MARE UC), the Centro de Química Estrutural from Instituto Superior Técnico University of Lisboa (CQE/IST ULISBOA), and the Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental University of Oporto (CIIMAR U PORTO) Gonçalo Vieira (CEG/IGOT ULISBOA) is the Head of the program The remarkable effort and commitment of the Portuguese Polar scientists, within the framework of the International Polar Year ( 2007 08 were key to promote awareness of the importance of Polar science and research for Portugal A strategic plan encompassing three main objectives was then set out to i creating a Portuguese Polar Program focused on polar research and innovation and supporting the young generation of Polar scientists,scientists,( signing the Antarctic Treaty, and ( implementing a national Polar education and outreach program With the support of the FCT, PROPOLAR started in 2007 Portugal ratified the Antarctic Treaty in 2010 and the Madrid Protocol in 2014 and has established liaisons with major international Polar scientific and management organisations and networks PROPOLAR in close connection with the FCT, has ensured consolidation and sustainability of the development of Portuguese Polar science

Portuguese Polar Program: Annual Report 2019

This Annual Report of the Portuguese Polar Program, PROPOLAR reports the main activities conducted between August 2018 and December 2019 The PROPOLAR is led by the CEG/IGOT University of Lisbon, under a Coordinating Committee that includes members of other 4 Portuguese research institutions CCMAR University of the Algarve, MARE University of Coimbra, CQE University of Lisbon, and CIIMAR University of Oporto The Program is funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia MCTES FCT) as a development of its former Polar Office The activities herein disclosed reflect a very busy and inspiring year The PROPOLAR supported fifteen projects that were successfully carried out in the Arctic and Antarctica Logistics continued to be based on international cooperation and on a Portuguese funded Antarctic flight open to partner programs Logistical support in Antarctica was mainly provided by Spain, Chile and the Republic of Korea, also with strong cooperation in research and facilities with Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, China, Peru, Turkey, United States of America and Uruguay Participation in international meetings and workshops, as well as the organisation of a symposium and an international meeting, and the support provided to the Portuguese Conference on Polar Science, fulfilled and enriched this very active period, also helping to reinforce the credibility and relevance of the program in the international polar arena B ringing together all these efforts and resources will surely attract and mobilise more young researchers into a Polar scientific career, thus ensuring the future of the Portuguese Polar science, and that the program will continue to blossom We are confident that the successes that PROPOLAR has had in 2019 will serve as an impetus for our very dynamic and committed community of polar researchers to move forward in in vesting in the future of the Portuguese P olar science and preparing to seize new opportunities

The World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map: version 2.1

<p>The World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map (WDMAM) is an initiative of the IAGA (International Association of Geomagnetism and Aeronomy) supported by the CGMW (Commission for the Geological Map of the World) of UNESCO. The second version was released in 2015 (Dyment et al., 2015; Lesur et al., 2016), and mandate was given to the authors to update this version 2.0 using the same methodology as often as newly available data would make it necessary. Five better datasets justify the preparation and release of version 2.1: (1) the complete digital aeromagnetic map of Brasil made available to CGMW by Agência Nacional do Petróleo, Gás Natural e Biocombustíveis; (2) an improved version of the aeromagnetic map of Russia prepared at VSEGEI; (3) the second version of the Antarctic Digital Magnetic Anomaly maP (ADMAP; Golynsky et al., 2018) which construction results from a remarkable international effort during and after the Second International Polar Year; (4) a new map of the Caribbean plate and Gulf of Mexico resulting from the compilation and re-processing of existing marine and aeromagnetic data in the area (Garcia, 2018); and (5) a new compilation of marine magnetic data worldwide. The new map shows significant improvements over the previous versions and will be shortly available at wdmam.org.</p>

The Norwegian Scientific Data Network, a distributed electronic research infrastructure

<p>The Norwegian Scientific Data Network (NorDataNet) is a national e-infrastructure building on the legacy of the International Polar Year. Initially it is focusing on geoscience and establishing interoperability interfaces between existing national data repositories in the areas of discovery metadata and data as well as on harmonised data documentation following the FAIR guiding principles. The technical foundation of NorDataNet is built on data documentation standards, standardised interoperability interfaces and semantic resources. This is now in place and preliminary functionalities are available. These includes the ability to discover and access datasets across the data repositories integrated, as well as visualisation and transformation of datasets served using the requested documentation standards and interfaces. Bottlenecks and achievements while working towards FAIR compliant data and data centres interoperability will be presented.</p>

Polar Educators International: A network of scientists and teachers that brings polar research into classrooms

<p>Polar Educators International (PEI) is an outcome of the 4<sup>th</sup> International Polar Year. During this period (2001 – 2009) educators firstly were highly involved in a scientific initiative and a first bridge between scientists and educators was built. Since then PEI grew rapidly and nowadays has almost 200 members coming from all over the world.</p><p>The mission of PEI is to highlight and share the global relevance of the Polar Regions with the broader community. Therefore a vital network of educators and researchers are strongly cooperating together with relevant polar organizations such as IASC or SCAR. Thus PEI is able to provide up-to-date educational material for schools, workshop for teachers and many more. PEI Educators are bridging the gap between the scientists and community at large.</p><p>All information is available on a robust, flexible, and useful web presence.</p><p>PEI is a network that is open to everybody interested in outreach and education with a special focus on the Arctic, the Antarctic and Mountain Regions.</p><p>PEI is a common network where educators, scientists and general public can easily access the educative material especially focus on the Arctic, Antarctic and mountainous regions.  </p>