International Permafrost Association (IPA), as its contribution to the International Polar Year (2007-2009), will obtain a ”snapshot” of the polar environments as a benchmark against which to assess past and future changes. Toward this end, IPA is mobilizing the international permafrost community to make standardized temperature measurements in existing and new boreholes throughout the permafrost regions of both hemispheres including the mountainous regions and plateaus of the mid- and low-latitudes. The ultimate payoff is long-term and will serve as validation of current models and understanding of how permafrost conditions are reacting to climate changes worldwide.

Permafrost temperatures vary both in time and space. In order to obtain the current temperature of the permafrost (snapshot), researcher from over 20 countries plan to revisit previously measured boreholes and in some cases drill ones. Approximately 850 candidate boreholes have thus far been identified for potential temperature, the vast majority of which are in Russia. Temperature cables and data loggers are presently being installed in holes and more will be added throughout the IPY (2007-2009). Researchers, engineers and students from over 30 organizations are involved. As part of our training of a new generation of experts, we plan summer field courses in Russia, the Nordic countries, and North America. Experience gained by students and young researchers in these and other IPY projects will contribute to this new generation of northern specialists.

The IPA is an affiliated organization of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS), and IPA will also be participating in the IUGS co-organized the International Year of Planet Earth that coincides with the IPY. The initial results of these activities will be presented in summer 2008 in Fairbanks, Alaska, at the Ninth International Conference on Permafrost, and in Olso at the 33rd International Geological Congress.