Gaps in understanding the interactions between Arctic sea ice, oceans, and the atmosphere, along with an increasing rate of change in the nature and quantity of sea ice, are hampering accurate predictions.

International Polar Year was a coordinated field campaign of observations, research, and analysis that helped communicate the relevance of polar research to the world, strengthened connections with the indigenous people of the Arctic, and established new observational networks.

The region of Antarctica and the Southern Ocean is tightly linked to the global system in ways that scientists are only beginning to understand and fully appreciate.

The Martha T. Muse Prize for Science and Policy in Antarctica is presented to an individual who has demonstrated potential for sustained and significant contributions that will enhance the understanding and/or preservation of Antarctica.

The PRB serves as the U.S. National Committee to the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR). SCAR is a nongovernmental organization charged to initiate, promote, and coordinate international scientific activity in the Antarctic.