The permafrost regions occupy 24% of the Northern Hemisphere’s land area and all glacier-free areas of the Antarctic continent. To obtain a snapshot of ground temperatures, thawing rates, and organic carbon contents of the permafrost regions, four coordinated IPY permafrost programmes are underway, involving 50 individual projects from 28 countries and hundreds of researchers and students. Geographically, the programme includes both polar regions and covers the mountains and plateau regions of the mid- and low-latitudes.

The major focus of the programme is to observe and document current changes in permafrost conditions. These measurements serve as a baseline against which to evaluate future changes and to validate current models. Existing networks include boreholes for ground temperature measurement (Thermal State of Permafrost - TSP), seasonal thaw depth or active layer depths thickness (Circumpolar Active Layer Monitoring Network - CALM), both of which comprise Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) and coastal erosion (Arctic Coastal Dynamics - ACD). More than 800 observing sites have been identified for observations, many of which have historical measurements for establishing recent trends. Data contributed to the existing Global Terrestrial Network for Permafrost (GTN-P) are archived at the National Snow and Ice Data Center, University of Colorado.

Cross-cutting activities include the on-line International University Courses on Permafrost (IUCP). The IUCP catalogue consists of 136 courses from 17 countries, including field courses during 2007-2009. Some 300 individuals from 30 countries have enrolled in the IPA-sponsored Permafrost Young Researchers Network (PYRN).

The International Permafrost Association (IPA), representing 26 member countries, coordinates the IPY permafrost programme and maintains contact with other IPY activities. Our IPY goals for a permafrost legacy are to:
• Develop an international network of permanent permafrost observatories
• Establish a sustainable data system
• Develop the next generation of permafrost researchers.

Details of the projects can be found on the IPY and IPA web sites:
Project 50: Permafrost Observatory Project: A Contribution to the Thermal State of Permafrost (TSP)
Project 33: Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Permafrost, Periglacial and Soil Environments (ANTPAS)
Project 90: Arctic Circumpolar Coastal Observatory Network (ACCO-Net)
Project 373: Carbon Pools in Permafrost Regions (CAPP)

Initial results of the IPY permafrost programmes and current knowledge and practices on permafrost science and engineering will be presented at the Ninth International Conference on Permafrost in Fairbanks, Alaska, June 29 - July 3, 2008. NICOP will commemorate the permafrost community’s involvement in the IPY (www.nicop.org).

Additional information is available from the IPA Secretariat, based at the University Centre in Svalbard ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ), on the IPA web site (http://www.geo.uio.no/IPA/), and from national programmes.