Abstract
Abstract. The International Geophysical Year (IGY) was the most significant international scientific event in geophysical sciences in the history of mankind. This was the largest international experiment that brought together about 300 000 scientists from 67 countries. Well-planned activity of national and international committees was organized for the first time. The history of the IGY organization and complex international experiments in planetary geophysics conducted within its program are discussed in this article. Special attention is given to the estimation of the significance of this project for developing worldwide geophysical research.
Highlights
The idea of global international Earth research was expressed for the first time by Austrian geophysicist Karl Weyprecht (Fig. 1) about a century and a half ago
The program of the Second IPY was developed by the International Polar Year Commission and consisted of representatives of 10 countries
The proposals to the Academy of Sciences of the Soviet Union (AS USSR) to join the International Geophysical Year (IGY) program were repeatedly received by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) and International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) in 1952 and 1953
Summary
The idea of global international Earth research was expressed for the first time by Austrian geophysicist Karl Weyprecht (Fig. 1) about a century and a half ago (in 1875). After participation in the Arctic expedition in 1871, Weyprecht understood the futility of individual random expeditions. New knowledge of geophysics is limited by the lack of simultaneous observations at different points, which would make comparisons. This can only be possible when countries that consider themselves to be advanced in terms of scientific progress decide to work together, completely eliminating any national competition. He most actively advocated international coordinated research in high-latitude areas. Weyprecht himself did not live to see his dream come true (Rodnikov et al, 2009; Troitskaya, 1955)
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