Edited by Rachel Duncan 4th Edition ISBN 0-907649-91-2 London 2003 Published by the RGS-IBG Expedition Advisory Centre Royal Geographical Society (with the Institute of British Geographers) 1 Kensington Gore London SW7 2AR Tel: 020 7591 3030 Fax: 020 7591 3031
[email protected] www.rgs.org/eac Front cover image: © Stephen Jones, North Pole Last Degree Expedition 1999. CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .......................................................................................... INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................ 1. THE POLAR ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................. 6 1.1 Definition of the polar regions ........................................................................................... 1.2 Special aspects of the polar regions ................................................................................... 1.3 Common climatic features ................................................................................................. 1.4 Climatic differences ........................................................................................................... 2. PLANNING ......................................................................................................... 12 2.1 Fact finding ........................................................................................................................ 2.2 Access, permits and paperwork.........................................................................................