A Message from R. Amundsen （Roald Engelbregt Gravning Amundsen, 1872 - 1928)

I was born in 1872 near Oslo, Norway. When I was a child, I was inspired to become a polar explorer by books on Arctic expeditions. By training myself to endure hardship and A roaring polar bear in the learning to sail, I was prepared for future adventures. Even after having grown up and becoming a medical student at the University of Oslo, I could not give up my childhood dream. In 1897, I joined the Belgian Antarctic expedition to gain experience. Later, I began planning an expedition to the North Pole and Penguins in Antarctica, lovely borrowed the famous sailing ship “Fram” from the Norwegian explorer severe weather. The temperature and the Nobel Peace Prize winner, F. there in summer was about －30˚C. Nansen. So, I think you will We experienced blizzard after understand how I was shocked on blizzard. We made depots to store hearing the news that the American provisions for our return trip. On explorer R. Peary reached the North December 14, 1911, we finally stood at Pole on April 6, 1909. I thus had to the South Pole! After planting a change my destination to the South Norwegian flag to measure the position Pole, notifying the British explorer R. of the Pole, we left there to return Scott, who was also heading for the home. Pole, of my intentions. As for Captain Scott, his team set Using sleds pulled by over 50 dogs, off on sleds pulled by ponies and our team marched on to the Pole in motorized vehicles, but because the （continued on the last page ...）

The airship mooring mast in Ny-Ålesund. The Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station at the South Pole.＊

＊Photo from “Two Poles,” Rika Nenpyo Dokuhon, Maruzen. Mol, a science- loving girl, and her robotic dog Mirubo are heading to the South Pole.

We are almost Where am I, at the Pole, but Mirubo? I cannot see anything! What a blizzard!

Oh No !

1 Are you up yet? Ugh! Ummm ... Do you feel STARTLE!Monstrous all right? YAKINIKU is coming. Mumbling ...

Where, where is this?

You are at syowa station Syowa Station in Antarctica! We did it! We have finally arrived!

But, what is Syowa Station...?

you should know!

All I could see when I found you lying You were I was flying was white trapped in a in snow when I drove color, then I got panicky. my snowmobile. I cannot remember whiteout! what happened In that condition, ... You should know after that. it is very dangerous to stay outside !

... you lose sense of vision and You were saved direction because in the nick of of the snow and the time. diffuse lighting.

2 Where is Where are a public But, I do not you from? phone? have enough coins. Do your parents know you are here? You can communicate Wow, you via the Internet have access Why don‛t to/from Japan. you send an to the e-mail message Internet! to your family?

Oh, they must be worried! Mirubo, connect to Mom.

BZZZ By the way, I was wondering if I could ask We are you for something Well, well, awfully to eat... what‛s hungry. coming next? Oops! My communication system is broken.

Hooray! Do you live in Antarctica, We can have many Antarctic Sensei? types of food. dishes! Although they Let‛s see. are mostly There seems to frozen and be nothing canned. special... No, I am just staying here for research purposes.

3 The Arctic is the region from More specifically, 66.5° N to the North Here is the Pole, whereas the we are studying Arctic region! Antarctic is the the polar regions. region from 66.5° S to the South Pole.

The polar regions?

And here is the Antarctic region!

Polar research in Japan started with the international Japan‛s first research program on the Arctic Antarctic expedition and Antarctic called the opened Syowa It was in the International Geophysical Year (IGY) Station on January 32nd year of the . “Syowa (also which ran from 1957 to 1958 29, 1957. sometimes spelled Showa)” era. Countries such as Australia, Chile, Norway, USA, and Great That‛s why the station Britain, set up research was named stations in the region and Syowa! began observations.

Scientists from various countries participated in research on During the IGY, meteorology, auroras, geomagnetism, Then, the Antarctic collaborative observations seismology, etc. in Antarctica. They Treaty, which came were also conducted on into force in 1961, realized that the best observational Svalbard in the Arctic, enhanced international results could be obtained by their although Japan did collaborative efforts. corporation in scientific observations not join this effort. in Antarctica.

4 Polar regions have unique characteristics compared The Earth‛s magnetic Charged particles with other regions field is distorted by accumulate and are on the Earth. the solar wind. energized here. The Earth has a geomagnetic field - it is like Then, they come a huge magnet. down into the atmosphere over the polar regions, creating the aurora!

We are able to Hey Mol, peer into the “Windows to here is a map universe through of Antarctica! the polar regions. the universe” Oh, that is nice!

As we call the polar regions.

It is amazing We are here that almost the at Syowa entire continent Station. is covered by snow and ice! To South Africa

Deception Island

To Argentina

Pole of Inaccessibility

South Geographic Pole Japan is shown South Geomagnetic in pink for Pole comparison in size. Antarctica is To Australia far bigger than our country! in 1909 in 1999 5 South Magnetic Pole I want to go to the South Eh!? Pole!

Look! I got it. Penguins! Hold on to me, A lot of Adelie Sensei and Mol! penguins live around our station.

Those sea birds eat Antarctic krill, squid, and fish.

There are no trees, but mosses and algae grow on the ice- and snow- There is free ground. no snow over there!

Ah..., this is Here we are at the ceremonial The true South the South Pole. South Pole Geographic Pole Amundsen went through set up mainly changes slowly tremendous hardship for tourists. with the drift of to reach here, ... the ice. ... but it is an easy job for a super-dooper robot like me. WHUMP!

6 There are “three poles” in each of the polar regions.

① The “South Geographic Pole” is the point where the Earth‛s rotation axis intersects the Earth‛s surface.

② The “South Geomagnetic Pole” is the point where the axis of magnetic dipole intersects the Earth‛s surface.

③ The “South Magnetic Pole” is the point where a compass needle stands vertically.

I did not know Visiting all the there are as many poles makes me as three “poles.” freezing!

Three South Poles: ① The South Geographic Pole at 90° S, ② The South Geomagnetic Pole at 79.6° S and 108.4° E (in 2001), and ③ The South Magnetic Pole at 64.6° S and 138.2° E (in 2001). 7 You can “bathe” close to the shore at Deception Now, why don‛t we go to Island at the tip of the Yeah, that‛s a Antarctic Peninsula. the Arctic? good idea! Leave it to me.

Whoof, I feel so good! Wha What!?

Let‛s go to Svalbard in the Arctic!!

Also, it is not so hard Unlike Antarctica, to come here from other Svalbard belongs Spitsbergen is countries. You do not to one particular the largest island experience that country - Norway. in the Svalbard in Antarctica. Islands, and is a You will find famous place to many people and watch auroras! towns here.

There are three North Poles: ① The North Geographic Pole at 90° N, ② The North Geomagnetic Pole at 79.6° N and 71.6° W (in 2001), and ③ The North Magnetic Pole at 81.4° N and 110.9° W (in 2001). 8 When the Sun The rotation axis ... we have the of the Earth is does not set even at midnight, ... tilted 23.5° with ... around the Sun, “Midnight Sun.” respect to its which leads us to orbit plane ... have days in polar regions without sunlight or without darkness.

And when the Sun does not ... throughout rise ... a day, we have the “Polar Night.”

Confusing! Is there a morning or evening?

The midnight ... does not sun ... …… …… …… set but moves along the horizon.

In contrast, the Sun never Can I sleep in rises during the as long as I like? I bet you do polar night. that every weekend.

9 － I am It is about 70°C while it is about shivering. in Antarctica in winter (July), －30°C in the Arctic in winter (January). In the Arctic, the temperature is a little higher than it is in Antarctica. Either way, it is

Really? !

Still, I want Oh, I have to to look around, tell you that, Mirubo. Let‛s go. although we did not encounter any dangerous animals in Antarctica, ...

... there are polar bears in the Arctic. Noooooo! You must watch out!

10 This should be high enough! We are safe!

Wow, I can see only snow and ice like in Antarctica! It is an ice The polar regions hold about 99% world! of the world‛s total ice.

We have a lot to The polar regions learn from the polar are mysterious regions, about places! weather phenomena, auroras, animals, and plants.

I am freezing. I want to eat hot noodles! Mol and Mirubo were Oh well, anything you fascinated by the HACHOO! want, kids ... wonders of the polar regions.

11 What are the Polar Regions?!

Unnhh... Oh, good timing, Sensei! I spirals are opposite. was just reading a news article reporting that the ice in the polar Oh, it sounds confusing! Are there regions is decreasing. I would like to any other differences between the know more about the Arctic and polar regions? Antarctic. Of course, there are many. For The Arctic is the region from 66.5° instance, the sizes of glaciers and N to the North Pole, whereas the icebergs. An Antarctic iceberg Antarctic is the region from 66.5° S to sometimes is as big as one of the the South Pole. The North Pole is Japanese islands, Shikoku (18,300 km2)! located in the sea surrounded by It disappears in the warm water as it northern Europe, Greenland, Canada, moves equatorward, though. and Russia. It is a one day flight from In addition, the two polar regions Japan. have different species. The South Pole, on the other hand, is on the “continent of ice,” Antarctica I like to see lovely penguins! surrounded by the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian Oceans. It takes more than one They nest and breed in summer month to travel from Japan to the (December - January) near Syowa Syowa Station on an icebreaker. Station, then move to the north. It is so delightful to watch them marching in Is it true that research on a line. In the Arctic, on the contrary, meteorology, auroras, geomagnetism, you have to be watchful for polar bears. and seismology has been carried out at the Syowa Station since 1957? How do people live in the polar regions? That is correct. The data obtained from long-term observations are crucial Well, Arctic research stations are for research on space phenomena and located near towns, where they watch the Earth‛s climate change. Recently, TV and use the Internet. Their daily exploratory ice core drillings and ozone life there is not so different from ours. observations conducted in Antarctica In Antarctica, however, research have been drawing attention. stations are remote from populated areas. Terrestrial television But they have to work in a broadcasting cannot be received in the temperature of －70°! BRRRR! usual way. Communications used to rely on the wireless telephone and More accurate data are available in telegraph, but the electromagnetic polar regions that are free from waves used for them are disturbed artificial contamination compared with when auroras occur. Recently, it has mid- and low-latitudes. been possible to communicate over the Also, ice core samples reveal Internet via satellite transmission. A changes in the temperature over as wide variety of food is delivered to the much as about 800,000 years. It is the stations; foods that are similar to what important record of Earth‛s you have at home. temperature that can allow us to tackle Once you step outside, however, you global warming. may face dangerous situations such as severe cold, crevasses, or blizzards. Tell me about the aurora, then. Could the auroras in both polar regions Still, I want to join polar be seen at the same time from space? expeditions in the future. Let‛s start training for it, Mirubo! Yes. If you compare these auroras, you will find the directions of their You are the boss...

12 (... continued from the inside cover.) ponies all died and his vehicles broke Arctic Ocean in an airship “Norge.” I down, they had to pull sleds by became the first person to reach both themselves. One month after us they poles! arrived at the Pole. Scott and his crew Then, it was in June 1928 that the all perished on the return trip due to Italian explorer U. Nobile, who had exhaustion and severe weather. I was reached the North Pole with me, got glad to learn that the US station lost during another Arctic expedition. constructed in Antarctica in November I decided to take part in the rescue 1956 was named after Scott and mission, although there had been a myself, “Amundsen-Scott South Pole dispute between him and me over the Station.” credit for the North Pole expedition. Now, after my Antarctic expedition After all, we were friends with each I set the next goal of taking an other. I flew from Spitsbergen to look expedition to the North Pole, and in for him, but unfortunately, it became 1926, I made the crossing of the my last journey. That is, while Nobile was rescued, I myself met with a mishap and never returned... In Ny-Ålesund, you will find my statue watching people‛s challenge of a scientific understanding of the Arctic.

Up: The Valley Glacier in the Arctic. Down: Shirase Glacier in Antarctica.＊ The statue of R. Amundsen in Ny-Ålesund.

Auroras in the Arctic (left) and in Antarctica (right)＊. The two spirals are in opposite directions.

＊Photos from “Two Poles,” Rika Nenpyo Dokuhon, Maruzen. CAWSES: A SCOSTEP Program 2004-2008 Climate and Weather of the

Solar Influence on Climate Sun-Earth System (CAWSES) CAWSES is an international program sponsored by SCOSTEP (Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics) and has been established with the aim of significantly Space Weather: Science and Applications enhancing our understanding of the space environment and its impacts on life and society. The main functions of CAWSES are to help coordinate international activities in Atmospheric Coupling Processes observations, modeling and theory crucial to achieving this understanding, to involve scientists in both developed and developing countries, and to provide educational opportunities for students at all levels. The CAWSES office is located at Space Climatology Boston University, Boston, MA, USA. The four science Themes of CAWSES are shown in the figure. http://www.bu.edu/cawses/ http://www.scostep.ucar.edu/

Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory (STEL), Nagoya University STEL is operated under an inter-university cooperative system in Japan. Its purpose is to promote “research on the structure and dynamics of the solar-terrestrial system,” in collaboration with a number of universities and institutions both in Japan and abroad. The Laboratory consists of four research Divisions: Atmospheric Environment, Ionospheric and Magnetospheric Environment, Heliospheric Environment, and Integrated Studies. The Geospace Research Center is also affiliated to the Laboratory to coordinate and promote joint research projects. At its seven Observatories/Stations, ground-based observations of various physical and chemical entities are conducted nationwide. http://www.stelab.nagoya-u.ac.jp/

はやのん Hayanon Kodomo no Kagaku (Science Graduated from the Department of Physics of for Kids) Ryukyu University, Hayanon, a writer and Kodomo no Kagaku, published by the cartoonist, has contributed a number of serials Seibundo Shinkosha Publishing Co., Ltd. is a in popular magazines on the basis of her strong monthly magazine for juniors. Since the background in science and computer games. inaugural issue in 1924, the magazine has Her consistent writing style, expressing a love continuously promoted science education by for science, is well accepted. providing various facets of science, from http://www.hayanon.jp/ scientific phenomena in everyday life to cutting edge research topics. http://www.seibundo.net/

“What are the Polar Regions?!” is published with cooperation of “Kodomo no Kagaku.” Mol, Mirubo, and Sensei thank Alan Burns for his help in preparing the English version of our story.

Produced by the Solar-Terrestrial Environment Laboratory, Nagoya University and the Scientific Committee on Solar-Terrestrial Physics in conjunction with the CAWSES program. December 2007 All rights reserved.