Article, "The United States Program for the International Geophysical Year," by Joseph Kaplan, Chairman, United States National Committee, International Geophysical Year, March-April 1954

NEWS REPORT National Academy of Sciences National Research Council VOLUME IV March-April 1954 NUMBER 2 The United States Program for the International Geophysical Year JOSEPH KAPLAN X Chairman, United States National Committee, International Geophysicali Year P OF68-C ROGRESS has been made in developing program document to be submitted by the program of geophysical observations to May 15 to the Secretary-General of the be carried out during the years 1957-58 as Special Committee set up by the Inter- part of the many-nation cooperative under- national Council of Scientific Unions. This taking known as the International Geophys- Special Committee will meet in Rome, ical Year (IGY). A Coordinating Group, October 1-4, to consider all the national appointed by the United States National proposals. Committee last November (See NEWS Re- It is apparent at this time that an ap- PORT, Vol. III, No. 6), convened on January preciable and significant United States 14 and 15 and prepared drafts of the various program is fast taking shape. Ten fields of programs that might be undertaken by the activity have been chosen for the IGY: United States. 1) meteorology, 2) latitude and longitude Based on these drafts, a tentative determinations, 3) geomagnetism, 4) the program-budget document was prepared ionosphere, 5) aurora and airglow, 6) solar and submitted to the National Science activity, 7) cosmic rays, 8) glaciology, 9) Board on January 19 in the hope that the oceanography, and 10) rocket exploration National Science Foundation would under- of the upper atmosphere. The general na- take the securing of funds. Since then the ture of the proposed activities in each of Coordinating Group, members of the Com- these fields is suggested by the following mittee, the Administrative Secretary, and summaries. various scientific colleagues have been en- 1) Meteorology. The meteorological pro- gaged in the revision of this provisional gram is designed to produce significant document, which is essentially fiscal. The data in three areas-the lower atmosphere meeting of the Committee on April 8 and in the Northern Hemisphere, where exist- 9 was devoted to a review of these drafts ing stations will provide data in their and the preparation of the United States normal course of operation; the lower at- [17]