In May 1952, the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU) endorsed plans for a major global science campaign and created the Special Committee for the International Geophysical Year (CSAGI). This step turned earlier “polar year” ideas into an organized, worldwide program with shared goals and schedules.
To support U.S. IGY science in Antarctica, the U.S. Navy launched Operation Deep Freeze as a large logistics effort. This air-and-sea supply system made it possible to build and maintain Antarctic stations and to move people and instruments across difficult terrain.
On 6 January 1956, a Royal Society expedition founded the original Halley base (later rebuilt multiple times) on the Brunt Ice Shelf. The station strengthened the Antarctic observing network needed for IGY work, including atmosphere and space-weather measurements (how the Sun affects Earth’s upper atmosphere).
On 13 February 1956, the Soviet Union opened Mirny Station during its first Antarctic expedition. Mirny became a key coastal hub for field parties and for pushing inland to support IGY-era science such as meteorology, glaciology, and geophysics.
On 31 October 1956, a ski-equipped U.S. Navy aircraft landed at the South Pole, showing that regular air support to the interior was possible. This was crucial for building a permanent station and for supplying instruments during the IGY polar programs.
In November 1956, U.S. Navy Seabees began building the first Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station as part of U.S. commitments to IGY science. A permanent structure at 90°S allowed year-round measurements in a location that had previously been reached only rarely.
On 1 January 1957, the United States commissioned Byrd Station after an overland tractor traverse from Little America. It expanded the IGY station network into West Antarctica, supporting coordinated observations like weather, ice conditions, and geophysical measurements away from the coasts.
In 1957, ICSU created the World Data Center (WDC) system to archive and distribute IGY observations. The goal was to prevent data loss and to make measurements available internationally, so results from Antarctica and elsewhere could be compared and combined.
Australia opened Davis Station on 13 January 1957 in the Vestfold Hills region. Together with Mawson (opened earlier in 1954), Davis increased Australia’s capacity to collect continuous Antarctic data during the IGY, including meteorology and geophysical monitoring.
The United States commissioned Ellsworth Station on 11 February 1957 near Gould Bay on the Filchner Ice Shelf. This strengthened IGY coverage of the Weddell Sea sector, adding another location for atmospheric, glaciological, and geophysical observations in a challenging region.
The International Geophysical Year ran from 1 July 1957 through 31 December 1958, chosen to cover full seasons in both hemispheres and to align with a peak in the Sun’s activity cycle. In polar regions, this meant continuous, standardized observations of weather, magnetism, auroras, ice, and other Earth systems across many stations.
On 16 December 1957, during the IGY period, the Soviet Union established Vostok Station deep in East Antarctica. Operating far from the coast allowed long-term measurements of extreme cold, ice, and atmosphere in the continental interior—data critical for understanding Antarctica’s role in Earth’s climate system.
On 31 January 1958, the United States launched Explorer 1, a satellite linked to the IGY space-science effort. Its instruments detected intense radiation around Earth, leading to the discovery of the Van Allen radiation belts and expanding geophysics into the near-space environment.
In early 1958, nations active in Antarctic research created the Special Committee on Antarctic Research (later renamed the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, SCAR). SCAR helped carry IGY-style coordination forward by organizing international scientific priorities and cooperation in Antarctica.
On 2 March 1958, the Commonwealth Trans-Antarctic Expedition completed the first successful overland crossing of Antarctica, linking the Weddell Sea to the Ross Sea via the South Pole. The expedition also collected geophysical data (including seismic work) that complemented IGY goals of systematic measurement across the continent.
The IGY officially ended on 31 December 1958, leaving a legacy of shared stations, shared data, and routines for peaceful research. On 1 December 1959, the 12 countries active during IGY Antarctic operations signed the Antarctic Treaty, reinforcing Antarctica’s use for peaceful purposes and scientific cooperation.
International Geophysical Year polar programs (1957–1958)