regarding continental drift, plate tectonics, and ocean floor spread- 

 ing, and the concept achieved during UMP on the need for continuing 

 close collaboration of Earth scientists of all types. Over 50 coun- 

 tries participated in IGP programs which included studies of the 

 ocean floor, the continental shelves, and ocean-continent tectonic 

 correlations. IGP ended in December 1979. A new program to continue 

 this research was approved by ICSU in September 1980. Formally titled 

 Dynamics and Evolution of the Lithosphere: the Framework for Earth 

 Resources and the Reduction of Hazards, it is commonly called the In- 

 ternational Lithosphere Program. It is directed by the International 

 Commission on the Lithosphere (ICL). 



289. INTERNATIONAL GEOPHYSICAL YEAR: IGY 



One of the largest global science research programs, and one 

 of the first, IGY consisted of cooperative investigations of the 

 Earth's interior, crust, and oceans. It was recommended in 1950, 

 approved by ICSU in 1951, undertaken from July 1, 1957, to December 

 31, 1958, and continued during 1959 when it was known as the Inter- 

 national Geophysical Cooperation or IGC. ICSU established a special 

 committee, known as CSAGI, to coordinate the scientific planning of 

 IGY, and data from the many programs were deposited in the newly 

 created World Data Centers (WDC's) supervised by CSAGI. 



Programs in oceanography centering on shore-based operations were 

 mainly directed to determine the sea-surface oscillations of frequen- 

 cies between one per year and one per minute. Strategic locations, 

 designated as "Island Observatories," were chosen to expand observa- 

 tions of tidal oscillations. Serial observations, that is, the meas- 

 urement of water temperature and salinity to a depth of 900 feet, 

 were also taken in the vicinity of the island observatories. The 

 deepwater observations, taken from ships, included standard hydro- 

 graphic work, continuous bathymetry, and marine geology, with the 

 emphasis placed on obtaining better information on the general 

 circulation of the oceans, particularly that of subsurface currents. 



290. INTERNATIONAL HYDROLOGICAL DECADE: IHD 



A UNESCO-sponsored program designed to promote cooperation in 

 developing hydrological research techniques, to disseminate hydro- 

 logic data, and to plan for hydrological installations. The Decade, 

 1965-74, was administered by a Coordinating Council selected at the 

 general conference of UNESCO together with members from the other 

 participating agencies, which included WMO, IAEA, WHO, and FAO of the 

 United Nations; and lAHS, lAH, and IBP of ICSU. lAHS was the princi- 

 pal scientific adviser. One of the panels for IHD was the Panel on 

 Systems for the Acquisition, Transmission, and Processing of Hydro- 

 logical Data, known as SAPHYDATA. Entry 291 describes one of the 

 IHD subprograms. 



291. INTERNATIONAL FIELD YEAR FOR THE GREAT LAKES: IFYGL 



Subprograms within IHD were generally performed at the national 

 level, though two or more nations could cooperate in a program of 

 mutual concern. One such program was the International Field Year 

 for the Great Lakes (IFYGL), established jointly by Canada and the 

 United States. IFYGL went into operation in 1972 and consisted of a 

 multidisciplinary survey of Lake Ontario. Purposes of the survey 

 were to understand the drainage basin, to ensure that its waters 

 will remain sufficient in quantity and quality, and to assist opera- 

 tions affected by the environment. 



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