Spanish Polar Committee

The Spanish Polar Committee (CPE) is the Spanish authority responsible for coordinating Spanish R&D&I activities in the polar areas. Royal Decree 852/2020, of 22 September, regulates its composition and operation.

Currently, the CPE is attached to the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities through the General Secretariat of Research, which holds the Chair of the Committee as a National Polar Authority. In addition, the CPE is composed of a series of spokespersons represented by the different ministries and institutions involved in the Spanish polar activity; and a Technical Secretariat, which is responsible for promoting, coordinating and supervising the activities determined by the Committee or those attributed to it by the National Polar Authority.

Read more>>

Antarctica

Antarctica comprises all the territories located south of the 60º S parallel. It has an area of 14 million km2, of which 98% are covered with ice with average thicknesses of 3 km. It has the most extreme climate of the earth, having measured the lowest temperature recorded, is the most windy place and with the lowest rainfall record, and is the highest continent on Earth with an average altitude of 2000 m. It is home to about 80% of the planet’s fresh water. There are no indigenous populations in Antarctica.

Antarctic activities are governed by the Antarctic Treaty, initially signed by 12 countries in 1959, establishes a conservation regime for the continent. This Treaty recognizes the interest of all mankind that Antarctica should always and exclusively be used for peaceful purposes and that it should not become the scene or object of international discord. It also recognizes the importance of the contributions made to scientific knowledge as a result of international cooperation in scientific research in Antarctica.

Antarctic Treaty

Protection of the environment

Travelling to Antarctica

Tourism and non-governmental activities

Arctic

The Arctic is an area adjacent to the north pole formed by the Arctic Glacial Ocean and the lands surrounding it. It is estimated that it is inhabited by 4 million people, including indigenous peoples from the Arctic and other inhabitants. The Arctic is for the most part a vast ocean covered by a banquisa, surrounded by lands with a very low population density and icy subsoil. By its nature the Arctic region is a unique area and a sensor of climate change. Climate change is causing the temperature in the Arctic to rise 3 times faster than in the rest of the planet.

The Arctic belongs to the eight states with zones of sovereignty beyond the Arctic polar circle: Canada, Denmark (for Greenland and the Faroe Islands), Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Russia and the United States of America. These countries meet at the cooperation forum called the Arctic Council.

Arctic Council>>

Polar Science

Scientific research in polar regions is especially relevant because of the global significance of the processes and discoveries that take place in them. They are considered privileged observatories in numerous areas of knowledge. The understanding, knowledge and observation of the geological, biological, oceanographic and atmospheric processes that occur in both the Arctic and Antarctic are critical to advancing the knowledge of global processes on Earth. International collaboration is essential for the development of polar science.

The institutional support and development of scientific projects in the polar zones on a continuous basis dates back to the 1980s. Initially, the interest of the Spanish scientific community focused on Antarctica, mainly due to the accessibility of Spain's facilities in the area, but during the last decade there has been a diversification of research in the Arctic, supported, fundamentally, by international collaborations. Currently, numerous Spanish scientific projects are carried out in various locations, both Antarctic and Arctic.

Spanish Antarctic Campaign

Scientific projects

International cooperation

Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR)

International Committee on Arctic Science (IASC)

Bases, ships and operations

The Spanish Antarctic bases and oceanographic ships are the infrastructures that Spain has for the support and development of polar research. Both the bases and the ships are part of the national map of Singular Scientific and Technical Infrastructures (ICTS). The term ICTS refers to cutting-edge R&D&I infrastructures that, individually or by coordinating several facilities, provide services to develop cutting-edge and high-quality research, as well as for the transmission, exchange and preservation of knowledge, the transfer of technology and the promotion of innovation.

Spanish polar activities are mainly carried out in Antarctica, although there is also activity in the Arctic. Operations in Antarctica are usually carried out during the southern summer (November-March). International collaboration is fundamental in the development of polar activities.

Spanish Antarctic Bases (BAE)

Oceanographic ships

Operations in Antarctica

The council of managers of National Antarctic Programmes (COMNAP)

Polar data

The movement of open access and the creation of infrastructures to support the use of scientific information by the scientific community has considered the importance of accessibility to research data. These data are recognized as a source of knowledge of their own and independent of publications, which can generate new knowledge and could be exploited in an interdisciplinary way.

Law 14/2011, of 1 June, on Science, Technology and Innovation refers to the standardization of the management of data in repositories in order to facilitate its preservation, access and distribution (article 37).

Polar data, especially Antarctic data due to the obligation implied by Article III of the Antarctic Treaty, has instructions for the deposit and reuse of data available in thematic repositories. The proper management of data must be coordinated to ensure its preservation and exploitation and to ensure the interoperability of these.

National Polar Data Center>>