International Geophysical Year (IGY)
A comprehensive series of global geophysical activities spanning the period
from July 1957 to December 1958 and timed to coincide with the high point
of the 11-year cycle of sunspot activity.
It was proposed by the International Council of Scientific Unions (ICSU)
in 1952 following a suggestion by Lloyd Berkner.
In March 1953, the National Academy of Science appointed a United States
National Committee to oversee American participation in the IGY. The American
program included investigations of aurora and airglow, cosmic rays, geomagnetism,
glaciology, gravity, the ionosphere, determinations of longitude and latitude,
meteorology, oceanography, seismology, solar activity, and the upper atmosphere.
In connection with upper atmosphere research, the United States undertook
to develop an orbiting satellite program. It was from the IGY rocket and
satellite research that the United States developed its space program.
Related category
• SATELLITES
AND SPACE PROBES
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