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THE INTERNATIONAL GEOSPHERE BIOSPHERE PROGRAMME
Established in 1986, the International Geosphere Biosphere Programme aims at "describing and understanding the interactive physical, chemical, and biological processes that regulate the total Earth system, the unique environment it provides for life, the changes that are occurring in the system, and the manner in which they are influenced by human action".
The IGBP has developed a set of programme elements* to investigate the life-driven interactions within and between the land, atmosphere and ocean components of the Earth system. The fundamental issue is that mankind is altering, in ways that are not well understood, virtually all the systems and cycles that together make life possible on Earth. Major environmental problems such as greenhouse gas warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, reduction in species diversity, deforestation and desertification are of particular concern.
IGBP along with its international companion programmes WCRP** and IHDP address the dynamic, transdisciplinary nature of the Earth system which requires integrating research approaches between natural and social sciences.
*BAHC : Biospheric Aspects of the Hydrological Cycle ;
GCTE : Global Change and Terrestrial Ecosystems ;
IGAC : International Global Atmospheric Chemistry ;
JGOFS : Joint Global Ocean Flux Study ;
LOICZ : Land-Ocean Interactions in the Coastal Zone ;
LUCC : Land Use/Land Cover Change (jointly with IHDP) ;
PAGES : Past Global Changes ;
GLOBEC : Global Ocean Ecosystems Dynamics.
** WCRP includes several projects, among which GEWEX : Global Energy and Water Cycle Experiment, and CLIVAR : Climate Variations, are of particular relevance.