Geomagnetism and Aeronomy activities in Italy during IGY, 1957/58

• Published in: Annals of Geophysics
• Main Authors: Meloni, Antonio, Alfonsi, Lucilla
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, INGV 2009
• Subjects: IGY – Geomagnetism – Aeronomy – History of Geophisics – Italy; Antarc*; Antarctica; IPY
• Online Access: https://www.annalsofgeophysics.eu/index.php/annals/article/view/4636; https://doi.org/10.4401/ag-4636

In 2007 several events were organized to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of the International Geophysical Year(IGY, 1957-1958). The celebrations will last until 2009 and are taking place within different contexts: the InternationalPolar Year (IPY), the International Heliophysical Year (IHY), the electronic Geophysical Year (eGY)and the International Year of Planet Earth (IYPE).IGY offered a very appropriate and timely occasion to undertake a series of coordinated observations of variousgeophysical phenomena all over the globe. Italy took part in the broad international effort stimulated by IGY. Infact, Italy participated in observations and studies in many of the proposed scientific areas, in particular Geomagnetismand Aeronomy. The Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica (ING) started the installation of observatories,and updated and ensured continuous recording of geophysical observations. Geomagnetism, ionosphericphysics, seismology, and other geophysical disciplines, were advanced. Although much of the work was undertakenin Italy, some attention was also devoted to other areas of the world, in particular Antarctica, where Italyparticipated in seismological observations. This paper gives a summary of the Geomagnetism and IonosphericPhysics activities within IGY. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of this historical event and its outcomesfor the improvement of geophysical observations and the post-IGY growth of scientific investigations in Italy.