About the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center
Named in honor of one of America's most famous explorers, the Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center of The Ohio State University is recognized internationally as a leader in polar and alpine research. The Center's research programs are conducted throughout the world.
Research at the Center focuses on the role of cold regions in the global climate system, with major themes focused on:
- climatic reconstruction of glacial and post-glacial times;
- polar ice-sheets: dynamics, history and ice-atmosphere interactions;
- high-latitude landform evolution, soils and hydrology;
- geologic evolution of Antarctica;
- investigations of ocean dynamics and environmental-chemical processes;
- and the history of polar exploration.
Scientists at the Byrd Center are reconstructing past climate by studying chemical records preserved in ice cores collected from glaciers in Greenland, Asia, North and South America, and Antarctica. Fossils provide important evidence for much older changes in climate and plant fossils collected in the Transantarctic Mountains indicate that parts of the southern continent were once forested. Environmental studies include programs in Alaska and Russia which are concerned with hydrologic and geochemical cycles in permafrost terrains and interactions with the biosphere. Modern processes such as the motion of the great ice sheets and the circulation of storm systems around Antarctica are being studied with sophisticated computer models and with satellite-borne sensors capable of imaging the surface through cloud cover and during the long polar night.
The Center has an archival program which is a collaborative effort of the Center and The Ohio State University Libraries/Archives. Our Education Outreach program provides publicly-accessible information about our research to schools in the local area and around the world, public interaction with scientists, and hosts group tours, public events, and sponsorships. The Center also sponsors a weekly seminar which is open to the public.
The Center encourages the involvement of undergraduate and graduate students in its research programs. We also maintain the Byrd Postdoctoral Fellowship Program.
Location
Address
Byrd Polar and Climate Research Center Scott Hall Room 108 1090 Carmack Road The Ohio State University Columbus, Ohio 43210-1002
Telephone: | (614) 292-6531 |
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Fax: | (614) 292-4697 |
Hours
Regular hours are 7:00 AM - 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
Directions & Parking
View printable directions (PDF)
By Car
- Take 315 to the Lane Avenue exit. This is one of the major exits for The Ohio State University. Go West (left if you are coming from the South side of the city; right if you are coming from the North side of the city) onto Lane Avenue.
- Once you are on Lane Avenue, pass Kenny Road. The next intersection (there will not be a traffic light) is Carmack Road. Take a left.
- Once on Carmack Road, continue straight – past Arthur Adams Road – through the 4-way stop and into the parking lot.
- Park and use the blue Pay-by-Plate machines (electronic parking meters) which accept coins and credit cards. The machine will print you a temporary parking permit which will allow parking in any unrestricted parking spot.
- Follow the footbridge and path towards the Greenhouse.
- Our facility, Scott Hall, is the third building on the left, north of the Greenhouse.
By School Bus
It is best to have your bus driver follow these directions.
- Take 315 to the Lane Avenue exit. This is one of the major exits for The Ohio State University. Go West (left if you are coming from the South side of the city; right if you are coming from the North side of the city) onto Lane Avenue.
- Once you are on Lane Avenue, pass Kenny Road. The next intersection (there will not be a traffic light) is Carmack Road. Take a left.
- Once on Carmack Road, take a left onto Arthur Adams Drive. You will notice ponds on both sides of the road. Once you drop off your students, your bus will be able to turn around, and you may direct your driver to parking in the lots (pick up with step number 3 above).
- School buses may park in the large parking lots at no cost. No parking permits are needed.
By CABS (OSU Campus-Area Bus Service)
Ride CABS using Campus Loop North, Campus Loop South, or North Express to Bus Stop Carmack #1. Exit the bus and walk up the stairs along the bus stop. Turn right to pass the Greenhouse. Scott Hall will be on your left, 3 buildings down.
All-day visitors should contact the Center to request a daily parking pass.
Byrd Center Support Staff
Please view our Administrative Staff listing in our Directory.
Byrd Center Facilities
- Auditorium, 110 seats
- Chemical Analysis Facilities
- Clean Room, Class 100
- Cold Storage (Ice Core) Facility & Cold Labs
- Datacenter/Computer Support Workshop
- Goldthwait Polar Library
- Graphics Services
- Learning Center
- Machine Shop
- Meteorology Laboratory
- Polar Rock Repository
- Remote Sensing Laboratory
- Sedimentation Laboratory & Storage
Byrd Center Publications
- Download Reports and E-Publications
- BPCRC Report Series
- BPCRC Technical Report Series
- BPCRC Contribution Series
- BPCRC Miscellaneous Series
- BPCRC Technical Note Series