Foreword for Thematic papers on “A Decade of Scientific Research at Dome A, Antarctica”

Scientific research in many disciplines has been undertaken in the Dome A region. Major focuses have been onglaciological dynamics and the mass budget of the interior ice sheet; the meteorology and climate of the high inlandAntarctic plateau; recovery of a very old ice core (perhaps more than one million years) from near Dome A for studiesof past climate and atmospheric composition; investigation of the topography and geological structure of thesub-glacial Gamburtsev Mountains; and astronomical observations (including the use of remotely operated telescopes)from the high, cold and clear location at Dome A. The region between Dome A and Prydz Bay, more than 1200 km tothe north, was also the location for the major Chinese-led contribution the International Polar Year 2007-2008,PANDA (Prydz Bay, Amery Ice Shelf and Dome A Observatories).The results from these and other scientific programs at Dome A will be reviewed in this and subsequent issues ofAdvances in Polar Science.