Human Impacts in Antarctica 2011
PolarConnect Events Now Archived!
If you want to see and hear Michelle sharing her experience being in Antarctica, you can access the archived event!
Visit the PolarConnect Archives!
Two Expeditions!
Michelle Brown is not only working with researchers in McMurdo but she is also working with a team of researchers looking at space weather at the South Pole! You can learn more about her second expedition here.
Meet the Team
Teacher - Michelle Brown
O. Henry Middle School
Austin
, Texas
United States
As a child, Michelle Brown never imagined that she would ever be working with scientists. She was a science naysayer until her junior year at Northeastern University, where she was well into a Bachelor's in English Literature. However, Ms. Brown fell in love with science on a geology field trip to the volcanoes and glaciers of Iceland, and has been learning about science ever since. Ms. Brown received her Master's in Science Education from the University of Texas at Austin in 2006, while at the same time discovering a passion for sedimentology. She remained in Austin, and teaches 6th and 7th grade science at O. Henry Middle School.
Researcher - Mahlon Kennicutt II
Texas A&M University
College Station
, Texas
United States
Mahlon "Chuck" Kennicutt's research interests include environmental chemistry and organic geochemistry. His current research investigates the patterns of human disturbance at McMurdo Station. He has spent more than 575 days at sea and has deployed to Antarctica six times. Dr. Kennicutt serves as leader of the Sustainable Coastal Margins Program and is the United States delegate to, and the Vice President for, Scientific Affairs (USA) of the Scientific Committee of Antarctica Research (SCAR).
Researcher - Andrew Klein
Texas A&M University
College Station
, Texas
United States
Andrew Klein is an associate professor in the Department of Geography at Texas A&M University. He received a B.A. from Macalester College and a Ph.D. in Geological Sciences from Cornell University. His current research interests lie in the application of remote sensing and geographic information systems (GIS) techniques to studying the cryosphere and the impact of humans in and around McMurdo Station, Antarctica.
Researcher - Terry A. Palmer
Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi
Corpus Christi
, Texas
United States
Researcher - Stephen Sweet
Texas A&M University
College Station
, Texas
United States
Stephen Sweet is a geochemist from the Geochemical and Environmental Research Group at Texas A&M University. His research interests have focused on environmental monitoring and assessment. He has participated in a number of scientific research programs in Antarctica, with seven deployments to both the Antarctic Peninsula and Ross Island. Dr. Sweet has been involved with the project investigating the spatial and temporal patterns of human disturbance at McMurdo Station for the past seven years.
Journals
Project Information
McMurdo Station
6 November 2011
12 December 2011
Where are They?
Crary Lab at McMurdo, Antarctica
The research team will be based out of Crary Laboratory at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. McMurdo is located at the southern tip of Ross Island on the shore of McMurdo Sound. During the summer research season, McMurdo hosts the largest community, supporting up to 1,200 people. The team will make day trips by foot or truck from McMurdo Station to their various marine and land sampling sites.
What are they Doing?
Humans have occupied the McMurdo Sound for over a hundred years. Early visitors had little impact on the region, but starting in the late 1950’s year-round, permanent buildings were established at McMurdo Station. Over the years thousands of humans have visited this area and have changed the landscape. Under its obligations to the Antarctic Treaty, the United States maintains a long-term monitoring program designed to track the environmental conditions in and around the station.
Each year, the research team conducts environmental monitoring and chemical, physical, and biological sampling in and around McMurdo Station. They will collect samples from both marine and terrestrial habitats as measures of human impact. They will take the samples back to the lab to look for contaminants.
The results of this research will help document and minimize the impacts of future science and support operations in Antarctica. This information can be used to inform management decisions in and around McMurdo Station to help preserve the unique Antarctic environment.
Learn more about this project by visiting the official project website.
Resources
| Title | Date | About | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Brown and Human Impacts in Antarctica Expedition | 9 December 2011 | PolarTREC teacher Michelle Brown and her research team conducted this PolarConnect event from... | Event |
| PolarConnect Celebrating Antarctica Day 2011 | 1 December 2011 | This one hour PolarConnect event Celebrates Antarctica Day 2011 with PolarTREC teacher Michelle... | Event |
| Teacher's passion for science, students takes her to Antarctica | 29 October 2011 | PolarTREC teacher Michelle Brown writes for the Austin American Statesman about her upcoming... | Article |
Journal Map
Javascript is required to view this map.
