Arctic Ocean Ecosystem Collection

Overview

NASA's Operation IceBridge images Earth's polar ice in unprecedented detail to better understand processes that connect the Polar Regions with the global climate system. IceBridge uses a specialized fleet of aircraft and the most sophisticated suite of science instruments ever assembled to gather data on sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets. The data gathered today will allow future scientists

Overview

NASA's Operation IceBridge images Earth's polar ice in unprecedented detail to better understand processes that connect the Polar Regions with the global climate system. IceBridge uses a specialized fleet of aircraft and the most sophisticated suite of science instruments ever assembled to gather data on sea ice, glaciers, and ice sheets. The data gathered today will allow future scientists

What is it and why do we use it? An Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler, or Acoustic Doppler Profiler, is often referred to with the acronym ADCP. Scientists use the instrument to measure how fast water is moving across an entire water column. An ADCP anchored to the seafloor can measure current speed not just at the bottom, but also at

This short video from national geographic introduces viewers to the biology of a bowhead whale.

BBC Nature video from a series on Ocean Giants Wildlife Video Collection.

Arctic Ocean Biodiversity is a Census of Marine Life project aimed at coordinating research efforts examining the diversity in each of the three major realms: sea ice, water column and sea floor, including fish, mammals & birds. This program will consolidate what is known and fill remaining gaps in our knowledge: it leads the Arctic Ocean diversity cluster within the

NOAA Fisheries, Office of Protected Resources, provides information on bowhead whale status, taxonomy, species, description, habitat, distribution, population trends, threats, conservation efforts, regulatory overview, key documents, more info.

NOAA brochure on Alaska's bowhead whale's population, management, hunting, physiology and behavior.

Some movements and feeding patterns of the western Arctic stock of bowhead whales are poorly understood. The purpose of this project is to use satellite telemetry to identify feeding areas and migration corridors. This poster explains the details of the project.

Bowhead Whale. North Slope Borough: Department of Wildlife Management provides scientific studies and research on bowhead whale population, behavior, anatomy, physiology, and local traditional knowledge.

In parts of the northern Arctic region, the delicate balance of the food chain depends heavily on the diminutive copepod Calanus glacialis. This herbivorous Arctic zooplankton species is specially adapted to melting sea ice and the blooming of a few small algal species.

Windows to the Universe offers information on plankton. Also associated are resources on other ocean life, marine ecology, and human impacts of marine environments.

This 5 minute interview with polar researcher Carin Ashjian gives a glimpse into her study of oceanography and marine ecosystems in the Arctic.

Overview

This lesson was written for the 2012 Arctic Ocean Ecosystem Workshop and was inspired by the research work conducted off the coast of Barrow, Alaska by researchers Steve Okonnen and Patricia Yager with PolarTREC teachers Lollie Garay and Chantelle Rose. Students will engage in a series of exercises to investigate seasonal change in the Arctic ecosystem based on authentic

This PowerPoint presentation in Italian about polar antifreeze proteins was submitted as a capstone project by Laura Beltrami, a participant in the Cyber-based Interdisciplinary Science Education (C-ISE) Learning Course. This stand-alone presentation can be used to complement a Life Science lesson.

This PowerPoint presentation about diving adaptations in marine mammals was submitted as a capstone project by Tammy Orilio, a participant in the Cyber-based Interdisciplinary Science Education (C-ISE) Learning Course. This stand-alone presentation can be used to complement a Life Science lesson.

This PowerPoint presentation, "When environmental conditions promote evolution: An introduction to morpho-physiological and behavioral differences between two phocids", was submitted as a capstone project as part of the PolarTREC Online Course Series by participant Patricia Azinhaga. This stand-alone presentation can be used to complement a Life Science lesson.

Overview

How can the ocean be colder than 0 degrees C, the temperature at which water freezes? As it turns out, the concentration of the particles (in this case, the ions from the salt) in ocean water lowers the temperature at which the saltwater will freeze. Students will learn how ocean water freezes at a lower temperature than freshwater by

Overview

In part two of this two-part lesson students work in pairs to explore the effects of temperature on ocean stratification using a simple plastic shoebox-sized container in which they create a mini-ocean environment. Students will apply what they learn in the lab setting along with information gained in several online articles to a basic understanding of the Global Conveyor

Overview

In part one of this two-part lesson students work in pairs to explore the effects of salinity on ocean stratification using a simple plastic shoebox-sized container in which they create a mini-ocean environment. Students will apply what they learn in the lab setting along with information gained in several online articles to a basic understanding of the Global Conveyor

This article summarizes PolarTREC teacher Mark Buesing’s amazing and varied career as a cyclist, engineer, teacher, and now participant on NASA's airborne mission to map and measure ice in the Polar Regions.

Andrea Skloss and Jill Smith goes to the Arctic are headed to the Arctic from Texas to study with researcher Ken Dunton.

Article in the Port Aransas' South Jetty newspaper regarding the two PolarTREC expeditions with teachers from the local area headed to the Arctic.

PolarTREC teacher Bill Schmoker, one of 14 teachers nationwide, has been awarded the National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellowship. This article describes his upcoming National Geographic expedition to the Arctic Ocean aboard its research ship 'Explorer'.

PolarTREC alumni and science teacher Bill Schmoker is taking his second research trip to the Arctic this summer as one of a handful of educators chosen as a Lindblad Expeditions National Geographic Grosvenor Teacher Fellow.