Polar Bear on Beaufort Sea ice, seen from USCGC Healy on 2010 International Extended Continental Shelf Survey. Filmed by PolarTREC teacher Bill Schmoker.
RHI (Rigid Hull Inflatable boat) recovery on the USCGC Healy near Barrow, AK in the Beaufort Sea. Filmed on the 2010 International Extended Continental Shelf Survey by PolarTREC teacher Bill Schmoker
Summer Snow Day on the USCGC Healy in the SE Canada Basin (Arctic Ocean). Filmed on the 2010 International Extended Continental Shelf Survey by PolarTREC teacher Bill Schmoker.
Density currents drive 3D movements within the world’s oceans that dwarf surface currents by volume. Density-driven movements due to temperature/salinity differences keep the world’s oceans well mixed & help to re-distribute heat from tropical areas towards polar areas. Resultant upwelling creates some of the world’s richest ocean ecosystems. Density movements known as turbidity currents are the world’s largest
Many students are familiar with topographic maps showing relief of land surfaces. In this lab they will produce their own bathymetric maps, the underwater equivalent. A bathymetric map shows sea floor features by contouring depths below sea level (instead of elevation above sea level as in topographic maps). Students will first probe depths in “Mystery Bay”, a box
The Solar Oven Science activity was developed as a way to target conservation of energy. Some students understand that he sun can be used for heating and cooking but they mistakenly think that this can only work in deserts. Because of conservation of energy solar cooking and heating can work in temperate and even arctic environments. The linked
This activity is a way to create a cloud chamber in the classroom. A cloud chamber allows students to view "invisible" alpha particles emitted through nuclear decay. Alpha particles have a long history in nuclear physics--they are a helium nucleus and their emission during nuclear decay was one of the first ways we knew that atomic nuclei could
This PolarConnect event with PolarTREC Teacher, Katey Shirey talks about the IceCube project and living and working at the South Pole Station in Antarctica.
This video is one in a series of Antarctic Answers that were recorded for showing to high schoolers. The video is 29 seconds long and could be showed as a warm up question about how to become a researcher.