This mini exhibit explores the science behind climate change and introduces current climate change research to the public. Panels cover the topics of changing climate, ocean acidification and sea level rise, giving examples of how data is collected and current research in these fields. The exhibit also provides websites for further exploring climate change impacts.
As the homepage of the website describes, "The beauty of the Arctic, its precious and fragile nature, its critical role in maintaining a stable climate for the planet, and the rapid rate of change that is occurring there must all be conveyed to the general public. Here, through digital story telling, we put a human face on science, life, societies
Students will review charts of day length to determine when the sun will set at Toolik Lake.
Objective
Students will learn the following:
* The sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on the earth's surface, such as growth of plants, winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle.
* Seasons result from variations in the
Students will learn the basics of calorimetry, energetics and respiration as they pertain to their own bodies and to those of other species, including arctic animals.
Objective
Students will learn about respiration, calorimetry and the energetic needs of various species including their own. Students will compare food intake to daily energy consumption and consider the consequences of
Students will use marshmallows to simulate toxins in the environment. Concentrations of these toxins will be modeled and calculated as they bioaccumulate up the food chain. Methylmercury and POPs are substances that bioaccumulate in the Arctic food chain. OASIS scientists studied these in Barrow, Alaska. (See Ocean Atmosphere Sea Ice and Snow (OASIS) Project at www.polartrec.com)
Students will discover how a simple action such as turning on a television will lead to toxins in our food supply. Many of these toxins concentrate in the Arctic because of long-range transport of pollutants in the atmosphere. Scientists in the OASIS project (http://www.polartrec.com/ocean-atmosphere-sea-ice-and-snowpack-interactions) study these pollutants in the Arctic. Students will learn about actions that they can take to
Students will conduct quantitative and qualitative observations on living organisms. By recording careful measurements, making and testing various hypotheses, on super mealworms, students will gain some understanding of how wildlife researchers conduct their studies.
Objective
Students learn to take measurements on living organisms and use those measurements to consider the health of the organisms.
In the Polar Discoveries Section of the Online NewsHour, professional photographer, Spencer Brown, uploaded a photjournal of scientists working as part of the OASIS campaign in Barrow, Alaska in the Spring of 2009.
Article from The Shorthorn - University of Texas at Arlington's student newspaper detailing PI Laura Gough's participation in a PolarTREC Live from IPY! Event. Laura is working with PolarTREC teacher Cathy Campbell at Toolik Station, Alaska this summer.
This website has tables and graphs to show length of day for locations throughout the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic. Additional weather information is also included.
(permission to link and use the site was granted by Matt Tukianen, the site creator, on July 9, 2008)