This lesson incorporates techniques and experimental designs used by researchers during the Southern Ocean Diatoms PolarTREC expedition and during post-expedition laboratory analysis. This guided inquiry lesson provides students the opportunity to explore photosynthesis and primary productivity using techniques to measure chlorophyll levels.
Objectives
SWBAT:
1. Use models to predict chlorophyll levels in the global oceans
2. Identify
Understanding Physical and Chemical Parameters of Ocean Water Using CTD Profiles
Overview
A focus of the PolarTREC Southern Ocean Diatoms expedition was to collect water samples and physical profile data using oceanographic technology. Oceanographers rely on the real-time data transferred from the water column to the ship-based computers using a CTD sensor. The CTD measures conductivity (salinity), temperature and depth
In this lesson students will learn how to use photography to support scientific research by documenting collected measurement information through observational photography. This lesson was written for a Photography course, to be taught in a lab with access to either a darkroom or computers/printers. Alternatively this lesson could be modified to work in a non-photography class, by removing the photography
PolarTREC teacher Alex Eilers used this resource to prepare for her expedition to student Weddell Seals in Antarctica. The purpose of this new web portal is to make available to educators, students, parents, and the general public information, resources, multimedia, and classroom materials based on Antarctica Weddell seal ecology research by the Montana State University Weddell seal research project.
Storyteller Films presents the scientific efforts to understand and detect the movement of King Crab from Deep to shallow waters off the continental shelf of Antarctica. The film was made by the Palmer and Oden 2010/2011 expeditions. The crabs are an invasive species that may have large effects on this diverse marine ecosystem. The film ha a comical flair though
Local news interviews PolarTREC teacher Nell Herrmann about her expedition to Palmer Station, Antarctica. The take a visit to her classroom as well. Video and written article are included.
PolarTREC teacher Juan Botella is interview by a local news station about his work on the NB Palmer. Juan discusses ocean circulation and changes affecting marine organisms. Video and article included.
This information is a resource on everything Antarctica created by 3 students in a Thinkquest project, collaborating internationally - Oliver Strebel, Robert Merki and Ho Lik Man.
Biodiversity maps, vocabulary, organism profiles, and data sets available on Antarctic Marine Life. There is an introductory video to the Census of Marine Life project which is available in English and Spanish.
This visual field guide covers organisms found at Ross Island and McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. It aims to facilitate underwater/topside field identification from visual characters. The National Science Foundation's Office of Polar Programs sponsored Norbert Wu on an Artist's and Writer's Grant and this Field Guide is a direct result of that sponsorship and Norbert Wu's efforts.