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
Article about Bill Schmoker's upcoming PolarTREC expedition aboard the USCGC Healy in the Arctic Ocean. View the actual article at the Boulder Daily Camera Online.
The website, Ice Stories, features short interviews and other interesting content live from the polar regions. This weblink has a short video interview of PolarTREC teacher, Craig Beals, while taking part in a PolarTREC expedition with Barry Lefer at Summit, Greenland.
PolarTREC Teacher, Craig Beals, talks about his experiences at Summit, Greenland in this online version of an article published by the Billings Gazette on July 21, 2008.