Hi fellow Antarctic Adventurers! Welcome to an Exciting Exploration of the Chilly Continent…

ANTARCTICA Exploration ICEBLOCK (Exploration of Ice and Coastal Ecosystems of Benthic Life with Outreach into Classrooms for Kids) With Teacher: Mrs Korth Primary Science Teacher Fellow 2009

Exploration ICEBLOCK STF SAF SASW Subtropical water Exploration ICEBLOCK A journey that begins from Christchurch, NZ to Scott Base, Antarctica

When most people think of Antarctica they picture this: Or this: Or maybe even this:

Antarctica ... the coldest, windiest, highest, and driest continent ... But what is it like under the sea ice? Did you know that Benthic plants and animals are those that live on the sea floor.

Exploration ICEBLOCK SB 2 1 Have a look in closer detail to where we will be going: First, Scott Base (SB) (including a night out in our own built igloo!). Next across McMurdo Sound to New Harbour (1) where we camp for 2-3 weeks. Then it’s off to Cape Evans (2)

At both New Harbour and Cape Evans, the scientists will be diving through a hole in the sea-ice to explore the amazing number and different types of sea animals that live on the coastal sea floor. An ice hole take 2 days to melt and is only 1.2m in diameter. At New Harbour the sea-ice will be 6 to 7m deep! The divers will need 2 sea-ice holes. Why do you think the sea-ice is 6-7m thick at New Harbour and only 2m thick at Cape Evans? How cold does it have to be for sea water to freeze? Do you know why there have to be two sea-ice holes?

The coastal sea animals are very slow growing and long lived e. g The coastal sea animals are very slow growing and long lived e.g. some Antarctic shellfish live up to 80 years old! This means they are more at risk to changes in their environment (like the thickness of the sea ice, pollution or more carbon dioxide in the water!). Why do you think being slow growing and having long life spans makes these animals more vulnerable to changes in their environment?

What is it like under the sea ice? In this diagram you can see how sea-ice algae grows on the bottom of the thick sea-ice. This sometimes drops off and falls to the sea floor (to be eaten). Look how little sunlight gets through the sea-ice. What do you think happens to the sunlight and algal growth when the sea-ice gets thicker?

Start asking those questions! If you have questions about the Exploration ICEBLOCK project, ask your teacher to pass them onto me so I can be sure to find out some answers when I’m down in Antarctica. You may even come up with some experiments that you’d like me to try while I’m down on the Chilly Continent?! Keep checking this website for updates: www.wikieducator.org/Antarctica ENJOY the journey!