IPY/NSTA Web Seminar: The Role of Polar Regions in Earth’s Changing Climate System LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP Thursday, December 13, 2007

Tools and Techniques to Examine Earth’s Changing Climate System – How do they do that? Kathy Gorski Einstein Fellow NSF/Office of Polar Programs

3 Did you know that today people around the world are celebrating the “International Polar Day”? YESNO

4 IPY to 1884 First coordinated international effort Focus on meteorology and geophysics Other events in history –Jesse James is killed –Twain publishes Huckleberry Finn –Picasso is born –American Red Cross is established by Clara Barton

5 IPY to 1933 Attention paid to good scientific process Scientifically, still focused on meterology Deliberate choice for one calendar year for IPY Events in history –Great Depression –Lindbergh’s son kidnapped –FBI Crime Lab and Radio City Music Hall open –FDR’s first “Fireside Chats” –Construction begins for Golden Gatge Bridge

6 IPY to 1958 Melds with and morphis into IGY Interest in ice depths develops Events in history –Sputnik launches –“Leave it to Beaver” premieres –Pink Flamingoes are manufactured –“The Music Man” opens on Broadway –TANG breakfast crystals first introduced –The Jim Henson company is founded

7 IPY to 2008 From March 2007 through March 2009 –Provides two research seasons at each pole Projects >200 People >50,000 Countries >60

8 IPY Goals Assess environmental status and change in polar regions Understand past change and predict future change Link between polar and global processes Look for new frontiers in science exploration in polar regions Use unique vantage point to observe Earth and space from poles Examine human dimensions and sustainability of circumpolar societies

9 Web Seminar Presentation Agenda IPY Overview – history and goals International Polar Day Ice –types –what we learn from it –how we learn from it Other climate analysis tools Opportunities and resources

10 December 13, 2007 Ice Sheet Day Why do we care about ice? –integral to life and culture of Northern communities –support ecosystems and biological diversity in polar regions –regulate global climate patterns

11 Types of Ice Ice is just frozen water, right? Which of the following is NOT a type of ice? A. Frazil Ice B. Anchor Ice C. Pancake Ice D. Yarn Ice E. Grease Ice

12 Types of Ice Ice is just frozen water, right? –how many types of ice can you name? Some examples: –anchor ice, congelation ice, frazil ice, glaciers, grease ice, ice sheets, pancake ice, slush, snow, transition ice differ in crystalline microstructure and age

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14 Ice Sheets large thick “permanent” built from both sea ice and glaciers ice sheet melting does NOT raise sea level! –think: melting ice in a beverage

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16 Flying Buttress

17 NASANASA image by Cindy Starr, based on data from Ole Bennike and Anker Weidick (Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland) and Landsat data. )

18 Monitoring Ice Sheets GPS (global positioning system) –based on signals from 24 satellites –signal information includes: where receiver is located which satellite is generating the signal how far away the satellite is located –data can be corrected for errors can be considered the data source for GIS

19 Monitoring Ice Sheets GIS (geographical information system) –integrates a variety of mapping and data tools –main function is to analyze spatial data –simplistic view: start with an x-y grid (2-D map) add vector data (add depth for topography) –based on CAD software

20 Let’s Pause for Three Questions

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22 Common Analyses Spectroscopic methods –Phosphorous (absorption of colored complexes –Ammonia (fluorescence or absorption schemes) –Nitrates, dissolved nitrogren –Cations (atomic absorption/emission) Chromatographic methods –Anions –gases –particulate Carbon, Nitrogen (following digestion/combustion)

23 Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Measure changes in electron energy levels Use thermal energy to promote electrons to higher levels Individual elements each time

24 UV-VIS Spectroscopy Easy, cheap Relies heavily on wet chemistry pectroscopy _l1/emspectrum.html

25 Atomic Emission Spectroscopy Excite electrons and promote to higher energy levels Measure emission as electrons fall to original levels Multiple elements analyzed at once

26 Ozone Sonde Balloons Electrochemical reaction –Ozone reacts with KI –Current proportional to concentration Balloons launched 2- 5/week –latex or plastic, depending on T er.html

27 And we haven’t even talked about ice cores! –

28 Opportunities for Teachers

29 Opportunities for Teachers

30 International Polar Day Did you know… –polar days occur around solstices and equinoxes at polar regions Changing Earth, Past & Present –ice, –climate, –oceans, –paleoclimate, –Earth history Watch for more informationwww.ipy.gov –get involved! Check PolarTrec for archives of broadcasts –Sign up for next week’s broadcast!

31 Now that you know about today’s celebration of the International Polar Day, what will you do tomorrow to celebrate it with your students? 1. 2.

32 Let’s Pause for Two Questions

33 Thank you! Check out the IPY Symposium Archives on the NSTA Learning Center for more IPY resources: posia_seminars/fall07/IPY_Birmingham/sy mposium_post.aspx posia_seminars/fall07/IPY_Birmingham/sy mposium_post.aspx

NASA logo Thanks to our presenter, Kathy Gorski and to NSF, NOAA, and NASA

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National Science Teachers Association Gerry Wheeler, Executive Director Frank Owens, Associate Executive Director Conferences and Programs Al Byers, Assistant Executive Director e-Learning LIVE INTERACTIVE YOUR DESKTOP NSTA Web Seminars Flavio Mendez, Director Danielle Troiano, Project Coordinator Jeff Layman, Technical Coordinator