T.E.A. Teachers Experiencing Antarctica and the Arctic Working to help students better understand the process of real science Sponsored by the National Science Foundation Division of Elementary, Secondary, and Informal Education and the Office of Polar Programs Bringing teachers into the field to work with research scientists

The U.S.C.G.C. HEALY “420 feet of ice-breaking steel”

Ice Trials: Testing the Healy’s capacity for doing research in the polar regions.

Scientists and the U.S. Coast Guard are collaborating to achieve the Healy’s mission.

Plotting the route using charts…

…and satellite data…

…we left St. John’s, Newfoundland in mid- May and headed north into Baffin Bay.

The Scientific Mission of the Healy Polar Research Platform

Why study the Arctic?  Catalyst for global climate change  Rich biological productivity and diversity  Least explored place on earth

 The Arctic may be a catalyst for global climate change.

As the Arctic Ocean freezes, a highly saline layer of water forms below the ice.

This denser layer of water sinks…

…and is replaced by warm water from the tropics.

How might higher temperatures affect this system?

The extent of sea ice cover is shrinking…

…as is the thickness of the ice.

Landfast ice is also melting at a higher rate…

…most notably from the Greenland icecap…

…which is up to 3 km. thick.

Glaciers from the icecap calve and form icebergs.

This increased influx of fresh water could dilute the salt content of the upper layers of ocean water…

…affecting ocean circulation patterns worldwide…

…possibly causing drastic reductions in temperatures across the mid-Atlantic region.

As the ice cover shrinks…

… the decrease in the highly reflective surface area results in increased thermal absorption…

…continuing to drive temperatures higher…

…causing even more ice to melt.

The effects of higher temperatures may already be affecting resident wildlife like the Canada goose…

…and the polar bears.

Scientists on the Healy sample the water…

…collected at pre-determined depths…

…and calculate the salinity and temperature of the samples.

They also use acoustics to track ocean currents.

Investigation #1: If sea ice melts, will sea level rise? Investigation #2: If glaciers and ice sheets melt, will sea level rise? Investigation #3: What impact will melting land ice have on the land itself? Investigation #4: How much does water expand when heated? Investigation #5: How does the albedo effect keep the polar regions cold? Investigation #6: How will melting ice impact the albedo effect in the polar regions? Investigation #7: How will melting land ice affect the “ global conveyer belt ” in the world ’ s oceans?

 Arctic wildlife is highly adapted to survive in the extreme climate.

The rich marine life is supported…

…by tiny zooplankton like these copepods.

Even in this remote region..

…pollution threatens the health of the ecosystem…

…and its inhabitants.

 The Arctic Ocean is the least explored place on our planet.

Scientists on the Healy map the ocean bottom using sonar…

…to produce topographic maps such as this.

Photo Credits Chief Jim Flynn, U.S.C.G. Susan Klinkhammer Jay Schauer Chief Scott Bailey, U.S.C.G. Jerry Oldham Janice Rosenberg Greenland Guide

A Special Thanks To: National Science Foundation Belmont Public Schools The Captain and crew of the Healy Dr. Kelly Falkner, Oregon State University Susan Klinkhammer, Lincoln School My family

The End