Journal Entry

Fun in Fairbanks!

It's Day 5 of the PolarTREC Orientation and Share Fair. They keep us very busy. It will take me awhile to digest all of the information once I get home. But everything is so exciting and these are truly inspiring people.

Dr. Brigham-Grette

So let's get started. First, I met Dr. Julie Brigham-Grette, one of the two researchers that I will work with this summer. Julie is a professor of Quaternary and Glacial Geology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She is the US Chief Scientist of the El'gygytgyn Drilling Project that has yielded records of the paleoclimate from terrestrial Arctic. Julie is a remarkable scientist. I am enjoying getting to know her and look forward to joining her research on Svalbard's tidewater glaciers and lake systems this summer.

Peggy McNeal and Dr. Julie Brigham-GrettePolarTREC teacher Peggy McNeal with Dr. Julie Brigham Grette preparing for research in Svalbard in July

Layers!

We went to the CH2M HILL Polar Services Warehouse to try on and sign up for gear. Boots, parkas, backpacks, balaclavas, goggles, mosquito shirts, waders- all of these are available for us to borrow while on our expeditions. A Norwegian proverb says "There is no bad weather, just bad clothing". With that in mind we watched a demo of how to dress for extreme cold weather; the key is lots and lots of layers!!!

CH2M Hill Polar Services WarehouseAt the CH2M Polar Services Warehouse learning how to layer, layer, layer! PolarTREC teacher Peggy McNeal with Dr. Julie Brigham-GretteDr. Julie Brigham-Grette giving PolarTREC teacher Peggy McNeal tips on gear selection.

Bubbles!

Finally, a fun experiment with bubbles! Other than the fact that the bubbles freeze, it is interesting to note that the bubbles in the last clip really float up high! Think about why that might be. For my students, this should be easy. If you have an idea, put it in the comments section below. Note- please include your name (if you wish) in the body of the text so I know who you are.

Comments

Mon, 04/28/2014 - 08:27

Peggy McNeal

Magnus and Jenna,The ubbles? :)
Those weird patterns showed up as the bubbles were freezing, something you don't ordinarily see.

Fri, 02/21/2014 - 16:18

Guest

The air you blow into the bubbles is warmer than the air temperature, so the bubbles rise because warm air is lighter than cold dense air.Kaitlin Mears

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:47

Guest

Hey its cade and keith from per 4 we were wondering why the bubble dosn't pop when it frozen it just falls apart

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:52

Guest

Hi, Mrs. McNeal this is Aubryella and Robert we would like to ask if bubbles ave a higher freezing point than water. thank you. :)

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:54

Guest

Alyssa Elkins
austin ballo

How do bubbles keep their shape while in the air?

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 11:57

Guest

Christine and Kieran per. 4
Why didn't the bubbles pop right away?

Tue, 04/29/2014 - 12:01

Guest

How did the bubbles not pop right away?

Sat, 03/08/2014 - 15:33

Guest

What are balaclavas?
I think they float up high because there is air inside of them causing them to float..

Mario Acevedo period.2

Wed, 03/12/2014 - 16:10

Peggy McNeal

Hi Mario,Balaclavas are like ski masks. They keep your head and face warm. But instead of pulling the whole hat over your head, with a balaclava there is a part that goes over your head and a part around your neck that you pull up over your face. There is a separation in between that you can look through.

Well yes, there is air in the bubble but there is also air outside the bubble. So there must be something different about the air in the bubble to cause it to float up relative to the surrounding air. Think about what you know about density. What is different about the air in the bubble and how would this make it less dense than the surrounding air?

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 14:57

Peggy McNeal

Shyann and Conner,Actually they lasted longer and when they hit the ground they rolled around without popping. The bubble solution froze so that made it sturdier than normal bubbles that stay liquid.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 15:12

Peggy McNeal

Christine and Kieran,You asked the same question as Shyann and Conner! Here is my response:
Actually they lasted longer and when they hit the ground they rolled around without popping. The bubble solution froze so that made it sturdier than normal bubbles that stay liquid.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 15:27

Peggy McNeal

Alyssa and Austin,Oh, super great question!
It is due to a balance of forces within the bubble, just like the balance of forces in a nebula like we were talking about in class today. Except that instead of the forces in balance being gravity and pressure, in a bubble the balanced forces are surface tension and pressure. The surface tension tries to pull the molecules of bubble solution into the tightest possible grouping which is a sphere.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 15:27

Peggy McNeal

Aubryella and Robert,Soap bubbles that are blown into air that is less than 5ºF will freeze, so yes.

Thu, 05/01/2014 - 15:27

Peggy McNeal

Cade and Keith,If cold enough, the bubble will actually shatter when it hits the ground. Shattering/popping; it kind of accomplishes the same thing, doesn't it?

Sat, 02/15/2014 - 07:17

Guest

Hi Preggy,
Hey, quick question, at what temperature do the bubbles maintain that harder surface? Thanks so much.

Sat, 02/15/2014 - 14:54

Peggy McNeal

It was around -20º F when I did this, but I would guess that anything under 32º F would work since bubble solution is mostly water.

Sat, 02/15/2014 - 22:55

Guest

The air you blow into the bubbles is warmer than the air temperature, so the bubbles rise because warm air is lighter than cold dense air.

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 04:24

Peggy McNeal

Right on to this reply!! "The air you blow into the bubbles is warmer than the air temperature, so the bubbles rise because warm air is
lighter than cold dense air."

Sun, 02/16/2014 - 11:58

Guest

the bubbles freeze because it is so cold and they rise because you blow warm air into them!Athena

Mon, 02/17/2014 - 11:51

Guest

Do they freeze in the air or do they freeze when they land?

Fri, 04/25/2014 - 12:08

Guest

Why do the ubbles get weird patterns on them?
Magnus and Jenna period 4

Mon, 02/17/2014 - 20:41

Peggy McNeal

They froze in the air! It was just easier to see once they landed and were against a background.