Orientation Day 4: It’s Starting to Make Sense
PolarTREC teachers Alicia Gillean, Glenn Clark, Dan Frost, and Obed Fulcar examine data.
I mentioned in my first post that this Oklahoma girl has a lot to learn about polar science. I have spent a lot of time this week jotting notes during presentations of concepts I need to study further, words I need to define, and questions I need to ask about polar science and related topics. At this point, phrases like “Global Carbon Cycle and its Anthropogenic Perturbation” (the title of a graph on a PowerPoint slide) mean little to me, but as I listen, read, discuss, and experience more related to polar science, it is slowly starting to make more sense to me.
I had several moments today where I felt like I had a good understanding of the concepts we were discussing. You might say that I had “lightbulb” moments. Mixed with the moments of clarity are many moments of confusion and uncertainty. I am excited to continue to develop my knowledge of Polar Regions.
This morning, a scientist named Elizabeth Webb told us about her work measuring the amount of carbon in the permafrost. Permafrost is ground that has been frozen for at least two years. Obviously, it is found only in extremely cold climates, like the Arctic and Antarctica. Carbon is a gas that is important for life on earth and is related to plant and animal activities, like photosynthesis and breathing, among other things. Too much carbon can dramatically impact the environment. Soil holds carbon and carbon in the permafrost is basically stuck there. Elizabeth wants to know more about the amount of carbon in the permafrost, especially as the permafrost begins to warm.
Researcher Elizabeth Webb demonstrates how she measures carbon in permafrost.
She demonstrated how her equipment measures the amount of carbon in the permafrost, then gave us sample graphs of data gathered related to the amount of carbon measured over time and a list of dates/times. She challenged us to apply our new learning about carbon and permafrost to match the titles to the correct graphs. This was incredibly challenging, but I learned a lot by listening to my group members, discussing ideas, and asking questions.
PolarTREC teachers Alicia Gillean, Glenn Clark, Dan Frost, and Obed Fulcar ponder data.
Each group studied graphs to match dates and times to the carbon measurements in the permafrost.
Later in the evening, four other PolarTREC teachers and I went to a local coffeehouse to listen to a presentation called “The Art of Ice Crystals and the Science of Ice Carving” about ice by a researcher named Erin Pettit.
Examining ice crystals in a thin slice of ice.
She made the statement that “The best discoveries in life happen when you step outside of your comfort zone.”
Erin Pettit presenting at the Science Café
I could not agree more and I am certainly out of my comfort zone right now…and loving it!