Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 04/08/2009 - 06:39
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Spring Plankton and Changing Ice Cover

What color(s) do you see in the ice?

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 07:53

Simone Welch

White, white, white, blue, clear and yellow/brown.
So the white you know all about.  It's everywhere.  I've never been a place that is so soaked with one color!
The blue and the clear ice are pieces that are various thicknesses "new ice"  or old ice that is beginning to melt and break apart.  The ice that has been there all winter is blanketed in snow so that when you walk around you even sink down a little bit in some places.
The yellow/brown is the good stuff!  That's what many of the scientists out here are excited to study- ALGAE! It grows on the bottom of the ice where there is lots of available light.  When the pieces are disturbed, (especially by the boat) they flip over and you can see their colorful undersides.  Pretty neat, huh?

Wed, 04/08/2009 - 15:49

Elena

Dear Ms Welsh
Hi this is Elena Wehebrink from 3rd grade. I really miss you but I hope you are having a good time in the Artic. Today you appeared in the Washington Post. We are very proud of you.
What is the coldest temperature that you have experienced in the Artic?
love
Elena

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 09:18

Simone Welch

PS- More ice info.  The more dense the ice, the bluer it becomes.  The amount of air trapped inside effects how sunlight reflects off of the piece.  Less air=more blue.  Cool huh?

Fri, 04/10/2009 - 09:31

Simone Welch

Hi Elena!!!
Thanks for writing!  I heard about the Post article but haven't seen it yet. I wouldn't be in there without you guys so I'm proud of you too!
The coldest temperature that I have experienced for air temperature is -14C.  This is 7F.  The wind chill here is what makes it sooo cold though.  The wind chill is how cold it actually feels outside due to the wind.  Yesterday it felt like -45F which means that the you can suffer from frostbite in 5 mins.  We have been covering up tight.  Yesterday, I took my glove off to clear ice off of something on the back deck.  Brrrrr!
Write again soon!
Ms. W