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How many times have you stared at a rock, convincing yourself that it is a bear? Well, I am pretty certain that today in Kaktovik, Ellie and I stared at a polar bear and convinced ourselves it was a rock. Later, the "rock" was gone, and another tourist mentioned that a bear had been seen in that

In the sweltering heat of an August afternoon in Norfolk, VA, it's hard to fathom what those sub-Arctic temperatures were like a few weeks ago. Although the sensation of cooler air has left me, the experiences I had this summer as a PolarTREC teacher on the research cruise "Jellyfish in the Bering

Our days in Fairbanks went quickly. Darrell flew out on Friday, but Ellie, Chris, and I spent the weekend in Fairbanks. Our email inboxes are full and our loved ones have been worried, so a lot of that time has been spent reconnecting with friends, family, and colleagues. We have also been catching

Ellie Broadman is a second year PhD student in the School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability. As my PolarTREC researcher, she is the reason I was able to have this amazing experience. Most PolarTREC participants, both teachers and researchers, are later in their careers, so for me

Chris Benson is a second year Geology Masters student at Northern Arizona University. His background in outdoor education, including guiding trips up Alaskan mountains, was a huge asset to our expedition. His calm and professional attitude helped me navigate the glacier with microspikes, and his bag

Darrell Kaufman is a professor of Paloeclimatology and Glacial Geology in the school of Earth Sciences and Environmental Sustainability at Northern Arizona University. Not only did he lead our field team, he is also a Co-PI of the Arctic Glacial Lakes Project. His leadership was crucial in

Back to "civilization." To cars, and news, and people. I am enjoying Thai food and showers, but it always seems so sudden, this transition from wilderness to city. Packing up was bittersweet. Leaving a place we love, but excited about what lies ahead. We spent our last day organizing gear. Samples

This is the fifth journal in a series of posts explaining the science of our expedition. "Varve" is a word I hadn't heard before joining the Arctic Glacial Lakes project. A varve is an annual layer that is preserved in sediments. You can see a similar pattern of annual banding in ice cores, tree