Analogs are used in science investigations to better understand systems we can’t access ourselves. In this lesson, students explore the Dry Valleys of Antarctica to better understand microbial communities on early Earth and what might have been possible on ancient Mars. Students will examine photographs, written descriptions, and artistic renderings of early Earth, the Dry Valley lakes, and
I'm finishing up packing and getting ready to airport hop my way back home. I will be back to let everyone know about upcoming outreach opportunities and the eventual results of the research done on this expedition, though that won't be for a while. Before I disappear I wanted to take the
Update Today we disembarked the R/V Nathaniel B. Palmer. We cleaned up our cabins and turned in our equipment and gear. I was a little sad to leave the ship that has been my home and work for the past 6 weeks. This has been an incredible experience with incredible people. We'll be stopping by one
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR):
Seeing Below the Surface While Keeping Scientists Safe
Overview
Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) is a valuable technology that utilizes waves of low frequency electromagnetic radiation to help polar scientists understand what is beneath their feet! Using real field data from the Icelandic glacier Múlajökull, along with a small selection of short videos and web-based resources
Update Since we got back a little early, we’ll get to disembark a little early too. Tomorrow we finish unloading all of the water samples from the CTDs, then we should be leaving the ship in two days! It feels like it’s all gone by so fast. A few of us were able to sneak away from work and get
Updates We made it back to Hobart! We still have busy days of packing and unloading before we depart the vessel. We also still have to finish the official cruise report since we got in early and had less time to work on it than expected. The cooks did bring on some fresh fruits and vegetables
Update We’re back in Australian waters. It’s so warm now… its 55F outside! In a day or so we’ll be back at the dock and disembarking. On the ship we’re trying to finish up the cruise report and pack up samples for shipping. I even have a few “samples” to pack—about 5 microscope slides.
PolarTREC teacher Emily Dodson participated in a scientific expedition in the summer of 2014 at Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Emily’s book is a telling of the science story behind the teams work and Emily’s participation as an educator and field assistant on the PolarTREC expedition.
Author/Credit
To contact Emily <emily.snowden [at] fayette.kyschools.us>
My high school has a Science Club whose members visit local elementary schools and run various “stations” that (elementary) students visit for 10-15 minutes before rotating to a different one. This lesson is designed to be one those – a quick hitting, but engaging look into polar science that will stir the kids’ inherent curiosity and get them
One of the most important indicators of our warming climate is the extent and thickness of polar sea ice. Currently satellites measure the extent of polar sea ice but it takes more sophisticated equipment aboard a low-flying plane to actually measure the thickness of sea ice. This lesson will show students how this is done.
