Author Archive

Polar News & Notes: Jet Streams May Be Migrating

The jet streams in both hemispheres have risen in altitude and shifted toward the poles over the past two decades. The movement can have significant impact on weather around the globe if it continues, according to research published in the April 18 Geophysical Research Letters.
While the jet streams twist and turn as they move […]

Posted in Topics: Current News, Polar News & Notes

View Comment (1) »

Polar News & Notes: A Transnational Crime Scene Is Found in Arctic Waters

There’s evidence of global warming in the Arctic region aplenty, and now you can add evidence that illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing there has become an international criminal activity.
A report, Illegal Fishing in Arctic Waters, from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shows that cod valued at $350 million was illegally caught in the Barents […]

Posted in Topics: Current News, Polar News & Notes

View Comments (3) »

Polar News & Notes: Global Sun Temperature Project Enlists Students in Data Collection

During one week in May, students around the world will be gathering data that shows how proximity to the equator affects average daily temperature and hours of sunlight. In an Internet-based project called The Global Sun Temperature Project, students will determine their latitude and longitude coordinates, measure and record temperature and minutes of daylight, calculate […]

Posted in Topics: Polar News & Notes, Upcoming Opportunities

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: NSTA Web Seminars in May Focus on the International Polar Year

Three of the Web Seminars scheduled by the National Science Teachers Association in May will offer teachers at all grade levels an opportunity to enrich their teaching about the polar regions. Each seminar is presented at 6:30 p.m. on its scheduled date and lasts for 90 minutes. Participation is free.
Presenters for the two-part seminars on […]

Posted in Topics: Polar News & Notes, Professional Development, Upcoming Opportunities

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: Taking the Pulse of the Southern Ocean

On April 17, the RSV Aurora Australis docked in Hobart, Australia, with what the chief scientist aboard called “a remarkable data set of observations from the Southern Ocean, covering a wide range of physical, chemical and biological variables.”
A team of scientists had spent the past four weeks on the research and supply vessel measuring ocean […]

Posted in Topics: Antarctica, Current News, International Polar Year, Oceans, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: PolarTREC Invites Teachers to Visit Virtual Base Camp

PolarTREC (Teachers & Researchers Exploring & Collaborating) has set up its Virtual Base Camp for the 2008 expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. At the Base Camp web site, you and your students can follow the progress of the expeditions, ask questions of the scientists and the participating teacher, view photo alums, and access learning […]

Posted in Topics: Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes, Professional Development, Scientists in the field, Upcoming Broadcasts, Upcoming Opportunities

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: New Technology May Not Save Us from High Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The April 7 issue of the journal Nature spotlights a research commentary article warning that we will find reducing global emissions of carbon dioxide harder to do than we have been led to believe. Two scientists from the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado in Boulder and an economist from McGill […]

Posted in Topics: Current News, Polar News & Notes

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: NASA Looks for Pollutants in Arctic Skies

In the first weeks of April, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will send DC-8, P-3 and B-200 aircraft over the skies of the Arctic carrying instruments to measure air pollution gases and aerosols and solar radiation. In these airborne laboratories, researchers will take a special interest in the formation of the springtime “arctic […]

Posted in Topics: Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field

No Comments

Polar News & Notes: University Sponsors Course on Changes in Estuaries

A weeklong marine science course designed for K-12 teachers will be offered June 22-27 at Kasitsna Bay Laboratory near Seldovia, Alaska. The course, titled “Climate Change in Alaskan Estuaries,” includes an introduction to climate change influences on estuarine environments along with field studies and laboratory experiences. This professional development opportunity is offered jointly by the […]

Posted in Topics: Polar News & Notes, Professional Development, Upcoming Opportunities

View Comment (1) »

Polar News & Notes: Polar Bears and AUVs On and Under Chukchi Ocean

In March, researchers from  Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI)  performed sea ice and underwater acoustic surveys in preparation for a return trip in March 2009  to make the first direct measurement of Pacific Ocean water flowing into the western Arctic in winter. This flow plays a role in maintaining the Arctic ice cap .The researchers […]

Posted in Topics: Arctic, Current News, Polar News & Notes, Scientists in the field

No Comments