Polar News and Notes Antarctica

Did you know that Antarctica is home to the world’s southermost active volcano? Do you teach about the forces that change Earth’s surface: wind, water, and ice? If so, you’ll want to check out the latest issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears cyberzine!
In the December 2008 issue, Earth’s Changing Surface, you can explore […]

News from the polar regions in November 2008 included many climate change-related reports, the fifth largest ozone hole on record, new marine discoveries, and new polar research projects. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
Is the winter thinning of Arctic sea ice driving the summer record lows? That’s the question many scientists are asking. […]

The World Conference on Marine Biodiversity, meeting in Valencia, Spain, in mid-November, received the fourth report on the Census of Marine Life, which is being compiled by 2,000 scientists from 82 nations. It will be officially released in October 2010.
This report revealed some amazing new findings about life in the ocean depths. In a […]

Tonight at 7pm EST we’re having an online chat in the TappedIn online learning community - http://tappedin.org. We’ll be working our way through the November 2008 issue of the Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears online magazine. If you can’t join us, you can see “our trip” below. We meet the first Thursday of each month […]

News from the polar regions in October included further analysis of the summer Arctic sea ice melt, genetic discoveries in remarkable Antarctic fish, and preparations for a challenging Antarctic expedition. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
In September, we reported that the Arctic sea ice extent during the 2008 summer melt season dropped to […]

Two upcoming web seminars from the National Science Teachers Association will focus on integrating polar science concepts into the elementary curriculum. Both seminars are led by Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears project staff and are part of the NSDL/NSTA web seminar series.
On Wednesday, October 29, Carol Landis and Jessica Fries-Gaither will present Physical Science From the […]

From late March to the middle of August, scientists and others at Antarctica research stations were resigned to no air service during the months without sunlight. A C-17 Globemaster III changed all that in September by landing at McMurdo Station in complete darkness using night-vision goggles technology and reflective cones on the runway.
The mission was […]

Solar radiation, albedo, and the natural resources of the polar regions are all part of the newest issue of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears: Energy and the Polar Environment. In this issue, you can:
Learn about the albedo (reflectivity) of Earth’s various surfaces and how increased melting of polar ice caps will affect Earth’s energy balance
Find […]

News from the polar regions in September included more worrisome news for Arctic sea ice, the potential role of permafrost in global warming, and new fossil discoveries in Antarctica. Missed these stories the first time? Read on!
2008 was the second-lowest year in terms of summer Arctic sea ice coverage, a continuation of an accelerated downward […]

Do you want to learn more about rocks, minerals, and what they can teach us about Earth’s past? Have you ever wondered what types of rocks are found in Antarctica? If so, then the September issue of Beyond Penguins and Polar Bears is for you! In Issue 6: Rocks and Minerals, you can:
Learn geology basics […]