22 March, 2000

Working in the Greenhouse? (a.k.a. "Quick...before it melts!")

The first full day of spring has brought a "heat wave" of sorts

to central Alaska. It has forced us to consider the possibility that these wonderful moderate temperatures may be part of a genuine climatic shift. Scientists have discovered that the Arctic appears

to be warming at a faster rate than is the rest of the globe. According to Canadian geographer Claude Duguay, who develops

data sets and models for interpreting lake ice parameters, lake

ice thicknesses in Canada have been decreasing over time. The

value of such data sets will lie in helping us to understand

more about local meteorological conditions, biological productivity within the lakes, and regional climate changes.

And do we see the same trends in sea ice? Since 1997 scientists involved in the SHEBA (Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic) Project

have been investigating the top 150 meters of the Arctic Ocean

and how it evolves seasonally. Some of their early findings indicate that the sea ice is unusually thin compared to data collected

in the 1970's. For more information about SHEBA, refer to their

web site at http://sheba.apl.washington.edu

advertisement

----------------

Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com

FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and

Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Tina basks in the sun as she clears a drill hole ...in her shirt sleeves!! advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin & Tina head out to MST Lake with the tool sleds. Can you predict the ice thickness?? See my journal from 3/17 and enter the competition!! advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Tina takes the temperature of the snow surface, being careful to shade the probe from the sun. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

The average surface temperature will be used in our heat flux calculations. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin & Tina prepare a new set of bags for snow collection along the transect. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin demonstrates the correct way to take a snow sample. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin carefully slides the snow sample onto the spatula. The density will be determined in the lab tomorrow. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Transferring the snow sample to the plastic bag without losing any crystals is the tricky part! . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin preps me for other possible careers... I think that I may have a future in road construction! . . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

After the drill hole is made, the snow must be cleared away. . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Measuring the ice thickness. HAVE YOU MADE YOUR PREDICTION??? . . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!

Martin records the thickness data, holding the secret to MST Lake! . . . . . . advertisement ---------------- Sent from a WebBox - http://www.webbox.com FREE Web based Email, Files, Bookmarks, Calendar, People and Great Ways to Share them with Others!