Getting ready to leave for Norway

Well, I packed my bags for the trip to Norway. Made sure to pack lots of sweaters--the weather is supposed to be a bit cooler than here in Northern Illinois! Everything is packed except the usual last minute stuff--even have my Norwegian Kroner. Only 4 more days of school and then Friday I leave. I have to admit that I am getting nervous about traveling so far alone. My husband and boys are usually my guides and travel directors so this will be exciting for me.

received in an e-mail from the IPY Science conference

Arctic sea ice cover heading towards another record low?

Published: 31.05.2010

The September 2007 sea ice minimum was probably the lowest extent of sea ice aerial extent in the Arctic in 50 years, definitely since satellite observations began in 1979. Last week the sea ice cover fell below the recorded extent at the same time in 2007.

Over the two upcoming weeks, shrinking sea ice will thus be one of the hottest science topics. The IPY Oslo Science Conference, scheduled for next week (8-12 June), will be the largest polar science gathering ever with more than 2000 participants. The conference will publish early results from the International Polar Year 2007-2008 (IPY), with particular emphasis on new knowledge about the linkages between climate change in the Polar Regions and global climate systems. This week (31 May - 4 June) a smaller international symposium on sea ice is schedule to meet in Tromsoe.

Anticipation

I just finished reading McGoogan's Fatal Passage about John Rae's explorations in the Arctic. Good book and many references to Churchill and Winnipeg. I am thankful that our expedition will not be as rough--hunting meals and building igloos. Thursday the expedition coordinator set up a conference call for all of the participants. That really set me at ease finding out that they had many of the same questions as I--will there be adequate access to the internet? Am I the only one going to look goofy wearing odd mosquito netting!? I am nervous about not collecting useful data for the team. Hopefully, I'm sure I will learn alot from my team--I look forward to meeting them face to face now. I think I am the eldest of the group.
Many of us mentioned that we would like to see polar bears and whales while on the expedition. I would like to add a variety of birds to that list. The insect population draws many different species of nesting birds during June and July. Hopefully, I will be fast enough with my camera to get some good pictures.

Beluga Whales in Churchill

About 3000 Beluga Whales hang out near Churchill Manitoba - it's the best viewing in the world & you can even snorkel with them

Churchill, Manitoba - The small all-white Beluga is the most vocal of all whales. Their chirping-like sounds has earned them the nickname the 'Canaries of the Sea'. There are legends that their chirps, whistles, clicks and clang sounds could be heard through the wooden hulls of the ships of the early explorers, and they drove some seamen mad. One of the cool things about this whale is that it is the only one that can turn it's head and watch you. In fact, it can even change the shape of its head by blowing air around its sinusues. About 500 belugas live year-round in the St. Lawrence River, and about 3000 belugas hang out each summer at the estuary of the Churchill River at Hudson's Bay. Tours are available to view and listen to them, and one company even offers the opportunity to snorkel with them. Photograph courtesy Travel Manitoba.

Where: There are no actual roads to Churchill, so the two ways to travel there from Winnipeg are by air (2 hours) or rail (48 hours.) You could also drive to Thompson, Manitoba and then fly or take an overnight train. ( http://www.canadacool.com/COOLFACTS/MANITOBA/ChurchillWhales.html)

Churchill, Canada

This shows the location of where I will be this summer fighting mosquitoes!

Description of the expedition

Northrop Grumman and Earthwatch have partnered together to develop an environmental education program for middle school math and science teachers. The selected teachers will travel to Churchill, Canada to research the effect of climate change on the ecosystem. Our team will focus on thaw layer/permafrost monitoring and treeline dynamics. As the climate warms, the permafrost melts, releasing methane and carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which in turn contributes to global warming.
Before I participate in this expedition I will spend a week in Oslo, Norway attending the International Polar Year (IPY) Science Conference. One of the IPY's research projects focused on treeline data, some of which may have been collected in Churchill. I look forward to learning how educators from around the world present climate change information to their students.
Today, however, is another school day and it is past my bedtime, so I must retire in order to be alert for my students in the morning. Only 11 more days of school, but who's counting? I am. The school day ends at 3:30 and my flight to Oslo is at 10:00 that night!!

Initial Post

This is my first blog so my apologies if this is not up to standards. I want to utilize this blog as a way to communicate to my students, friends, and family about my expeditions this summer. My first trip is to attend the International Polar Year Science Conference in Oslo, Norway. That is, if the volcano does not close the airports in Europe!
My second trip is an expedition to Churchill, Canada to study climate change and permafrost. This is a working vacation because I and my 11 team members will be conducting research (and fighting mosquitoes!) Thank goodness my brother lent me a hooded pullover made of mosquito netting.