MOSAiC Monday - September 14, 2020

RTW logo Note to Educators: Bring MOSAiC into your virtual classroom with Reach the World 

We're thrilled to announce that we will be partnering again this fall with our friends at Reach the World and Exploring by the Seat of Your Pants to help you connect your students virtually to MOSAiC team members and crew!

Next featured MOSAiC team member: Dr. Jessie Creamean

Dr. Jessie Creamean is a research scientist at Colorado State University who studies atmospheric aerosols and their impacts on cloud formation and precipitation. Check out the Reach the World MOSAiC program page to read Jessie's article describing who lives in the Polarstern's 'backyard' and how this relates to her interest in atmospheric aerosols. Follow the link below to tune into Jessie's live video call or even sign up for an on-camera spot!

Tune in to Jessie's live video chat on Monday September 14th at 4:00 pm ET

Learn more about Reach the World
 



Change is in the Air

 

MOSAiC scientists sampling the water
 

In late March, the sun rose above the Arctic horizon and never set. It has been this way ever since for MOSAiC team members on board the Polarstern, just circling the sky for 24 hours a day. But things are changing—the sun is circling lower in the sky, and temperatures are dropping. Last week a low pressure system passed over the MOSAiC floe, bringing stronger winds and below freezing temperatures. MOSAiC Teams Ocean and Eco took this opportunity to conduct an 'intensive observation' session, taking continuous measurements of the ocean over a 36-hour period to see how this low pressure system would impact the water column. 

Photo: MOSAiC team member Zoe Koenig helps lower an instrument through the ice into the water below; Photo credit: Lianna Nixon, CIRES/CU Boulder
 

NOAA SciJinks: What is a Polar Vortex?

Explore air pressure on the molecular scale with this PhET simulation: Gases Intro
 



Reason for the Seasons

Different regions around the globe experience seasonality differently. Near the equator there are fairly minimal changes in temperature and daylight throughout the year, while the north and south poles alternate between 24 hours of daylight and 24 hours of sunlight, with temperatures varying between above freezing to well below. What is it like where you live throughout the year? What is the reason for the seasons?

15 minute clock icon Daylight to Darkness: Constructing an Explanation

Seasons interactive

Why does the amount of daylight the Arctic region gets throughout the year vary so much more than regions at lower latitudes? Give students a few minutes to play around with this Seasons Interactive.  They can change the month of the year which will in turn change the position of the earth in its orbit around the sun. Remind your students that the sizes and distances in this simulation are not to scale! Encourage students to switch the Earth's tilt back and forth between 0 and 23.5 degrees. What do you notice? Can you use this simulation to construct an explanation for why the amount of daylight the high Arctic region gets throughout the year changes from 24 hours in the summer to 0 hours in the winter?

Seasons Interactive

Video: Land of the Midnight Sun

 

NGSS icon - ESS NGSS - Constructing explanations icon NGSS - Using models icon NGSS - Patterns icon
 



15 minute clock icon Quick Bite: Predicting Polar Night

When will the Arctic fade once again into 24 hours of polar night? In small groups, have students predict what day they think the sun will no longer rise for those on board the Polarstern. Write all predictions on the board. Then, have students use the Day Length Calculator to figure out what day the sun will set and not rise again until next year based on an estimated location of the icebreaker. Photo credit: Anne Gold

Seeing the sun for the first time in a while

How to use the Day Length Calculator

1. Enter in a latitude and longitude location for the Polarstern in the 'Location' box. This will be the predicted approximate location for the Polarstern for whatever date the students chose for when the sun will set--they can use the MOSAiC web app to estimate a location. To keep it simple, you can ignore the time zone. 

2. Enter in the predicted day of seasonal 'permanent' sunset in the 'Date' box. Double check the year is correct, and choose whatever time you like. 

3. The calculator will automatically do its thing. The 'Apparent Sunrise' and 'Apparent Sunset' boxes will either display the date of the next sunrise/sunset at the location you chose if you guessed too far ahead, or it will show the time of sunrise/sunset on that day if you didn't choose far enough ahead in time. Play around with the calculator until you figure out the date that the sun will no longer rise at the Polarstern. How does it compare to your prediction? 

Day Length Calculator

 

NGSS - ESS NGSS - Models
 



Resources for Educators: Linking Your Place to the MOSAiC Expedition

 

Globe held in hands
 

PolarTREC educator Katie Gavenus experienced the shift from polar day to polar night when she was on leg 1 of the MOSAiC expedition almost one year ago. Katie has since put together a series of educational resources for teaching students of all ages about seasonal changes through the equinoxes and solstices. Check them out below! Photo credit: freepik

 

Arctic Connections: September Equinox Activities

Arctic Connections: December Solstice Edition

Arctic Connections: March Equinox Activities

Arctic Connections: June Solstice Edition

 



#askmosaic#askmosaic: Remote but not Alone

Leg 4 BGC team

This question was submitted by Ashlyn from Middleton Middle School: Is it scary at all, being out there alone in the Arctic? 

"Good question, but surprisingly not really, no. First of all, on a ship, you are never actually alone. You are constantly surrounded by your colleagues and teammates. We take all of our meals together, work in the field together, and almost everyone on board has a roommate. In addition, we are lucky to have an incredible ship's crew and logistics team who work hard to keep us comfortable and safe every day both on and off the ice. Even being far away from the rest of the world, we have each other to lean on, and with that knowledge, I know I don't feel so afraid. Occasionally we do get the chance to leave the primary field camp though and explore/collect samples far away from the ship. In these moments, the Arctic does feel much more wild and dangerous - although mostly it's just nice to get away from the busy ship noise and experience the peace and quiet of the ice."

-Emelia Chamberlain, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, MOSAiC Team ECO and BGC

 

Photo (left to right): Allesandra D'Angelo, Debby Bozzaato, Falk Patzold, Emelia Chamberlain of Leg 4 Team Biogeochemistry; Photo credit: Lianna Nixon, CIRES/CU Boulder

 

Curious about the Arctic and MOSAiC expedition? Here are three ways you can send us your #askmosaic questions:

1. Submit them

2. Email them: mosaic@colorado.edu with subject line "#askmosaic"

3. Tag us on social media: #askmosaic
 



10-minute clock icon MOSAiC Weekly Tracking

Plot the Polarstern

Each week we will provide you with the latitude and longitude coordinates of the Polarstern so that you can track its journey across the Arctic.

Download the map to plot coordinates

Download a larger map of the Arctic for a bigger picture view of the expedition area

Location of the Polarstern
 Date  Latitude  Longitude
 September 16, 2019  69.68 N  18.99 E
 September 23, 2019  72.31 N  26.93 E
 September 30, 2019  85.12 N  138.05 E
 October 4, 2019**  85.08 N  134.43 E
 October 7, 2019  85.10 N  133.82 E
 October 14, 2019  84.85 N  135.03 E
 October 21, 2019  84.97 N  132.73 E
 October 28, 2019  85.47 N  127.07 E
 November 4, 2019  85.88 N  121.70 E
 November 11, 2019  85.82 N  116.00 E
 November 18, 2019  86.05 N  122.43 E
 November 25, 2019  85.85 N  121.35 E
 December 2, 2019  85.97 N  112.95 E
 December 9, 2019  86.25 N  121.40 E
 December 16, 2019  86.62 N  118.12 E
 December 23, 2019  86.63 N  113.20 E
 December 30, 2019  86.58 N  117.13 E
 January 6, 2020  87.10 N  115.10 E
 January 13, 2020  87.35 N  106.63 E
 January 20, 2020  87.42 N  97.77 E
 January 27, 2020  87.43 N  95.82 E
 February 3, 2020  87.42 N  93.65 E
 February 10, 2020  87.78 N  91.52 E
 February 17, 2020  88.07 N  78.52 E
 February 24, 2020  88.58 N  52.87 E
 March 2, 2020  88.17 N  31.02 E
 March 9, 2020  87.93 N  24.20 E
 March 16, 2020  86.87 N  12.70 E
 March 23, 2020  86.20 N  15.78 E
 March 30, 2020  85.37 N  13.27 E
 April 6, 2020  84.52 N  14.38 E
 April 13, 2020  84.28 N  14.97 E
 April 20, 2020  84.52 N  14.57 E
 April 27, 2020  83.93 N  15.65 E
 May 4, 2020  83.92 N  18.03 E
 May 11, 2020  83.47 N  13.08 E
 May 18+, 2020  83.32 N  8.68 E
 May 25+, 2020  82.43 N  8.28 E
 June 1+, 2020  81.33 N  9.93 E
 June 8+, 2020  78.10 N  12.73 E
 June 15+, 2020  82.20 N  8.18 E
 June 22, 2020  81.95 N  9.27 E
 June 29, 2020  82.03 N  9.88 E
 July 6, 2020  81.67 N  5.22 E
 July 13, 2020  81.40 N  0.28 E
 July 20, 2020  80.78 N  0.42 W
 July 27, 2020  79.55 N  2.37 W
 August 3, 2020  78.60 N  4.37 W
 August 10, 2020  79.90 N  5.52 W
 August 17+, 2020  88.28 N  34.63 W
 August 24, 2020  87.77 N  105.67 E
 August 31, 2020  88.30 N  114.23 E
 September 7, 2020  88.68 N  111.57 E
 September 14, 2020  89.03 N  103.10 E

 **Day when MOSAiC reached the ice floe that the Polarstern will become frozen in and drift with for the next year.
+ Indicates when the Polarstern traveled under its own engine power (no drifting)

Log MOSAiC Data 

What happens in the Arctic as the seasons change? Find out firsthand with real-time Arctic data, provided for you here each week. 

Keep track of Arctic conditions over the course of the expedition:

**Note to students: If you are trying to access these documents in Google Drive and are unable to, it is likely because your school has blocked access. Try using a personal account to access them, or contact your teacher.

Download Data Logbook for Sept. 2019 - Dec. 2019

Download Data Logbook for Dec. 2019 - Mar. 2020

Download Data Logbook for Mar. 2020 - June 2020

Download Data Logbook for July 2020 - Oct. 2020

 Date  Length of day (hrs)  Air temperature (deg C) at location of Polarstern  Arctic Sea Ice Extent (million km2)
 September 16, 2019  13.25  High: 10   Low: 4.4  3.9
 September 23, 2019  12.35  High: 6     Low: -1  4.1
 September 30, 2019  9.1  -4.7  4.4
 October 4, 2019**  6.27  -13.0  4.5
 October 7, 2019  3.05  -8.2  4.6
 October 14, 2019  0  -14.7  4.8
 October 21, 2019  0  -12.8  5.4
 October 28, 2019  0  -18.3  6.8
 November 4, 2019  0  -18.9  8.0
 November 11, 2019  0  -25.5  8.7
 November 18, 2019  0  -10.7  9.3
 November 25, 2019  0  -18.4  10.0
 December 2, 2019  0  -26.6  10.4
 December 9, 2019  0  -23.1  11.2
 December 16, 2019  0  -19.2  11.8
 December 23, 2019  0  -26.9   12.2
 December 30, 2019  0  -26.4   12.6
 January 6, 2020  0  -28.0  13.0
 January 13, 2020  0  -30.7  13.1
 January 20, 2020  0  -27.1  13.6
 January 27, 2020  0  -22.5  13.8
 February 3, 2020  0  -28.8  14.1
 February 10, 2020  0  -26.2  14.5
 February 17, 2020  0  -31.9  14.4
 February 24, 2020  0  -24.0  14.6
 March 2, 2020  0  -35.5  14.8
 March 9, 2020  0  -37.9  14.7
 March 16, 2020  10.5  -27.5  14.7
 March 23, 2020  16.5  -28.7  14.4
 March 30, 2020  24  -28.6  14.0
 April 6, 2020  24  -18.2  13.7
 April 13, 2020  24  -25.8  13.6
 April 20, 2020  24  -10.2  13.3
 April 27, 2020  24  -11.7  12.8
 May 4, 2020  24  -16.2  12.8
 May 11, 2020  24  -10.4  12.4
 May 18, 2020  24  -5.1  11.7
 May 25, 2020  24  0.4  11.5
 June 1, 2020  24  0.0  11.1
 June 8+, 2020  24  -0.1  10.6
 June 15+, 2020  24  -0.4  10.1
 June 22, 2020  24  -0.4  9.6
 June 29, 2020  24  0.5  9.2
 July 6, 2020  24  0.6  8.2
 July 13, 2020  24  0.2  7.2
 July 20, 2020  24  -0.1  6.2
 July 27, 2020  24  1.9  5.8
 August 3, 2020  24  1.2  5.5
 August 10, 2020  24  0.9  5.1
 August 17, 2020  24  0.7  4.6
 August 24, 2020  24  -0.9  3.9
 August 31, 2020  24  -0.9  3.7
 September 7, 2020  24  -5.9  3.4
 September 14, 2020  24  -0.5  3.8

*Note: We expect data to fall within the following ranges: Length of day, 0-24 hours; Temperature, -40 to 14 degrees C; Sea ice extent, 3-15 million km2

**Day when MOSAiC reached the ice floe that the Polarstern will become frozen in and drift with for the next year.



Opportunities for Students and Educators

 

CIRES/NOAA Science at Home Webinar Series

Join us every Tuesday at 1:00 pm from now through December for the CIRES/NOAA Science at Home webinar series! Each webinar features a 10-15 minute presentation by a scientist about how they got into science and what they do as a scientist, followed by 10-15 minutes of live Q&A. 

Here is the line-up of September speakers:

September 15th - Dr. Michael Koontz will present on: Understanding where wildfires and insects kill trees using drones and satellites

September 22nd - Dr. Joshua “Shuka” Schwarz will present: Fires! Smoke! Airplanes! Action! How we're learning about wildfires and crop burning smoke

September 29th – PhD Candidate Mel Zhang will present on: Seismology: What it is and how I got into it

 

See the full speaker line-up on the Science at Home website

Register to receive weekly Science at Home email reminders 

 

 

MOSAiC Weekly Webinar Series

Teachers, join us every Wednesday (3:30 - 4:00 pm MT) during the month of September for short (30 minute) webinars to learn more about  MOSAiC virtual educational resources and how you can integrate them into your teaching. How can you introduce your students to the MOSAiC expedition with videos and ArcGIS Storymaps? How do you sign your students up for MOSAiC scientist classroom calls? How do students track the expedition? How can students submit questions directly to the scientists? All of these questions and more will be answered during these weekly webinars! Register for each webinar by clicking on the events below. Please contact jonathan.griffith@colorado.edu with any questions.

Events:
Week 3 (9/16, 3:30-4:00 pm MT): Teaching with MOSAiC Media (videos, images, podcasts, and more!)
Week 4 (9/23, 3:30-4:00 pm MT): “Exploring the New and Old Arctic” curriculum (MS/HS unit)
Week 5 (9/30, 3:30-4:00 pm MT): “Arctic Feedbacks” curriculum (MS/HS unit)

 


 

NGSS iconMOSAiC Monday and the NGSS

What do those funny symbols below some engagements mean?

Good news for educators in the U.S. teaching with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) or similar! We will now be tagging MOSAiC Monday engagements with the NGSS Disciplinary Core Idea subject(s), Science and Engineering Practice(s), and Crosscutting Concept(s) that they most closely connect to. Look for these symbols listed below each engagement: 

Disciplinary Core Idea Subjects
Science and Engineering Practices (adopted from the San Diego County Office of Education Science Resource Center)
Crosscutting Concepts (adopted from the San Diego County Office of Education Science Resource Center)

 



Is there something you'd like to see in MOSAiC Monday?  Let us know!

Send us your feedback

New to MOSAiC Monday? Check out past editions!

Browse more expedition-related educational resources, videos, and blogs

Email us! mosaic@colorado.edu


  • Time to celebrate: MOSAiC begin exactly one year ago!
  • Check in with the Polarstern