The 8th Polar Day (topic: Polar Oceans) elicited so much interest that it turned into a full week of events that took place across the globe from some likely places such as Edinburgh, Winnipeg and Nuuk to some not so likely places like Brazil & Malaysia. Take a peek at some of the exciting highlights from classrooms, radio stations, field schools and public outreach sessions around the world. Edinburgh, UK: March 14th - 15th The Dynamic Earth science center hosted a hands-on public session with researchers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science who displayed Arctic research footage from recent expeditions. The most popular part of the event was when people got a chance to don the equipment worn by polar scientists. We may have just h...

Transmission Location: At sea, 21 miles south of Punuk Island (sample station NEC2), south of St. Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 42 min N/168 deg 38 min W (grid 62.70). Time: 0834. Temperature: 1.0 dgF, Wind: 24 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds, 30% cover. Sunrise: 9:07 AM, Sunset: 9:22 PM. Ice: New ice, small floes, 1-2ft, high ridges. Note: large group of ~30 walrus on large floe ice edge, in and out of water. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker. Flying into Gambell, the Bering sea and Russian Siberian coast beyond. Photo Credit: Tom Litwin This ...

Transmission Location: At sea, 30 miles SW of Southwest Cape, (sample station SEC1.5), St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 49 min N/170 deg 38 min W (grid 62.82). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?0.5 dgF, Wind: 17.8 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds @ 1000ft. Sunrise: 9:15 AM, Sunset: 9:41 PM. Ice: New ice- Nilas/Young-/2-6”. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker. Laysan albatross forgage in Bering sea “hot spots”. Photo Credit: Tamara Zeller, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service The desk I’m writing at is actually a chart table in the back corner of th...

Transmission Location: At sea, 30 miles SW of Southwest Cape, (sample station SEC1.5), St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 49 min N/170 deg 38 min W (grid 62.82). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?0.5 dgF, Wind: 17.8 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Scattered clouds @ 1000ft. Sunrise: 9:15 AM, Sunset: 9:41 PM. Ice: New ice- Nilas/Young-/2-6”. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker. Think flexibility. This is an important ingredient for travel in the Northern Being Sea. A stickler for events unfolding the way planned could find this to be a very long, nerve-wracking experience. The combined influences of wind, ice, and currents humble even the best laid plans. Fluidity in mind and action serves well those working in the ice. Today is a case in point. ...

Transmission Location: At sea, 46 miles SW of Sikniq Cape (sample station SEC2), St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 62deg 12 min N/170 deg 16 min W (grid 62.2). Time: 0925. Temperature: ?1.5 dgF, Wind: 19.5 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?19 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:41 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: very close pack, new ice ~3ft. thick, big floes. Ship’s log by Tom Litwin, scientist profiles by Tom Walker. USCGC HEALY’S ICEBREAKING BOW, BOSON MATE JIM MERTEN Photo Credit: Tom Litwin I’m standing in the Forward Machine Room where I can put my palm on the inboard side of the Healy’s stem, the most forward part ...

Transmission Location: At sea, 25 miles SW of Northwest Cape, Gambell Village, St Lawrence Island. Lat/Long: 63deg 45.282 min N/171 deg 47.34 min W (grid 63.75). Time: 0915. Temperature: ?1.5 dgF, Wind: 19.5 mph from NW. Wind Chill: ?19 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:41 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: very close pack, new ice ~3ft. thick, big floes. Note: Ravens on ice, St. Lawrence Island clearly visible from Bridge. Reports provided by Tom Litwin and Tom Walker. MOUNTAINS OF ST. LAWRENCE ISLAND’S SOUTH COAST FROM DECK OF USCGS HEALY Photo Credit: Tom Litwin The first sampling station quickly reveals t...

Transmission Location: At sea, 70 miles SW of Southwest Cape, St Lawrence Island Lat/Long: 63.16.2N/173.43.7W. Time: 0900 Temperature: ?5.1 dgF, Wind: 7 mph from NW Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Clear skies. Sunrise: 9:47 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: compact sea ice/w leads and lakes. Note: Walrus en route to first station. The Healy left the Gulf of Alaska on March 12, entering Unimak Pass at 2:00 AM. This major navigational route passes between the Aleutian Islands of Unimak and Akun, the gateway between the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Emerging from the pass before dawn, the ship’s navigator set a course that would bring the Healy just east of St. Paul Island in the Pribilofs by 7:30 PM. ...

Science Centres in Canada, the U.S. and Mexico connected to IPY scientists in the first of many live events starting today (March 17) at 1600UTC. Students were able to interact with and ask questions directly of the scientists using videoconferencing technologies. Andy Mahoney (Scott Base, sea ice), Russ Hopcroft (Alaska, zooplankton and the Arctic Ocean Diversity project), Martin Nweeia (Massachusetts, narwhal tusks), Irene Schloss (Quebec, plankton ecology) and Rachael Mueller (Oregon, physical oceanography) talked about their research and answered students’ questions about climate change, snow and ice, and polar organisms. Students at UNAM (Mexico) and the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry gave presentations on climate change and its impacts on local and polar environments. Stude...

PRESS RELEASE: for immediate release End- March 2009: IPY FOCUSING ON POLAR OCEANS Human impact on the oceans has become a topic of global concern: the eighth ‘International Polar Day’ of the International Polar Year 2007-8 (IPY) draws international attention to Polar Oceans. In these ice-covered oceans one finds remarkable organisms adapted to cold and dark, the rich ice-adapted ecosystems that support penguins and polar bears, and fundamental cooling and freezing processes that control planet-wide ocean circulations and global climate. During the last two weeks of March, 2009, polar oceanographers around the world will join students and teachers in local and broadcast events in Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Scotland, France, Germany, Brazil, USA, and...

USCGC HEALY ENTERING CHINIAK BAY, KODIAK, ALASKA Credit: Tom Walker Transmission Location: At sea, 70 miles SW of Southwest Cape, St Lawrence Island Temperature: 8.5 dgF, Wind Chill: ?22 dgF. Wind: 13 mph from NW Sunrise: 9:47 AM, Sunset: 9:39 PM. Ice: compact sea ice. The rendezvous with our ship was easier for some than others. The Seattle-based U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Healy was making its way to Kodiak to meet the science research team, load equipment, board the science party, and then sail on to the Bering Sea. The route to Kodiak seemed simple enough. Then, two and a half days out the wind pic...