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...

ICED IPY investigates the effects of the increase of CO2 on marine ecosystems

European marine scientists describe their involvement in the International Polar Year

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...

GATINEAU, February 26, 2009 – Environment Canada is leading an expedition of 10 Canadian scientists onto the frozen Arctic Ocean to learn more about how pollutants move from the air, to the ice and ultimately into the northern ecosystem. The research is taking place near Barrow, Alaska, as part of one of the last major expeditions during the International Polar Year (IPY). The Canadian component of this international expedition, OASIS-Canada (Ocean-Atmosphere-Sea Ice-Snowpack), will focus on mercury, a chemical affecting the health of northern residents. It will also focus on ground-level ozone, which is both a smog pollutant and a greenhouse gas. Were trying to find out how these chemicals get there, how the Arctic tolerates their intrusion and w...

The International Polar Year science and education community warmly encourages you to join us from the 14th March to celebrate our IPY Polar Oceans Fortnight! Activities and events will continue throughout these last 2 weeks of March, focusing on physical oceanography, interface interactions, ocean biodiversity, and historical records in sea floor sediments to name a few! Local events have been stimulated to occur around the world including in Italy, Canada, Malaysia, Scotland, France, Germany, Brazil, USA, and Mexico. Events start with 'Our Dynamic Earth', Edinburgh, UK which is a hands-on public engagement with Drs Eleanor Bell and Arlene Rowan, researchers from the Scottish Association for Marine Science (SAMS) who will be displaying Arctic research footage from recent expeditions at...

Content: 1. IPY Celebrations 2. Summary from meetings in Geneva - JC, EOC, APECS 3. Polar Oceans Week(s): end of March 4. Expression of Intent Database is now Closed 5. Future of IPO, and thanks 6. Data Reminder Report no. 23, March 2009 From: IPY International Programme Office To: IPY Project Coordinators cc: IPY Community Google Groups 1. IPY Celebrations IPY celebrations have been recently planned around the world, including in Japan, the Canadian Arctic, USA, and across Europe including Germany, The Netherlands, Portugal, Sweden, and Norway. In addition, about 200 IPY participants and guests joined the International Celebrations in Geneva, Switzerland, hosted by ...

A documentary by Tom Litwin, Clark Science Center and Lawrence R. Hott, Florentine Films/Hott Productions Watch video podcasts from the documentary. The Bering Sea – the oval of water between the Aleutians and the Bering Strait – is no ordinary or inconsequential place. The Bering Sea touches two continents, joins two great oceans, spans hemi¬spheres. It’s huge – one and a half times the size of Alaska – and wondrous. It is home to twenty-six species of marine mammals, including twelve kinds of whales, and over 450 species of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks; no less than 80% of the U.S. seabird population spends...

In this series of video stories, On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea, explore the past and future of the fast-changing Bering Sea region, its culture and people, and the new polar science that is emerging from an expedition on board the Coast Guard cutter Healy. On Thin Ice in the Bering Sea is a production of Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc. in association with the Clark Science Center at Smith College. Produced by Lawrence R. Hott and Tom Litwin. For full credits, go to pbs.org/nova/extremeice/credits.html Copyright 2009 Florentine Films/Hott Productions, Inc. www.florentinefilms.org