The Gulf of Maine Aquarium hosts this two-part activity. The focus is on seasonal changes in the mass balance of the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Part 1 uses an atlas and satellite imagery to examine the geography of the region and the changing boundaries of the ice sheet. Part 2 tracks annual changes in sea ice. There is an animation page showing changes in ice cover around Antarctica during 1991, and links to several other student activities: Coping with the Cold (Plan an expedition to Antarctica), Blubber Glove (Demonstrate how Antarctic animals stay warm in bone-chilling water), Salt Concentration (Demonstrate how cold-blooded animals survive subfreezing water temperatures without being shattered by ice crystals), Penguin Adaptation (Brainstorm ways in which penguins are well-adapted to cold water and icy environments), Chick Die-Off (Show how sea ice cover and penguin chick populations are related), and Creating Plankton (Design an ocean "wanderer").
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Subject: Geoscience:Geology, Hydrology, Biology, Geoscience:Atmospheric Science:Climatology , Geoscience:Oceanography Resource Type: Activities:Classroom Activity Grade Level: Middle (6-8), Primary (K-2), High School (9-12), Intermediate (3-5) Theme: Teach the Earth:Incorporating Societal Issues:Climate Change, Teach the Earth:Course Topics:Hydrology/Hydrogeology, Oceanography, Atmospheric Science, Teach the Earth:Teaching Topics:Water
