Hang Ten on an Ice Flow
Studying biological and physical processes in harsh or remote environments introduces very unique and unpredictable challenges for researchers. Dr. Victoria Hill runs into some of these obstacles while studying light and temperature in the Arctic as well as the effects caused by warming of the ocean. Students will develop a workable model to recreate and observe the movement of Dr. Hill’s research buoys in both the ice and the water in a laboratory setting. Dr. Hill’s data showed her buoys moving faster in the ice than in the water following the melting of the ice (figure: https://sites.wp.odu.edu/BORG/current-projects/warm-buoy-maps/). Students will develop their models by experimenting with various materials to represent floating ice in the water while fans or blowers create wind and water currents. They will graph the movements of a model buoy on the “ice” and in the water, and compare their results with Dr. Hill’s data, ultimately aiming to determine which materials created the most accurate model. These models could then be used to run simulations for future research plans.
Authors: Lynn Backes, Elizabeth Eddings, Sarabeth Gordon, Kelly Green, Lara Greene; EARTH Satellite December 8, 2016 Pensacola
Lesson Resources
