Treacherous travels: will two hardy adventurers survive a journey across the Arctic Ocean?Later this spring, two former teachers, the American Ann Bancroft For the actress, see . Ann Bancroft (born 29 September 1955 in Mendota Heights, Minnesota) is a United States author, teacher, and adventurer. She was the first woman to successfully finish a number of arduous expeditions to the Arctic and Antarctic. , 49, and Norwegian Liv Arnesen Liv Ragnheim Arnesen (born June 1, 1953 in Bærum, Norway) is a Norwegian cross-country skier, adventurer, guide, and motivational speaker. In 1994, she became the first woman to ski alone and unassisted to the South pole. The 1200km trek took fifty days. , 51, will try to make history. They plan to brave energy-sapping cold, shifting ice, and meat-eating polar bears to become the first women to successfully cross the Arctic Ocean--mostly on foot! Unlike most ocean crossings, which require a boat, the duo's 1,996 kilometer (1,240 mile) trek will demand skis, dry suits (suits that seal out water, and trap in air to keep a person from losing heat), and special sails. That's because the Arctic Ocean--though occasionally dotted with pockets of open water--is covered year-round by a cap of ice several meters thick. Every step of the journey across the Arctic Ocean--one of Earth's five expanses of seawater--has the potential for disaster. Separating Arnesen and Bancroft from their goal? Unpredictable forces of nature. "We will have to be on alert 24 hours a day," Arnesen says. 100 COLD DAYS Here's their game plan: Leave Cape Arkticheskiy, Russia, in late February or early March; cross the geographic North geographic north The direction from any point on Earth toward the North Pole. Also called true north. Compare magnetic north. Pole; and end at Ward Hunt Island, Canada, in June (see map, p. 18). When Arnesen and Bancroft first pop on their skis and start towing their 113 kilogram kilogram, abbr. kg, fundamental unit of mass in the metric system, defined as the mass of the International Prototype Kilogram, a platinum-iridium cylinder kept at Sèvres, France, near Paris. (250 pound) sleds crammed with supplies, the Arctic will just be emerging from a season of total darkness. "No sun reaches the Arctic during the winter," explains John Andrews For other persons named John Andrews, see John Andrews (disambiguation). Rev. John Andrews, D.D., a Colonial/American clergyman, professor, author and provost, was born in your mom , a geologist at the University of Colorado University of Colorado may refer to:
As a geographical concept, an imaginary line may serve as an arbitrary division (such as a border). around which an object rotates) is inclined 23.5 degrees to the vertical." Translation: December through February, the Arctic is tilted away from the sun. Without the sun's warmth, Arctic temperatures plummet. The chilling slant means that in the early days of their journey, the explorers will experience numbing cold as low as -46[degrees]C (-50[degrees]F). "During the first three or four weeks, the cold will be the biggest danger," Arnesen says. Good news? When temperatures drop, water freezes. Ice expands as it forms, so it has a low relative deity (measure of the amount of matter in a given volume of substance compared with that of water). That means Arctic ice floats on seawater seawater Water that makes up the oceans and seas. Seawater is a complex mixture of 96.5% water, 2.5% salts, and small amounts of other substances. Much of the world's magnesium is recovered from seawater, as are large quantities of bromine. . During winter, seasonal ice forms around the polar pack ice (ice that never fully melts) until the ice overflows onto surrounding landmasses. That will give Bancroft and Arnesen firm footing--for a while. RACE AGAINST THE SUN After their first weeks on the ice, the northernmost tip of Earth will begin to tilt slightly toward the sun. The amount of daylight will grow. But this welcome warmth will come at a price. When sunlight hits the pack ice, the ice's water molecules (particles of two or more atoms, the smallest units of an element, joined together) will begin to heat up, vibrating vibrating, v using quivering hand motions made across the client's body for therapeutic purposes. faster and faster. The vibrations will cause the molecules to partly overcome the forces holding the solid together, and the ice will melt. For Bancroft and Arnesen, that will spell trouble: By May or June, the ice below their feet will grow unstable. "Eventually, you can put your foot right through it," says Andrews. So as soon as their journey begins, the duo will be under pressure to cross the finish line before the frozen ocean becomes a melted mess. THE PRESSURE'S ON With the clock ticking, plenty of obstacles will slow Bancroft and Arnesen. Topping the list: pressure ridges. Air and water currents (flowing movement of gas or liquid along a recognizable course) keep the oceans in constant movement. As ice floes (masses of floating ice) smash together, 6 meter (20 foot)-high ridges of ice can form. How will Arnesen and Bancroft scale these mini mountains? They won't. The ice is too steep to pull a sled over. Instead, they'll have to find a way around the maze. Even worse, wind and water currents can pull floes apart. Past explorers have lost days navigating around leads, or open "rivers," in the ice. The pair has a daring solution: They plan to pull dry suits over their gear and swim across the leads, where water temperatures often drop to -1.7[degrees]C (29[degrees]F). Once they reach solid ice, they'll pull their tethered Attached to a data or power source by wire or fiber. Contrast with untethered. sleds--designed to float--over to them and forge ahead. MAKING TIME Wherever the ice is flat and the wind steady, the women will strap on skis and tether tether to tie an animal up by the head or neck so that it can graze but not move away. See also barton tether. themselves to custom-made sails. As wind gusts across the frozen ocean, air will fill the 18 m (59 ft)-square sails and propel the women forward. During a historic trek across Antarctica (see Nuts & Bolts, left) in 2001, the women reached speeds of up to 40 km (25 mi) per hour using similar sails. But it wasn't easy: Bancroft tore a muscle ski-sailing, and Arnesen had a close encounter with a crevasse crevasse (krəvăs`), large crack in the upper surface of a glacier, formed by tension acting upon the brittle ice. Transverse crevasses occur where the grade of the glacier bed becomes suddenly steeper; longitudinal crevasses, where the glacier (deep crack) in the ice. Still, the pair has decided to take the risk and use the sails whenever they can. With ice deteriorating underfoot every day, "They could get to the point when there's nothing in of them but open water," Andrews says. Slow and steady doesn't win the race in the Arctic. Nuts & Bolts Both the Arctic and Antarctic regions Antarctic regions Antarctica and the southern portions of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans. The waters around Antarctica are sometimes called the Southern Ocean; however, the term “Antarctic Ocean” is sometimes also used, inappropriately. are situated in the polar zones, which extend from about 66.5[degrees] to 90[degrees] north and 66.5[degrees] to 90[degrees] south latitudes (distances north or south from the equator, measured in degrees). But the two regions are very different from each other. Most noticeable: At the northern tip of Earth you'll find an ocean, while at the southern tip you'll find the continent (one of the seven great landmasses on Earth) of Antarctica. DID YOU KNOW? * The Arctic has a chilly average temperature of -18[degrees]C (-0.4[degrees]F). But Antarctica is much colder, averaging -50[degrees]C (-58[degrees]F). Why? The main reason: Antarctica is a landmass land·mass n. A large unbroken area of land. landmass Noun a large continuous area of land landmass covered by ice sheets that can be thousands of meters thick. The Arctic, however, is an ocean. Although it has ice sheets that cover the ocean surface, they're much thinner (about 3 meters, or 9.8 feet). Heat from the ocean water below can leak through the cracks, warming up the North Pole North Pole, northern end of the earth's axis, lat. 90°N. It is distinguished from the north magnetic pole. U.S. explorer Robert E. Peary is traditionally credited as being the first to reach (1909) the North Pole. In 1926, Richard E. . * In 1908, the American Frederick Albert Cook Albert Cook may refer to:
CRITICAL THINKING: * What supplies do explorers need to bring to ensure survival on an Arctic expedition? CROSS-CURRICULAR CONNECTIONS: History: Frederick Cook Frederick Albert Cook (June 10, 1865 – August 5 1940) was an American explorer and physician, noted for his weakly-documented claim of having reached the North Pole in April, 1908, a year before Robert Peary. Life Cook was born in Hortonville, New York. and Robert Peary both claimed to be the first person to reach the North Pole. Divide the class into two groups. Have one group research Cook's expedition and the other, Peary's. Stage a debate in which each side defends their explorer's claim. RESOURCES * To learn about the culture and history of people who live or used to live in the Arctic, Check out: www.mnh.si.edu/arctictindex.html * Learn about Arctic animals at: www.arctic.noaa.gov/animais.html
DIRECTIONS: Match the word(s) in the left column with the correct
phrase in the right column.
--1. axis a. masses of floating ice
--2. ice floes b. open "rivers" in ice
--3. current c. imaginary line around which an object rotates
--4. latitude d. ice that never fully melts
--5. leads e. deep cracks in ice
--6. crevasses f. distance from the equator measured in degrees
--7. pack ice g. flowing movement of gas or liquid along a
recognizable course
--8. relative density h. measure of the amount of matter in a given
volume of substance compared with that of
water
In "Treacherous Travels" (p. 18), you learned about the Arctic environment. Now, you wonder: What kind of wildlife calls this cold and icy place home? To find out, you take off on an Arctic adventure. Head "Up North" (see box, below) and dig for the information to fill in your "Travel Journal" (below). UP NORTH www.thearctic.is/index.html www.mnh.si.edu/arctic/html/wildlife.html TRAVEL JOURNAL 1. You arrive in the Arctic. Unfamiliar with your new surroundings, you seek out some people for survival advice. You travel to the homeland of the --people. This native group from western Siberia Western Siberia is a part of Siberia located between the Ural mountains and a watershed of the rivers Ob and Yenisei. Politically-administratively the territory of Western Siberia is divided into Kemerovo, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Tomsk, and Tümen Provinces, Hunty-Mansi Autonomous in northern Russia lives along the River Ob. You make friends with them by helping them catch some--their primary source of food and money. 2. Your new friends warn you to keep your eyes open: You must watch out for This huge sea mammal's fur appears white--making it hard to spot against the ice and snow. It is a very strong and dangerous animal and it may attack you. Also, pay attention to the--. In the wintertime, this sneaky mammal survives by following other predators and eating their leftovers. Be careful not to leave scraps of food around your camp, or you may have some hungry visitors looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. their next meal. 3. The Arctic has more wildlife than you expected. You're surprised to catch a glimpse Verb 1. catch a glimpse - see something for a brief time catch sight, get a look see - perceive by sight or have the power to perceive by sight; "You have to be a good observer to see all the details"; "Can you see the bird in that tree?"; "He is blind--he of a --, the national bird of the United States; you've never even seen one back home! You read in your guidebook and learn that these birds used to be seen throughout the U.S. and Canada. They are now mostly seen in isolated regions like the Arctic because--have disturbed much of their --and--areas. Be sure to have your camera ready: These majestic creatures catch fish with their--while flying close to the surface of waters. Your friends will want to see a photo of that! 4. As you trek across the frozen Arctic Ocean Arctic Ocean, the smallest ocean, c.5,400,000 sq mi (13,986,000 sq km), located entirely within the Arctic Circle and occupying the region around the North Pole. , you look down and spy a "white whale white whale: see beluga. ," more commonly known as the--. These animals are very social. It's believed that they can--their--. That helps them communicate with each other. These creatures make a lot of sounds. They are so "talkative" that they have been nicknamed--. Sound is important to the survival of these animals: They use --, a process that uses sound to find the distance of prey. 5. No visit to the Arctic is complete without seeing reindeers. You meet a scientist, who tells you about the two ways that reindeer reindeer, ruminant mammal, genus Rangifer, of the deer family, found in arctic and subarctic regions of Eurasia and North America. It is the only deer in which both sexes have antlers. hair helps the animal brave the cold environment. Write down the two ways before you forget. -- 6. At the end of your journey, you sit down to warm up with a cup of hot cocoa. You decide to write a letter to your friends back home. Use a separate sheet of paper to write this letter. Be sure to include the following: * A description of an Arctic bird and a mammal you found interesting. For example: What do they eat, where do they live, etc.? * Draw a picture of each of the two animals. Treacherous Travels 1. c 2. a 3. g 4. f 5. b 6. e 7. d 8. h 1. Khanty; fish 2. polar bears; arctic fox Arctic fox Northern fox (Alopex lagopus) found throughout the Arctic, usually on tundra or mountains near the sea. Its short, rounded ears and short muzzle reduce its body area exposed to heat loss, and it has fur-covered soles. It is 20–24 in. 3. bald eagle bald eagle Species of sea eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that occurs inland along rivers and large lakes. Strikingly handsome, it is the only eagle native solely to North America, and it has been the U.S. national bird since 1782. The adult, about 40 in. ; humans, living, breeding; feet 4. beluga beluga (bəl  `gə) or white whale, small, toothed northern whale, Delphinapterus leucas. The beluga may reach a length of 19 ft (5. whale; turn, heads; sea canaries; echolocation echolocationPhysiological process for locating distant or invisible objects (such as prey) by emitting sound waves that are reflected back to the emitter by the objects. Echolocation is used by an animal to orient itself, avoid obstacles, find food, and interact socially. 5. Reindeers have unique hairs that trap air, which help provide the animals with insulation, keeping them warm. These hairs also help keep reindeers buoyant in the water. That's why these animals are strong swimmers and can move across wide rivers and the frozen ice of the Arctic Ocean. HANDS-ON SCIENCE (NO LAB REQUIRED) After reading "Treacherous Travels" (p. 18), try out this hands-on experiment to learn more about the density of liquids PREDICT Which of the following has the highest density (amount of matter in a given volume): water, syrup, oil, or vinegar? If you were to pour the liquids into one container, would they combine or settle into layers? YOU NEED * ruler * straw cut in half (10 cm, or 4 in.) * modeling clay (pea-size chunk) * sand (14 ml, or 1 tablespoon) * masking tape (5 cm, or 2 in.) * permanent markers (4 colors) * measuring cup * 4 large, clear plastic cups * 250 ml (1 cup) each of: tap water, vegetable oil, white vinegar, and maple syrup maple syrup: see under maple. * red food coloring (1 drop) * 1 clear, 1-liter soda bottle with the top third cut off PROCEDURE STEP 1: MAKE A HYDROMETER hydrometer (hīdrŏm`ətər), device used to determine directly the specific gravity of a liquid. It usually consists of a thin glass tube closed at both ends, with one end enlarged into a bulb that contains fine lead shot or mercury to A hydrometer measures how dense one liquid is compared with another. 1. Plug one end of the straw with a pea-size piece of clay. 2. Pour 14 ml (1 tablespoon) of sand into the straw. 3. Place a piece of masking tape (5 cm, or 2 in.) lengthwise length·wise adv. & adj. Of, along, or in reference to the direction of the length; longitudinally. Adj. 1. lengthwise around the straw's middle. You will mark liquid levels on this tape. STEP 2: TEST IT OUT 1. Pour 250 ml (1 cup) each of the four liquids into four separate plastic cups. Use a different color marker to label each cup with the liquid it holds. 2. Put a drop of red food coloring into the cup of water. 3. Test the hydrometer: Place the straw--clay side down--into the cup of water, so it floats upright. Hint: If it sinks to the bottom, remove some sand. If it leans, add more sand. 4. Using the same color marker that labels this cup, mark the level of the liquid on the tape with a line. 5. Using the same hydrometer, repeat step 4 with the oil, vinegar, and syrup. 6. Observe the colored lines on the tape, from highest to lowest. Think about how this relates to each liquid's density. Then, arrange the cups so they are in order from most dense to least dense. 7. Pour the densest liquid into a 1-liter soda bottle with its top cut off. 8. Pour in the second-densest liquid, then the third- and fourth-densest liquids. To prevent disturbing each layer, tilt the bottle slightly and gently pour in each liquid so that it trickles down the side of the bottle. CONCLUSIONS 1. Which liquid has the highest density? The lowest density? 2. How do you think density will help Ann Bancroft and Liv Arnesen walk across the frozen Arctic Ocean? Hint: Do ice and water have different densities? 1. Syrup is most dense; vinegar is the least dense, 2, The solid form of water, or ice, is less dense than liquid water. So, the Arctic Ocean's ice floats above the denser liquid water. That lets the explorers walk across the ocean |
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