Frozen Oceans

Geography | Ages 14-16

The Frozen Oceans education programme is based on research undertaken by explorers and scientists taking part in the Catlin Arctic Surveys between 2009 and 2011. The resource includes two data case studies that introduce students to ocean acidification and sea ice thickness. The core of each case study are real data sets that have been gathered on expeditions in the Arctic.

The lessons can be combined with the annual Arctic Live event. Every spring this unique interactive event connects thousands of students worldwide to science expedition teams based at the UK Arctic Research Station in Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard.


Lesson 1: What is ocean acidification?

This lesson uses a combination of video, theory and practical demonstrations to develop students’ understanding of ocean acidification.

Lesson 2: Ocean acidification: Research in action

The Arctic Ocean is known as a ‘sentinel system’. This is because ocean acidification is happening more rapidly in these cold waters.

Lesson 3: Ocean acidification: Data analysis

Students will analyse real data from a series of research ‘cruises’ from the Hawaii Ocean Time-series to identify trends in ocean acidification.

Lesson 4: Conference in a classroom

In this lesson, students will turn the classroom into a mini-conference venue and display their research into ocean acidification.

Lesson 5: The issue of Arctic ice

This lesson uses a combination of satellite imagery, Google Earth, video and online research to examine what is happening to sea ice in the Arctic.

Lesson 6: Sea ice: Research in action

Students will learn how the ice thickness data they will be studying was collected and consider the challenges of research in the Arctic.

Lesson 7: Sea ice: Data analysis

Students will use real data from the Catlin Arctic Survey 2009 to create ocean snow and ice profiles.



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