Arctic Trivia Hosts Bonnie Reed and Arron Layns

Arctic Trivia Hosts: Bonnie Reed and Arron Layns

Question 1 What is Sea Ice? 2

Question 1 What is Sea Ice? Sea ice is frozen ocean water. It forms, grows, and melts in the ocean. 3

Question 2 Why is Arctic Sea Ice Important? 4

Question 2 Why is Arctic Sea Ice Important? Arctic sea ice keeps the polar regions cool and helps moderate global climate. Sea ice has a bright surface; 80 percent of the sunlight that strikes it is reflected back into space. As sea ice melts in the summer, it exposes the dark ocean surface. Instead of reflecting 80 percent of the sunlight, the ocean absorbs 90 percent of the sunlight. The oceans heat up, and Arctic temperatures rise further. 5

Question 3 What is Sea Ice Extent? 6

Question 3 What is Sea Ice Extent? Sea ice extent is a measurement of the area of ocean where there is at least some sea ice. Usually, scientists define a threshold of minimum concentration to mark the ice edge; the most common cutoff is at 15 percent. Scientists use the 15 percent cutoff because it provides the most consistent agreement between satellite and ground observations. 7

Question 4 What is the current Arctic Sea Ice Extent? (size in km 2) 8

Question 4 What is the current Arctic Sea Ice Extent? (size in km 2) November averaged 9. 80 million square kilometers (3. 78 million square miles). 9

Question 5 What is the definition of the Arctic Sea Ice Minimum? 10

Question 5 What is the definition of the Arctic Sea Ice Minimum? The Arctic sea ice minimum marks the day, each year, when the sea ice extent is at its lowest. The sea ice minimum occurs at the end of the summer melting season. 11

Question 6 Has there been a decrease in Sea Ice near the Antarctic Peninsula, south of the tip of South America? 12

Question 6 Has there been a decrease in Sea Ice near the Antarctic Peninsula, south of the tip of South America? Yes. But The rest of Antarctica has experienced a small increase in Antarctic sea ice. 13

Question 7 How do Polar Bears rely on Sea Ice? 14

Question 7 How do Polar Bears rely on Sea Ice? Polar bears rely on sea ice to efficiently catch their seal prey. The polar bear's main prey, the ringed seal, relies on sea ice, too—for giving birth to and raising their pups. 15

Question 8 How do scientists monitor sea ice? 16

Question 8 How do scientists monitor sea ice? Microwave instruments aboard Polar-orbiting Satellites! 17

Question 9 What is an Ice Sheet? 18

Question 9 What is an Ice Sheet? An ice sheet is a mass of glacial land ice extending more than 50, 000 square kilometers (20, 000 square miles). The two ice sheets on Earth today cover most of Greenland Antarctica. During the last ice age, ice sheets also covered much of North America and Scandinavia. 19

Question 10 What is an Ice Shelf and where are most of the Worlds Ice Shelves located? 20

Question 10 What is an Ice Shelf and where are most of the Worlds Ice Shelves located? Ice shelves are permanent floating sheets of ice that connect to a landmass. Most of the world's ice shelves hug the coast of Antarctica. 21

Question 11 What month does Sea Ice typically reach its maximum/minimum. 22

Question 11 What month does Sea Ice typically reach its maximum/minimum. March/September 23

Question 12 What percentage of the World’s Oceans are covered in Sea Ice during part of the year? 24

Question 12 What percentage of the World’s Oceans are covered in Sea Ice during part of the year? About 15% of the world's oceans are covered by sea ice during part of the year. 25

Question 13 What was the name of the first passenger cruise ship to traverse the Northwest passage 26

Question 13 What was the name of the first passenger cruise ship to traverse the Northwest passage Crystal Serenity 27

Question 14 What is the definition of Permafrost? 28

Question 14 What is the definition of Permafrost? Sub-surface earth materials that remain at or below 0˚C continuously for two or more years 29

Question 15 Name 3 JPSS Products that help monitor the cryosphere. 30

Question 15 Name 3 JPSS Products that help monitor the cryosphere. Ice Age/Thickness Ice Concentration Ice Surface Temperature Sea Ice Characterization Snow Cover Snow Water Equivalent 31

Question 16 Name the Cryosphere Type for each letter in the drawing. Glacier Iceberg Ice Cap Ice Sheet Ice Shelf Lake Ice Sea Ice Snow A C C E B G F H D 32