Dear Reader,
What exactly is “the Arctic”? Technically, it’s the region above the Arctic Circle, an imaginary line that circles the globe at 66° 32″ N, which marks the latitude where the sun rises once and sets once each year. This area consists of a large ocean surrounded by land and hosts very unique ecosystems, a surprising array of species, and humans spanning many different countries and cultures. It is an area of extremes — cold, wind, and darkness — that make it extremely interesting to learn about!
The ice caps at both of Earth’s poles act as global air conditioners, and play a huge role in regulating the temperature, oceans, currents, and climate across the entire planet. Because they receive less sunlight throughout the year, they remain frozen year-round, and thus contain species of plants and animals that have acquired many interesting adaptations that allow them to live in very harsh conditions.
This time of year, when it’s dark and cold across most of the Northern Hemisphere, we are reminded of the Arctic, which suddenly doesn’t seem all that far away. We even share several species that migrate from the Arctic Circle down to Wisconsin at different times of the year. Read on to learn more about our neighbors to the north and some fun activities you can do this month to celebrate all things arctic!
Enjoy,
Brenna & Betsy
The Folks at Nature Net
December
Arctic Animals
Polar Bear (Sow), Near Kaktovik, Barter Island, Alaska
“For humans, the Arctic is a harshly inhospitable place, but the conditions there are precisely what polar bears require to survive — and thrive. ‘Harsh’ to us is ‘home’ for them. Take away the ice and snow, increase the temperature by even a little, and the realm that makes their lives possible literally melts away.” – Sylvia Earle
Did You Know?
Polar bears are classified as marine mammals. They spend the majority of their time hunting and swimming in the Arctic Sea. There are 19 noted subpopulations of polar bears in the Arctic — eight of which are listed as declining. The total polar bear population in the wild is thought to be 20,000-25,000. Since 2003, the WWF Polar Bear Tracker has followed polar bears in several regions in the Arctic. Their positions are beamed from collars on the bears’ necks, via satellite to scientists, and then to this real-time tracker. Fun Fact: only female polar bears are tracked because male’s necks are wider than their heads, and these collars slide right off! Find out more about these majestic bears and what you might do to help them at the World Wildlife Fund.
The Arctic is home to more than just polar bears. Wolves, foxes, hares, caribou, whales, moose, walruses, dall sheep, ermine, and sea otters also make their home north of the Arctic Circle. From crypsis and camouflage to special coats and furry footwear, arctic animals have developed some very fascinating features to survive — learn more about these winter adaptations here!
The Arctic is an important migratory home to many bird species and serves as an important breeding ground. (Find out why!) As many as eight different flyways (flight paths used by migrating birds) begin or end in the Arctic. Perhaps the most well-traveled migratory bird is the arctic tern, which maintains breeding grounds in the Arctic and winters in the Antarctic (that’s a 25,000 mile flight!). Wisconsin’s main flyway — the Mississippi Flyway — is a popular route for Arctic-bound birds like the tundra swan, snow goose, and common merganser. Even the legendary snowy owl has been spotted in Wisconsin!
This time of year, it’s dark nearly all day long in the Arctic Circle. This is because the tilt of the Earth as it circles the sun means the North Pole is facing away from the sun most of the time during winter — but they have almost a whole day’s worth of sunlight in the summer to make up for it! Meanwhile, the opposite is happening at the South Pole. Read more about solstices here and here.
The Arctic is undergoing a lot of changes in recent decades as the impacts of a warming climate influence the land, sea, and ecosystems. The distinct environment at our North Pole, with its combination of land, sea, and ice, makes it especially vulnerable to these changes. Track these changes and learn more about the state of the Arctic with the NOAA’s Arctic Report Card.
What To Do This Month:
Check out the month-long Polar Express programming at the Aldo Leopold Nature Center all December long. Learn about critical cold regions on the 6-foot Science on a Sphere, make some arctic art, and learn how research at the poles is helping scientists understand Earth’s climate and wildlife.
Take a guided Bird & Nature Walk in the wintery world of Madison’s Conservation Parks.
Visit the beginnings of the Arctic Passage at the Henry Vilas Zoo! (See more info below.)
Celebrate the Winter Solstice — the longest night of the year — at either of two Nature Net sites offering special events: the Aldo Leopold Nature Center’s Winter Solstice Celebration (12/19) or UW Arboretum’s Winter Solstice Night Walk (12/21).
Embrace the many lives of snow by brushing up different types — like hoarfrost or graupels — or types of snow cover formations — like cornices, sastrugi, snow bridges, or snow rollers. You may be familiar with snow flurries, but have you seen a snowburst? And of course, if you catch a snowflake, you can figure out its morphology before it melts. Brush up on more terms and the science behind crystals and flakes here.
Teachers: If your students can’t get the North Pole off their minds this month, journey there together with this NASA data-tracking lesson plan, “March of the Polar Bears” (Gr. 7-12: Geography/Math/Science).
Instant Outdoor Expert:
Arctic vs, Antarctic
Many might think the only difference between the Arctic (North Pole) and Antarctic (South Pole) is the animals that live there (hint: polar bears live in the north and penguins live in the south). However, because of their huge geographic differences, the two poles vary quite a bit. Viewed from above, the Arctic is really an ocean surrounded by land (Russia, Canada and Greenland, most notably), while the Antarctic is a land mass surrounded by ocean. In the Arctic, the sea ice that forms is largely trapped in the Arctic Ocean, and as it sloshes around, ice floes collide and merge into ice ridges. Because these ridges are so thick (6-9 feet), they can remain frozen even through summer months. Conversely, in the Antarctic, where the sea ice can move freely, it tends to drift into warmer waters and melt each year. Ocean currents, as well as freshwater inlets, also affect ice growth in the Arctic, creating more ice cover — while ocean winds carrying moisture create more snow cover in the Antarctic. Find out more differences between our poles form the National Snow and Ice Data Center)
To broaden your Arctic knowledge, find out about fascinating arctic phenomena like northern lights, coronas, ice blink and more.
For Families:
Tricks of the Trail – Winter Exploration
You don’t have to be Robert Peary (the Arctic explorer who claimed to be the first person to reach the geographic North Pole) to be a winter adventurer. It just takes a little preparation and imagination to brave the winter wilds with your junior pathfinder. Long used in the Arctic and beyond, snowshoeing is increasing in popularity in the US — likely due to the ease of learning, the comparatively low cost of equipment, and the low-impact health benefits people of all ages can enjoy through the winter months. A quick search on the internet yields many sources for purchasing snowshoes, or even kits that include poles and a storage bag. Adult snowshoes are fitted based on the length of the shoe and the user’s weight (here’s a convenient chart), but to find the correct size for your young explorer, it’s easiest to select snowshoes based on age or level of activity. Smaller sizes are fit for casual play and in general are better suited for maneuverability and traction. Larger sizes can increase the feeling of floating on the snow but are better for flat, straight paths. REI’s Expert Advice article provides more info if you want to select shoes based on snow type or terrain.
Now all you need is a good adventure story to spark your family into action — what flag will you sink in the snow at your “north pole” destination? What snow stories will you encounter on your way?
Featured Nature Net Site:
Henry Vilas Zoo
If you’ve been to the Zoo lately, you’ve likely noticed a huge construction site bustling with action. Henry Vilas Zoo is revitalizing the former bear grottos into a modern facility with updated animal care standards with new exhibits and offerings for visitors, too.
Arctic Passage, which broke ground in March of 2014, is the biggest renovation the Henry Vilas Zoo has ever undertaken. It will provide guests with many exciting features, including special conservation and sustainability components, the zoo’s first indoor restaurant, and beautiful new exhibits for bears and seals.
Aside from these arctic animals, the Zoo boasts animal residents from many animal classes, including mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians and fish.
The Zoo is open (even during construction) 9:30am to 5pm daily. It is open free of charge thanks to the support of the Henry Vilas Zoological Society (also known as The Friends of the Zoo) and Dane County. Carousel and train rides are $1.50. The Zoo is surrounded by Vilas Park which offers playgrounds, a beach and an ice skating lagoon.
Nature Craft:
Arctic Sensory Play
Young children love to play and explore with their hands — but it’s not just play. Sensory exploration is a part of the scientific process; children question, investigate, and collect data with their actions. They may even answer their own questions. Use this arctic sensory bin to introduce your scientist to arctic animals and the physical properties of their icy world.
Directions: Fill a large plastic tub part way with water (make sure it will fit in your freezer — our put it outside if its cold enough!). Place a smaller container in the tub and weigh it down — this will create the open area for water inside the icy terrain. Allow to freeze overnight.
Remove the smaller container and fill the open area with lukewarm water.
Add a set of arctic animal figurines (example for under $10) and play!
You can engage your explorer in questions about the Arctic ecosystem, including which animals live on land and which can swim, predator and prey relationships or food chains, or the change in temperature of the lukewarm water. Make habitats for your critters: use snow or ice chips to build glaciers, heat edges to form ice caves or create waterfalls, or float ice cubes as sea ice. Become artcic explorers in the cozy comfort of your own home!
Suggested Reading:
“In Arctic Waters” by Laura Crawford
“The Ice Bear Mini Edition” by Jackie Morris
“Mama, Do You Love Me?” by Barbara Joosse
“Over in the Arctic” by Marianne Berkes
“National Geographic Readers: Polar Bears” by Laura Marsh
“Arctic Animals: An Interactive Fun Fact Picture Book” by Mary Ann Rogers
“Polar Bears Past Bedtime” by Mary Pope Osbourne
“Snowy White World to Save” by Stephanie Lisa Tara
“White Fang” by Jack London
“Never Cry Wolf: Amazing True Story of Life Among Arctic Wolves” by Farley Mowat