Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
MAP:Thisisamapofsealevelusinglocal:degauges.
YoumovetotheSwedishcoastandarepuzzledtofindthe
peopletherearenotworriedaboutSeaLevelRise…Whynot?
Touchonthe
interac:vemaptoget
informa:on
Overviewoftopics
•  Whereissealevelchangingnow? •  Tidesta:ons
>
>
FirstletsexplorearoundthecoastoftheeasternUnited
States.Clickonsomeofthe:desta:ondots.Whatissea
leveldoinghere?
Touchonthe
interac:vemaptoget
informa:on
Overviewoftopics
•  Whereissealevelchangingnow? •  Tidesta:ons
>
>
1
Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
NowletsgoovertoyournewhomeinSweden.Clickonone
ofthepurpleorbluedotsbyScandinavia.Whatishappening
tosealevelinthisloca:on?Howcanthisbe?Hypothesize…
OKlet’stravelbackin:metoseewhatmighthavehappened
Overviewoftopics
•  Whereissealevelchangingnow? •  Tidesta:ons
>
>
Weareback~20,000years.Whatisgoingoninthisarea?
Overviewoftopics
•  Whataboutclimateinthepast? >
•  Whataboutcoldperiods?
>
•  EurasianIceSheet20,000yearsago>
2
Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
Thelastmapshowedhowicecoveredthiswholearea,thisis
icethickness.Touchtoseehowthicktheicewas.Seemslike
alot,buthowmuchisthatreally?Canyouthinkofa
comparison?
Stayonthismapbuttoggle
thearrowonthebaronthe
bo\omofthemap.
Overviewoftopics
•  Whataboutclimateinthepast? >
•  Whataboutcoldperiods?
>
•  EurasianIceSheet20,000yearsago>
Letsreturntothepresent,andvisitGreenland’sicesheet.
ClickaroundtoseehowhightheiceisontopofGreenland
rightnow.Howdoesthiscomparetotheamountoficethat
wasoverSweden20,000yearsago?
Overviewoftopics
•  WhataboutthePolarRegions?
•  GreenlandIceSheetThickness
>
>
3
Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
Nowlet’stakeofftheiceandlookattheGreenlandsurface
belowtheice?Thecenteroftheicesheetiswheretheiceis
thethickest.Seehowitispresseddownbelowsealevel–
thatisfromalltheicelayeredontopofit.
Overviewoftopics
•  WhataboutthePolarRegions?
>
•  LookundertheGreenlandIceSheet >
Whatwouldhappeniftheiceweretomelt?Veryslowlyover
thousandsofyearsthelandwouldcomebackup.Thisis
whatishappeninginScandinaviarightnow.Thelandisrising
several:mesfasterthantheseaisrising…
Overviewoftopics
•  WhataboutthePolarRegions?
>
•  LookundertheGreenlandIceSheet >
4
Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
Interac:vethatreviewsisostacy
Whatdoyouthinkisgoingon?
Underneaththehardoutsidelayertheearthissocandtheiceis
heavyandpushesitdown.Thisis20,000yearsacerSwedenwas
underice–wowthelandiss:llrisingbackup!
Tolearnmoregotoh\p://polarexplorer.ccnmtl.columbia.edu Select‘SeaLevelandGlacialRebound’
Interac:vethatreviewsisostacy
Whatdoyouthinkisgoingon?
Underneaththehardoutsidelayertheearthissocandtheiceis
heavyandpushesitdown.Thisis20,000yearsacerSwedenwas
underice–wowthelandiss:llrisingbackup!
Tolearnmoregotoh\p://polarexplorer.ccnmtl.columbia.edu Select‘SeaLevelandGlacialRebound’
5
Polar Explorer: Sea Level App 'Quest'
Scandinavian Puzzle
3/31/16
NowyoucanunderstandwhythepeoplealongtheSwedish
coastarenotworriedaboutSeaLevelRise…atleastfornow!
Touchonthe
interac:vemaptoget
informa:on
Overviewoftopics
•  Whereissealevelchangingnow? •  Tidesta:ons
>
>
6