Aim: To track the movement of the sun in Antarctica, using the Scott Base webcam
Donald Reid. [email protected]
Introduction: The International Polar Year
The 2007- 2009 International Polar Year is a major international project which aims to further our understanding of both polar regions. In
support of the IPY and science education I forward the following practical activity - for students who have access to the web.
For the student
Using the internet visit Antarctica NZ's live webcam at Scott Base on at least 5 different occasions.
http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/education/2568
Save the image each time (usually by right clicking on it). Note that the date and time of your image is automatically displayed at the top
left. Use your 5 or more images to produce a diagram, a slide show or movie that shows how you measured a change in at least one
of the following
●
●
●
●
light (or weather) within an hour
the path of the sun on one day
the height of the sun above the horizon during a day
the position of the sun at the same time on different days
Examples of what you might see
The view from the Telecommunications room in Scott Base, looking
southwards. The containers by the flagpole are housing the equipment for an
extension to the 'mess' out of sight to the right. The green pipe is heavily
insulated and heated so it can carry sea water into the 'reverse osmosis plant'
that turns it into fresh water for use within Scott base. Depending on the angle
of the sun 'pressure ridges' can be seen marking the join between 3m thick
seaice (near the beach) and the 100m thick Ross iceshelf.
About 80km away to the left of centre is Mt Discovery (2681m). To the right is
Mt Morning (2723m) – both are volcanoes
Arrival Heights was named in 1901 by Scott's party supposedly because when
they arrived they walked up onto this ridge above their new winter over base.
Scott Base is 3km behind the camera and McMurdo Station is 2km to the
lower left.
Today Arrival Heights is an Specially Protected Area because it is home to a
wide range of sensitive communication, geomagnetic and electromagnetic
measuring equipment.
The view is northwards, over the sea ice of McMurdo Sound. Tent Island is
visible in the distant centre, as are grounded icebergs to it's right.
Useful dates
20 February – the first sunset of the year at Scott Base
21 March - day and night are the same length all over the planet (equinox)
21 June – the longest night in the S. hemisphere (winter solstice), the longest day in the N. hemisphere (summer solstice)
20 August – First sunrise of the summer at Scott Base
21 September - day and night are the same length all over the planet (equinox)
21 December - the longest day in the S. hemisphere (summer solstice), the shortest day in the N. hemisphere (winter solstice)
For more IPY information visit
http://www.ipyyouthnz.org
http://www.antarcticanz.govt.nz/major-projects/9494
http://www.ipy.org
For the teacher
The practical activity outlined will hopefully help students to understand the importance and implications of the earth's tilted
axis – especially with regard to the distribution of day light during a year. Few students realise that all parts of the planet
receive the same total number of daylight hours in a year – despite their cold this makes the polar oceans as
photosynthetically productive as any tropical reef.
Tips
1. If students wish to visit other webcams direct them to ones on the same line of longitude ( i.e. directly above NZ) or
on the opposite side of the world - or to other Antarctica bases.
2. When searching for webcams keep your web browsing filter's on.
Document ends
Donald Reid B.Sc. Dip Tchg. Reg Tchr
[email protected]
www.informationmatters.co.nz