Field Notes
During, before, and after the field course, Polaris students and faculty share their thoughts through journal entries.
-
Curiosity as my guide
Here I am, measuring temperatures out in the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. I guess the eventual question for myself is “how do changes in this region impact global climate change?” Different people approach answering this question with their own angles and methods. For me, the most important player in warming climate is
Continue reading -
Tundra day!
WOW! What a day. Twenty-four hours flying (Newcastle – Amsterdam – Seattle – Alaska) an overnight stay in Anchorage and then a quick flight to Bethel for our last night in civilization. Finally, we woke this morning for the day we had all been dreaming of for a very long
Continue reading -
Runaway train of ideas
I only have about 30 minutes to write this blog post before I have to process some soil samples. As I write this, I am shoveling an obscene amount of chili into my mouth and washing it down with fresh, warm biscuits.…
Continue reading -
The Polaris Project team has arrived in the Yukon Kusokwim Delta
The Polaris Project team has arrived to the remote field site in the Yukon Kusokwim Delta. There are just three of us left—ecologist Dr. Seeta Sistla, returning student Darcy Peter, and myself. We’re waiting in Bethel, AK for the final float plane to take us to the field camp in
Continue reading -
Measuring Emissions in Burned and Unburned Tundra
The 2017 Polaris Project team spent two weeks studying climate change impact on the tundra of Alaska’s Yukon-Kusksokwim Delta. The team – including students and scientist faculty – returned to the Woods Hole Research Center on July 15 to process the samples they had taken in the field.…
Continue reading -
More Inspired Than Ever to Continue Searching for Answers
The 2017 Polaris Project team spent two weeks studying climate change impact on the tundra of Alaska’s Yukon-Kusksokwim Delta. The team – including students and scientist faculty – returned to the Woods Hole Research Center on July 15 to process the samples they had taken in the field.…
Continue reading -
Measuring Carbon Emissions From Water and Nicknaming Field Equipment
The 2017 Polaris Project team spent two weeks studying climate change impact on the tundra of Alaska’s Yukon-Kusksokwim Delta. The team – including students and scientist faculty – returned to the Woods Hole Research Center on July 15 to process the samples they had taken in the field.…
Continue reading -
Studying Arctic Vegetation and Remembering the Importance of Nature
The 2017 Polaris Project team spent two weeks studying climate change impact on the tundra of Alaska’s Yukon-Kusksokwim Delta. The team – including students and scientist faculty – returned to the Woods Hole Research Center on July 15 to process the samples they had taken in the field.…
Continue reading -
Studying Burned Vegetation, and Collecting Tundra Burritos
The 2017 Polaris Project team spent two weeks studying climate change impact on the tundra of Alaska’s Yukon-Kusksokwim Delta. The team – including students and scientist faculty – returned to the Woods Hole Research Center on July 15 to process the samples they had taken in the field.…
Continue reading -
The 2017 Polaris Project is in the field
The Polaris Project 2017 research team – featuring students from across the United States, WHRC scientists, and colleagues – have arrived at their camp in the Yukon Delta and are studying the impact of climate change on the arctic.…
Continue reading -
To Hell and Back
This ten-year old burn site isn’t a simple walk through the park. The fire has left the land a subsided obstacle course scattered with wet and dry depressions to fall in and dead trees to trip over. At the end of a field day I leave bruised, tattered, sweaty, and
Continue reading -
From Denver to Duvannyi Yar
There is something special about traveling to a part of the world that you've never seen before and discovering how much you enjoy learning about one the regions most vulnerable to climate change.
Continue reading -
Hurry Up and Wait
The 48 hours of work that began Sunday morning were so intense that I was grateful in retrospect for the previous calm days of preparation.
Continue reading -
Bag Party Part Two
My return to Orbita feels much like the Monarch butterfly's return to its winter grounds in Mexico – intentional and purposeful.
Continue reading -
Congratulations to our Alums
I have always marveled at the remarkable achievements of our students, before, during and after the summer research expedition. This year is no exception, and I take great joy in congratulating our alumni for the following accomplishments.
Continue reading