Sea Ice Activity: What Happens When it Melts?
Sea ice, the thin layer of ice that covers most of the Arctic Ocean and surrounds most of the Antarctic continent, represents a distinctive feature of our planet. The attached flyer, produced by the International Polar Year (IPY) Programme Office, includes a summary of information about sea ice including sea ice formation, movement, monitoring, seasonal patterns, and forecasting. A follow-up activity allows students to investigate the properties of density, temperature, and salinity as they relate to sea ice.
Materials:
Two blue ice cubes made with tap water and food coloring
One glass container with tap water at room temperature
One glass container with tap water saturated with salt, also at room temperature
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