Where do you suppose the caribou are now? Have a look at today's new data and see if you can answer this question:
Challenge Question # 105
"In which direction is each caribou cow travelling? Why do you
think caribou typically travel in lines rather than side by side?"
(To respond to these questions, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.)
This map shows the ranges of each caribou herd in the Northwest Territories. The caribou you are tracking this spring below to the Kaminuriak herd. Thanks to the Government of the Northwest Territories for permission to use this map from their book "People & Caribou In The Northwest Territories".
We wondered what signs of spring were appearing in caribou country so we asked Robert Mulders to describe some of the changes he's been noticing:
"Our main cue that spring is around the corner is the amount of sunlight we're receiving. Since our shortest (darkest) day last December, the days have been getting progressively longer. For example, on April 22 in Arviat the sun rose at 5:35 and set at 8:56 pm. By June, the sun will only dip below the horizon for about 2-3 hours and it won't really get dark at all.
"Although our temperatures are slowly getting "milder", it seems like spring might be late this year. The temperature on April 22nd was -4 F (-20 C) with winds of 25 mph (40 kph). Although I don't have any long-term data available, the monthly winter means (in Celcius) for 1995 and 1996 are as follows:
Year......Jan......Feb......Mar......Apr......May
1995.....-25.6....-30.0....-23.5....-16.2....-6.2
1996.....-31.9....-25.7....-26.0....-19.7 (to 4/21/96)
"This winter we received less snow than we normally do. The thin layer of snow makes it easier for caribou to crater through and feed. As well, caribou have had no problem accessgin food on esker tops, where the ground is relatively wind blown and free of snow. Once the tmperatures finally do rise the snow will melt fairly quickly."
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Here are today's new data as well as the locations for each cow since March 7th:
Caribou #06978
Mar 07: 61.373 N, 94.141 W
Mar 12: 61.367 N, 94.150 W
Mar 17: 61.338 N, 93.933 W
Mar 22: 61.367 N, 93.900 W
Mar 27: 61.350 N, 93.967 W
Apr 01: 61.367 N, 94.000 W
Apr 06: 61.633 N, 94.083 W
Apr 11: 61.633 N, 94.150 W
Apr 16: 61.883 N, 93.700 W
Apr 21: 62.167 N, 93.617 W
Apr 26: 62.308 N, 93.540 W
Caribou #06980
Mar 07: 59.792 N, 95.506 W
Mar 12: 59.840 N, 95.417 W
Mar 17: 59.797 N, 95.272 W
Mar 22: 59.817 N, 95.317 W
Mar 27: 59.800 N, 95.300 W
Apr 01: 59.733 N, 95.500 W
Apr 06: 59.733 N, 95.400 W
Apr 11: 60.033 N, 95.533 W
Apr 16: 60.067 N, 95.400 W
Apr 21: 59.617 N, 95.419 W
Apr 26: 59.679 N, 95.559 W
Caribou #23924
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 60.972 N, 106.042 W
Mar 17: 60.900 N, 106.097 W
Mar 22: 60.933 N, 105.900 W
Mar 27: 61.017 N, 105.933 W
Apr 01: 61.016 N, 105.933 W
Apr 06: 61.250 N, 105.950 W
Apr 11: 61.367 N, 106.083 W
Apr 16: 61.950 N, 105.867 W
Apr 21: 62.375 N, 105.766 W
Apr 26: 62.656 N, 105.277 W
Caribou #23925
Mar 07: 60.289 N, 96.533 W
Mar 12: 60.310 N, 96.278 W
Mar 17: 60.333 N, 96.267 W
Mar 22: 60.583 N, 95.567 W
Mar 27: 60.583 N, 95.567 W
Apr 01: 60.583 N, 95.567 W
Apr 06: 60.800 N, 95.417 W
Apr 11: 60.883 N, 95.083 W
Apr 16: 61.233 N, 94.633 W
Apr 21: 61.441 N, 94.611 W
Apr 26: 61.738 N, 94.375 W
Caribou #23926
Mar 07: No Data
Mar 12: 60.248 N, 96.260 W
Mar 17: 60.383 N, 95.537 W
Mar 22: 60.400 N, 95.483 W
Mar 27: 60.383 N, 95.467 W
Apr 01: 60.433 N, 96.467 W
Apr 06: 60.667 N, 94.983 W
Apr 11: 60.667 N, 94.967 W
Apr 16: 61.183 N, 94.783 W
Apr 21: 61.391 N, 94.586 W
Apr 26: 61.848 N, 94.447 W
How to Respond to Challenge Question #105
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line write: Challenge Question #105
3. In the Body of your message, answer this question:
"In which direction is each caribou cow travelling? Why do you think caribou typically travel in lines rather than side by side?"
The Next Caribou Migration Update Will be Posted on May 14, 1996