Thanks to students in Washington, Montana, Minnesota and Massachusetts for reporting the ice conditions in their states. You'll find their comments below. Remember, when your adopted body of water is 90% free of ice (our definition of "ice-out") please let us know! Simply fill out a Field Data Form by selecting the blue button below labeled, "Report Field Observations". Be sure to include the name of your adopted body of water and its location. (So that other students can locate it on a map, please include the name of the nearest town.)
How does ice-out affect the migration of the species tracked by Journey North? How might frozen water interfere with their feeding, breeding or method of travel? Think carefully about the needs and destinations of each animal. Then see if you can answer this Challenge Question:
Challenge Question # 50 "Which animals' migrations might be affected by ice-out? Why do you think so?"
To respond to this Challenge Question, please follow the instructions at the end of this report.
Internet Ice-Out Contest Update Thanks to the many students who sent entries for the 2nd Annual Internet Ice-Out contest. There are no winners to announce yet because Walden Pond is still frozen! However, as you read Denise Morrissey's comments below you'll see that ice-out should soon occur. Last year's official ice-out date was March 18th!
Was this year's winter colder than last? These Massachusetts students live less than 10 miles away from Walden Pond. As you'll see, they analyzed this year's temperature data, compared it to previous years' records and even visited the Pond! Will they be our winners? Wait for the next ice-out update and see:
From MASSACHUSETTS: This is Billie and Monica from Lexington, Mass. We think we have the date when the ice will break on Waldon Pond. We have gathered information to help us come up with the date. The date we are supposing the ice will break is March 31st.
We know that this winter is a tad colder than an average winter. We know this because we looked at the temperatures this year and the temperatures from last year. We compared them and averaged each month in winter to a degree.
In the book _Thoreau_, there are dates of when the ice broke. We used these to average the date of when the ice will break this year. Thoreau also left a part in this book saying that the ice usually broke April 1st. And, since Walden Pond is close by, we were able to take a trip if we wanted to. Then, we observed the ice. fpoor@PoorHouse.Lexington.Ma.US
To: Journey North
From: Denise Morrissey
As of today, Wednesday March 20, 1996, there is 15 feet of open water on the north side of the pond. At this time of year, there are a few other signs of spring that come to Walden Pond.
We had a favorite "migrant" return to the pond today to see if it is open for swimming. However, this migrant is neither fish nor fowl-- instead, he is a 75-year-old man who swims in the pond. Last year he swam until it froze in January ! He leaves the area during the winter, but returns each year to swim again--today was his first day back and he actually swam in the open water!
Another spring event happened today when the Fish and Wildlife Service came to test the water temperature in the pond--they wanted to see if the water is warm enough to stock fish. If the water is warm enough, the FWS will return soon to stock the pond with fish-- we'll let you know when they come! The park police come around pretty often lately because they are concerned about people who are still on the ice. Michelle Dumas said there was an ice-fisherman on the pond this morning.
As you can see, there is quite alot going on here as spring progresses. I'll look for new signs of spring as the days go by, and I'll report them to you soon. Good luck with your ice-out guesses!
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Comments From Observers:
From WASHINGTON:
March 4, 1996
We have iced out in Selah, Washington! We melted and refroze many
times, but we have been totally ice free for a few days now.
Mrs. Taylor's 4th Grade Class Lince Intermediate School
Selah, WA tltaylor@destiny.esd105.wednet.edu
From WASHINGTON:
March 10, 1996
Because of the influence of the Pacific Ocean and Puget Sound our
lakes and rivers do not freeze. High in the Cascades Mts. and
Olympic Mts the water freezes unless it is running too fast. Sam,
Ms. Burke's 5th Grade Class Benjamin Franklin School Kirkland,
Washington sburke@orac.lkwash.wednet.edu
From MONTANA:
March 13
Liz Larcom our home school friend in Great Falls,
Montana reports that the Missouri River is completely iced out
again! llarcom@aol.com N47.499, W 111.333
From MINNESOTA:
March 18, 1996
We went down to Eagle Pond two weeks ago (3/4/96) as a class and
used an ice auger to drill a hole in the ice to see how thick the
ice was. The ice was 21 inches thick! We'll update you when we truly
have ice out.Mr. Sheridan's Third Grade Class Greenleaf Elementary
Apple Valley, MN 0196gel@voyager.informns.k12.mn.us
How to Respond to Challenge Question # 5
1. Address an e-mail message to: jn-challenge@learner.org
2. In the Subject Line of your message write: Challenge Question #50
3. In the body of the message, answer this question:
"Which animals' migrations might be affected by ice-out?
Why do you think so?"
The Next Ice-Out Update Will be Posted on April 5, 1996
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