Polar Mail from April 8, 2009
Question:
Hello scientists and crew of Expedition 5!
My 6th grade science class is watching your mission with much
anticipation! We are studying density right now and I'm sure some of
your studies involve density! We are pleased to see that you got off
to a successful start and wish you well on your journey! Please let
us know what you hope to find in some of your samplings below the
ice! Look for some of my students' future emails! Thanks so much for
bringing real world science applications to children all over the
world!!!
Mrs. Benoit
grade 6 science
Duxbury Middle School
Duxbury, MA
Answer:
Dear Mrs. Benoit,
Thanks for writing—we are thrilled that you are following our daily adventures! The density of seawater is indeed a property that we calculate based on measurements made with the CTD. Stay tuned for an upcoming dispatch about the CTD to learn more.
Best regards,
Chris Linder
Question:
What changes or difficulties does he (Chris Linder) have with the camera due to the temperatures/conditions?
—Jan Goldstein Guttman
Answer:
Dear Mrs. Guttman,
So far the only problem I have encountered is keeping rain and snow off of my lenses, in particular my wide-angle lens, which I have nicknamed "snow magnet." Precipitation doesn't hurt the lens, but if the droplets are big enough they will be visible in the photo as unsightly blobs. So far it has not been cold enough to affect the operation of my digital cameras.
Thanks for writing,
Best,
Chris Linder
