Education

Arctic Survey Education is an initiative launched to promote climate change awareness by inspiring young people and their families with new facts and knowledge.

The latest scientific data has revealed a significant possibility that, between 2030 and 2040, the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice cover may completely disappear during the late summertime. As such, there has never been a more important time to develop our understanding of the changes taking place in the world around us.

The first Catlin Arctic Survey contributed unique research to decades of existing satellite and submarine data, thereby helping scientists to make this latest sea ice loss forecast.

The story of that expedition, the challenges the team faced and the research they carried out has formed the basis for the first learning resources produced by Arctic Survey Education.

This year, the third Catlin Arctic Survey is being undertaken. Not only will this help further scientists’ understanding of the current and future state of the Arctic Ocean’s sea ice, it will also provide vital data for determining the impact of the increasing amounts of fresh water emptying into the Arctic Ocean. This could alter the ‘great ocean conveyor belt’, which circulates hot and cold water around our oceans and has a powerful effect on our weather and climate.

The Arctic Survey Education website will continue to evolve and more learning resources based on the 2010 and 2011 Catlin Arctic Surveys will be developed. The learning resources will be based on our ocean change research and will add further breadth and depth to the range already available. Watch this space…