Penguins, Icebergs and Tropical Jungles
Understanding Climate Change Across the Globe
Penguins, Icebergs and Tropical Jungles
Understanding Climate Change Across the Globe
Today, one of the biggest concerns world wide is something called Climate Change. Some people think of it simply as Global Warming but an understanding of the science behind the effects can lead one to a deeper appreciation of this fragile world we live in and just how complex the issues really are. This course aims to study the environment of the Earth and what we call its climate. This is very different from the weather. We are not trying to make weather forecasters out of anybody.
The impact of global climate change is felt most acutely in the polar regions and in the tropics. The science is extraordinarily complex and while some scientists may agree on some aspects of it, many do not. So what are the right answers? Politicians have been more vocal than the scientists. We plan to get at the basics of climate and how it changes and maybe even can make some predictions about the future. This is not a gloom and doom approach but a serious scientific investigation into our changing environment.
This course is first and most a laboratory science course with a scientific focus on the background, the causes and modeling of Climate Change. It will require active, on-site laboratory experiments. Students enrolled in this course will travel to both the Antarctic to see first hand more ice and snow than you ever thought you could deal with. Then we'll enter the tropics where we can observe cloud forests, tropical jungles, coral reefs and how the climate interacts with and changes the Earth as well. We will keep accurate journals, chronicling our studies and we'll also be doing serious scientific experiments, measuring aspects of sea ice, glacier characteristics using a spectrometer and other electronic sensors connected to a laptop computer. This course will be every bit as challenging as any other lab based science course, but it will be held on site. It very well may be that there is no other course equivalent to this one anywhere.
Please be sure to read the warnings about Medical Requirements at the end of this file and Special Rules and Procedures applicable to this course.
Prerequisites: No special academic requirements other than an interest in and understanding of basic science and mathematics at a college algebra level. Must be in good physical condition and willing to be physically active. Due to the remote destination, medical facilities are not readily available. Clearance from a physician will be required.
Evaluation: Based on attendance at all group activities and participation in group discussions (10%), a daily academic journal (30%) with entries on Climate and observations, lab activities (30%), and a final exam (30%.)
Grading: Letter grade.
REGISTRATION DATES:
Applications are processed until July 31, 2009. At this time there is room for one more female and one more male student. This is based on accomodations. Late applications will immediately be put on a wait list and will only clear if there is a cancellation.
Application forms and detailed course information may be obtained from a UMAIE Campus Representative or from the UMAIE office; Seminars International, Inc., 21530 Vernon Avenue, Prior Lake, MN 55372, (952) 440- 1338, or kathy@semint.com. Additional information is available from the UMAIE website http://umaie.org/.Special Rules & Procedures for Antarctica: (Click Here)
UMAIE Campus Representatives:
Augustana College, Dianne Hammrich, 605-274-4042
St. Catherine University (formerly College of St. Catherine),
Global Studies Office, 651-690-6031
Elmhurst College, Alice Niziolek, 630-617-3604
Gustavus Adolphus College, Jill Fischer, 507-933-7546
University of St. Thomas, International Education Office, 651-962-6450Instructor:
Dr. Terry Flower, College of St. Catherine
(651) 690-6598, tfflower@stkate.edu
Terry Flower is a physicist and practicing astronomer. His professional work has taken him to both hemispheres including New Zealand, Australia, Tahiti, Midway Island, Hawaii and even the Arctic and Antarctic. He has taught physics and astronomy at the College of St. Catherine for more than 20 years and served as Distinguished Visiting Professor at the United States Air Force Academy. His research topics include comets, asteroids, supernovae and atmospheric phenomena. He has led UMAIE courses to New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa and Tonga and directed several NSF Chautauqua Courses in Astronomy for college faculty.
Day |
Date |
Location/Program |
| 1 | Sunday January 3 |
TWIN CITIES Departure. Meet at 12:00 PM. Depart (2:10 p.m.) Minneapolis-St. Paul on American Airlines AA #1196 for Dallas. Arrive (4:50 p.m.) and proceed to connecting gate for (7:35 p.m.) departure on American Airlines AA #997 for Buenos Aires.
|
| 2 | Monday January 4 |
BUENOS AIRES Arrival. Arrive Buenos Aires (10:05) and transfer, with assistance, to HOTEL PanAmericano Hotel for check-in.
|
| 3 | Tuesday January 5 |
BUENOS AIRES. (B)
|
| 4 | Wednesday January 6 |
BUENOS AIRES/USHUAIA. Transfer to airport for morning departure on local flight to Ushuaia. Transfer to MS FRAM upon arrival for embarkation. (B,L,D) Ushiaia is known as "fin del mundo," the end of the world, since it is the southernmost city on Earth.
|
| 5 | Thursday January 7 |
DRAKE PASSAGE. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D) The Drake Passage (named after Sir Francis Drake) connects the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans with the cold, deep water from the Antarctic. It is known as one of the roughest seas in the world with 10 meter waves not uncommon. The following You Tube video shows how the seas can be. Yet our ship will be safe.
|
| 6 | Friday January 8 |
|
| 7 | Saturday January 9 |
ANTARCTICA. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D)
|
| 8 | Sunday January 10 |
ANTARCTICA. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D)
|
| 9 | Monday January 11 |
ANTARCTICA. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D)
|
| 10 | Tuesday January 12 |
ANTARCTICA/DRAKE PASSAGE. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D)
|
| 11 | Wednesday January 13 |
DRAKE PASSAGE. Program arrangements by course instructors. (B,L,D)
|
| 12 | Thursday January 14 |
USHUAIA/BUENOS AIRES.
|
| 13 | Friday January 15 |
BUENOS AIRES. Program arrangements by course instructors.
|
| 14 | Saturday January 16 |
BUENOS AIRES/SAN JOSE (LA FORTUNA). (B,D)
|
| 15 | Sunday January 17 |
LA FORTUNA. (B,L)
|
| 16 | Monday January 18 |
LA FORTUNA/MONTEVERDE. (B)
|
| 17 | Tuesday January 19 |
MONTEVERDE. (B)
|
| 18 | Wednesday January 20 |
MONTEVERDE/QUEPOS. (B)
|
| 19 | Thursday January 21 |
QUEPOS. (B)
|
| 20 | Friday January 22 |
QUEPOS. (B)
|
| 21 | Saturday January 23 |
QUEPOS/SAN JOSE. (B)
|
| 22 | Sunday January 24 |
SAN JOSE/TWIN CITES. Private motorcoach for morning transfer to airport for (11.25) departure on American Airlines AA #2166 for Dallas/Fort Worth. Arrive (3:35 p.m.), clear customs, and proceed to connecting flight American Airlines AA #1072 departing at (5:45 p.m.) for Minneapolis-St. Paul. Arrive (8:10 p.m.). (B) |
Antarctica Facts
Did you know?
Antarctica is really a desert receiving less than 2 inches of precipitation a year (about as much as the Sahara Dessert) Some areas do not even have snow.
Coldest temperature recorded was -128.5 degrees F
This is one of the windiest places in the world with gusts up to 200 mph
The ice sheet cobvers all but 2.4% of its 5.4 million miles.
At the thickest point the ice is nearly 3 miles deep.
The ice comprises 90% of all the world's ice
This is 70% of all the world's fresh water
Costa Rica Facts
(enterolobium ciclocarpum)
Medical Requirements
Your health and safety are of utmost concern to us. Because medical facilities are limited both onboard the MS Fram and in the jungles of Costa Rica, everyone participating should be in good health and excellent physical condition. While there certainly is some medical attention available on the MS Fram, it is limited and return to Argentina would not be possible during the entire voyage. In Costa Rica there are more medical facilities available but they may be several hours away. Some of the activities can be strenuous. All participants in this class will be required to have a signed medical statement from their personal physicians indicating their approval. More on this will be available later.
Withdrawals and Refunds
- No cancellation fee for students withdrawing on or before March 12, 2009
- A $600 cancellation fee is withheld for students withdrawing between March 13 and October 1, 2009
- A $4000 cancellation fee is withheld for students who withdraw between October 2 and November 3, 2009 (for cancellations not covered under group trip insurance.)
- A refund for cancellations occurring after November 3, 2009 is based upon recoverable costs. The ENTIRE COST may be forfeited (unless covered by group trip insurance.)
- If cancellation occurs 30 days or less prior to departure, there will be no refund (unless covered by group trip insurance.)
- NOTICE OF CANCELLATION MUST BE SUBMITTED IN WRITING TO YOUR CAMPUS UMAIE BOARD MEMBER.
DRAKE
PASSAGE/ANTARCTICA. (B,L,D)
