Subglacial Lakes: What’s happening under the ice sheets?

CategoryIce Core Science
Science Standards 1) Science and Engineering Practices: Asking Questions and Defining Problems; Planning and Carrying Out Investigations; Analyzing and Interpreting Data; Developing and Using Models; Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions; Engaging in Argument From Evidence; Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information. 2) Disciplinary Core Ideas: Motion and Stability: Forces and Interactions; Earth’s Systems. 3) Crosscutting Concepts: Cause and Effect: Mechanism and Prediction; Systems and System Models; Energy and Matter—Flows, Cycles and Conservation; Stability and Change.
File TypeGoogle Doc
Description Students observe a subglacial lake model and measure changes in temperature, salinity and sea level rise as the glaciers/ice sheets and subglacial lakes melt.. Students will move from the small model to discussions of implications for Earth systems.

Subglacial Lakes: What's happening under the ice sheets?

Preview

Students observe a subglacial lake model and measure changes in temperature, salinity and sea level rise as the glaciers/ice sheets and subglacial lakes melt.. Students will move from the small model to discussions of implications for Earth systems.

Key Concepts

  • Subglacial lakes—non-frozen lakes under vast ice sheets and glaciers
  • Ice sheets—large masses of ice found in Greenland and Antarctica
  • Diffuse discharge—for some subglacial lakes, the discharge is diffused over large areas
  • Focused Discharge—channels can focus water discharge from subglacial lakes
  • Salinity—as fresh water flows into the ocean, the salinity of the ocean goes down (freshening)
  • Electrical Conductivity—used to measure salinity
  • Dissolved Solids—in water these are mainly salts
  • Sea level rise—as land-based ice melts, it raises ocean levels