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Anne U. Gold +1 more instructor

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Frozen in the Ice: Exploring the Arctic

University of Colorado Boulder

About this Course

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Why would hundreds of scientists from around the world intentionally freeze a ship in Arctic sea ice for an entire year, braving subzero temperatures and months of polar darkness? This may sound like a fictional adventure movie plot, but from September 2019 through October 2020, the MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) Arctic research expedition did just this. 
In this course, you’ll hear directly from MOSAiC scientists and Arctic experts as they describe why this expedition is so key for increasing our understanding of the Arctic and global climate systems and what kinds of data they will be collecting during MOSAiC on the ice, under the sea, and in the air. The course kicks off with content around Arctic geography, climate, and exploration history, and then walks learners through the basics of the components of the Arctic system: atmosphere, ocean, sea ice and ecosystems. You will also learn how the data collected during MOSAiC will be used to improve climate model projections. Finally, we will wrap up the course by exploring challenges the new Arctic faces, including how indigenous peoples in the Arctic are being impacted in different ways by a changing Arctic environment.

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

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Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

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What you will learn

As virtual participants of the MOSAiC expedition, learners will explore all components of the Arctic climate system and how they are interconnected.
Explore what climate science is, what data scientists collect in the Arctic, and how their findings inform our understanding of weather and climate
Discuss the critical challenges the Arctic faces under a changing climate and how these changes impact our lives in the mid-latitudes

Flexible deadlines

Reset deadlines in accordance to your schedule.

Shareable Certificate

Earn a Certificate upon completion

100% online

Start instantly and learn at your own schedule.

Coursera Labs

Includes hands on learning projects.

Learn more about Coursera Labs

Beginner Level

Approx. 15 hours to complete

English

Could your company benefit from training employees on in-demand skills?

Try Coursera for Business

Instructors

Instructor rating

4.71/5 (8 Ratings)

Anne U. Gold

Senior Associate Scientist and Director CIRES Education & Outreach Program

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences

6,151 Learners

2 Courses

Dr. Matthew Shupe

Senior Research Scientist

Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES) at the University of Colorado Boulder and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

3,479 Learners

1 Course

Offered by

University of Colorado Boulder

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Syllabus - What you will learn from this course

Week1

Week 1

3 hours to complete

Course Introduction and Course Basics

3 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 40 min), 4 readings

6 videos

Welcome to the Course!3mModule Overview2mWhat and Where is the Arctic?11mGeopolitics of the Arctic - Great Powers, Strong Institutions, Scientific Cooperation10mThe MOSAiC Expedition: An Overview7mExploring the New and Old Arctic - MOSAiC and the Historic Fram Expedition4m

4 readings

Syllabus10mVirtual tour of Polarstern and Fram Ships10mRead about the MOSAiC expedition in the news15mMOSAiC Resources for Educators10m

Week2

Week 2

2 hours to complete

Atmosphere in the Arctic and Beyond

In this module, you will learn about the basic physics of the atmosphere with a specific focus on the Arctic. We will explore Earth’s energy budget and look at the structure of the atmosphere. Arctic clouds are an important player in the Arctic atmosphere and their role will be part of one video lecture. Finally, we will introduce you to the concept of feedbacks, systems responses that modulate the climate system and are the basis for connections to the lower latitudes. The module concludes with an overview of the goals of the MOSAiC Atmosphere research group and the data they are collecting.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 42 min), 3 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Module Overview1mRole of the Arctic in Earth’s Energy Budget7mUp in the Air: Earth's Atmosphere8mShedding Light on Arctic Clouds8mArctic Feedbacks4mWhy Study the Arctic Atmosphere? Goals of the MOSAiC Atmosphere Team10mSea Ice Movement (Credit: DLR, TSX/TDX AO: suman_OCE3562)54s

3 readings

Atmosphere Quiz Background Context10mRead about the MOSAiC expedition's atmosphere team in the news8mVisit the MOSAiC ice camp10m

1 practice exercise

Atmosphere30m

Week3

Week 3

2 hours to complete

The Arctic Ocean

In this module, we will take you on a tour of the Arctic Ocean. We will explore topics like ocean circulation and ocean stratification with a specific focus on processes that are happening in the Arctic. You will begin to draw connections to the coupling of the atmosphere, ocean, and sea ice and explore the chemistry of the ocean, nutrient distribution, and ocean productivity. The module concludes with an overview of the goals of the MOSAiC Ocean research group and the data they are collecting.

2 hours to complete

7 videos (Total 63 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

7 videos

Module Overview1mHow the Arctic Ocean Flows10mHow the Arctic Ocean Mixes10mWhere the Arctic Air and Ocean Meet9mOcean Chemistry and Productivity Part I10mOcean Chemistry and Productivity Part II11mWhy study the Arctic Ocean? Goals of the MOSAiC Ocean Team9m

2 readings

Arctic Ocean Quiz Background Context10mRead about the MOSAiC expedition's ocean team in the news10m

1 practice exercise

Arctic Ocean30m

Week4

Week 4

2 hours to complete

Sea Ice

In this module, you will learn about sea ice and the important role it plays in the Arctic climate system. We will discuss how sea ice forms, how sea ice interacts with sunlight, and how sea ice moves and behaves. We will also explore the change in sea ice thickness and distribution in the Arctic over time and in response to a changing climate. The module concludes with an overview of the goals of the MOSAiC Sea Ice research group and the data they are collecting.

2 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 77 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

9 videos

Module Overview1mThe Story of Sea Ice11mHow Sea Ice is Made7mSunlight and Arctic Sea Ice12mRidges and Leads: Sea Ice Dynamics9mSea Ice Kinetics9mSea Ice Thermodynamics - Coupling Sea Ice-Atmosphere-Ocean10mWhy study Sea Ice? Goals of the MOSAiC Sea Ice Team12mIce Moving on Radar! - Daily radar images capture sea ice movement and deformation in the region around the Polarstern (credit: Jari Haapala)2m

2 readings

Sea Ice Quiz Background Context10mRead about the MOSAiC sea ice team in the news & in first science paper10m

1 practice exercise

Sea Ice30m

Week5

Week 5

2 hours to complete

Arctic Biochemistry/Ecosystem

In this module, you will learn about the ecosystems of the Arctic Ocean. We will briefly explore the megafauna, such as polar bears, but then focus the exploration on the importance of the microfauna, such as algae and plankton, and their connections to oceanic nutrient cycles and atmospheric phenomena. The module concludes with an overview of the goals of the MOSAiC Biogeochemistry and Ecosystems research group and the data they are collecting.

2 hours to complete

8 videos (Total 73 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

8 videos

Module Overview1mLife Beneath the Ice12mLife in Sea Ice11mAdaptations to Life in Sea Ice10mArctic Sea Ice Ecology6mWhat Starts Up, Must Go Down: Productivity in the Arctic Ocean8mAll About Atmospheric Aerosols9mWhy study the Arctic Ecosystem? Goals of the MOSAiC Biogeochemistry and Ecosystem Team12m

2 readings

Arctic Ecosystem Quiz Background Context10mFollow the MOSAiC's ecosystem & biogeochemistry team in the news.4m

1 practice exercise

Arctic Ecosystem20m

Week6

Week 6

2 hours to complete

Modeling Using Data from the Arctic

2 hours to complete

6 videos (Total 54 min), 2 readings, 1 quiz

Week7

Week 7

3 hours to complete

Challenges in the Arctic

In this module, we will tie together what we learned in the previous modules and explore challenges that the new Arctic faces. We will discuss the impacts of a changing climate on the Arctic as a whole, discuss the research frontiers around connections between the Arctic and lower latitudes, and explore the potential impacts of climate change on shipping lanes, energy exploration and fishing as well as related environmental challenges such as plastics and oil spills. Finally, you will learn how climate change is already impacting and will continue to impact indigenous communities in the Arctic in different ways.

3 hours to complete

9 videos (Total 79 min), 1 reading, 1 quiz

9 videos

Module Overview1mArctic Climate System and Pan-Arctic Connections7mA Changing Climate, A Changing Arctic8mDoes a Warming Climate Mean a More Accessible Arctic?11mPollution in the Arctic11mArctic Ocean Acidification: Ecosystems and Economies10mA Changing Climate, Changing Ways of Life13mA Changing Climate, Changing Ecosystems10mCourse Wrap-Up5m

1 reading

Follow the MOSAiC expedition in the news & News about a changing Arctic15m

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Is financial aid available?
Yes. In select learning programs, you can apply for financial aid or a scholarship if you can’t afford the enrollment fee. If fin aid or scholarship is available for your learning program selection, you’ll find a link to apply on the description page.

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Frozen in the Ice: Exploring the Arctic

Frozen in the Ice: Exploring the Arctic

About this Course

What you will learn