NOAA Ocean Exploration Webinar for Educators – Deepwater Exploration of Glacier Bay National Park
March 15, 2016
Image courtesy of Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve.
NOAA’s Office of Ocean Exploration and Research invites formal and informal educators to participate in a webinar to introduce the March ocean exploration mission to explore the unknown depths of the fjords of the Glacier Bay National Park (GBNP).
March 17-30, 2016, explorers will focus on the central, east, and west arms of GBNP and the unexplored remote fjords of the park facing the outer Gulf of Alaska. Work will include mapping a variety of habitats, selectively collecting samples, and examining the genetics of previously collected coral samples.
These fjords form amazing natural observatories for a diversity of marine habitats and what lives in the deep waters of these pristine fjords is still largely unknown. Scientists have determined the presence of cold-water corals in the waters of the GBNP, and believe there is potential for more deep-water species and extensive coral ecosystems to be found. Just like tropical coral reefs, cold-water corals create important habitats that support a diverse array of life, representing an essential component to the overall marine diversity within the park. GBNP has been protected for over 90 years, so scientists believe the discovery of cold-water corals in this area can provide high-quality baseline data on the health and ecology of this region.
The primary interest in discovering these ecosystems within the park is the potential for their protection within the park boundaries, as well as their historic protection from commercial fisheries.
This 60-minute webinar will provide an introduction to the expedition by Dr. Rhian Waller of the University of Maine and an overview of the associated education products, including standards-based lessons and other resources to enable you and your students to delve more deeply into the expedition online.
Title: NOAA Ocean Exploration Webinar for Educators – Deepwater Exploration of Glacier Bay National Park
Date: Tuesday, March 15, 2016
Time: 7:00 PM EDT
Questions: susan.haynes@noaa.gov
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
