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The People of the Snow with Kelly Elder


Scientists assemble for an outdoor group photo


EDUCATION RESOURCES:


NGSS Standards:

ESS

5-ESS2-1, 2-ESS2-3


Crosscutting Concept:

Patterns





In this episode, we learned about how scientists are teaming up with the Inuit people to understand how climate change is affecting snow. There's so much more to know about the project that Kelly Elder worked on, with remote weather stations in the Arctic! Beginning in 2009, Colorado-based scientists and Inuit researchers collaborated to determine locations and install equipment.

0204 - The People of the Snow - Transcript
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CLICK HERE TO READ A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE PROJECT, WITH PICTURES.

By 2010, three weather stations were installed, and began sending data and photographs to a website, accessible by anyone. Scientists and Inuit continue to maintain the weather stations.

Data collected at the Ailaktalik station

CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT THE WEATHER STATION WEBSITES, WITH DAILY PHOTOGRAPHS.

The weather stations are part of a larger scientific project called ELOKA (Exchange for Local Observations and Knowledge of the Arctic).

SEE PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE ARCTIC TAKEN BY ELOKA SCIENTISTS.

As part of ELOKA, scientists convert the memories, stories, and oral traditions of Inuit into data sets that anyone can use to study the Arctic regions. That's pretty cool! You can look at them yourself.

CLICK HERE TO EXPLORE ELOKA DATA SETS.

Dr. Shari Fox Gearhard is one of Kelly Elder's collaborators. She lives with the Inuit and is responsible for much of the work in these data sets. Here's how she explains why she does it:

"Wonders of the Arctic," an IMAX 3D movie focuses on how the Arctic is changing, and features the remote weather stations and Dr. Gearhard's work. Here's the trailer!

We're making educational materials for this episode! Pledge on Patreon or get in touch for a sample.

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