Antarctica's Hidden Melt: Warm Water Under Ice Shelves

In this episode, we learned that warm ocean water is melting Antarctica's massive ice shelves from underneath, a process that's speeding up as meltwater weakens the ocean's natural defenses. This Ranger Mission will help you explore how temperature differences can affect water density, just like how warmer ocean water behaves differently under the ice.

The Big Question

How does water temperature affect how water behaves?

What You'll Need

• Two clear jars or glasses of the same size
• Warm water
• Cold water
• Blue food coloring (optional)
• Small spoon or dropper
• Ice cubes

Mission Steps

1. Chill the Water. Fill one jar with cold water. If you have food coloring, add a few drops and stir to make it a deep blue. Add a few ice cubes to keep it cold.
2. Warm the Water. Fill the second jar with warm water. If you have food coloring, add a few drops and stir to make it red.
3. Mix Carefully. Gently add a spoonful or dropper-full of the warm (red) water to the top of the cold (blue) water. Watch what happens.
4. Try Again. Now, try gently adding a spoonful or dropper-full of the cold (blue) water to the top of the warm (red) water. Observe the difference.

Talk About It

• What did you see when you added warm water to cold water?
• What happened when you added cold water to warm water?
• How is this like warm ocean water melting ice shelves from below?

Take It Further

For older Rangers (ages 9-12), try layering different amounts of warm and cold water. See if you can create distinct layers or if they mix more easily depending on how much you add. You could also research how salinity (saltiness) affects water density and how that plays a role in ocean currents around Antarctica.

FAQ

Q: Why did the colors not mix right away? A: Water temperature affects its density. Colder water is usually denser and sinks, while warmer water is less dense and floats, creating layers. Q: Can I use different liquids? A: You can experiment with other liquids, like oil and water, but remember that density differences can be much more dramatic and might not mix at all.