Deadly Ascent 1 Draw a Chart on the Board That Shows the Relationship Between Altitude and Atmospheric Pressure (See Background on Page 2 for Program Overview Chart)

Original broadcast: January 17, 2006

Before Watching

Deadly Ascent 1 Draw a chart on the board that shows the relationship between altitude and atmospheric pressure (see Background on page 2 for Program OVerview chart). Explain that atmospheric NOVA follows a team of climbers pressure is related to the strength of Earth’s gravitational pull. The ascending Denali to try to solve the farther away from the center of the mystery of why extreme cold and high Earth, the weaker the gravitational altitude can kill. pull. The air molecules (including oxygen) high on a mountain are The program: less dense per square inch so they exert less pressure on the human • outlines the expedition’s mission to monitor team members’ body. physiological states as they trek to the mountain’s peak, the highest in North America. 2 Organize students into four groups and have them take notes on the • points out that each climber ingests a radio thermometer pill that following topics: weather conditions continuously logs core body temperature. during the climb, health issues that • reviews the environmental conditions on Denali, one of the coldest arise, the team’s responses to the mountains on Earth. changing conditions, and important decisions made by the team during • relates an experiment that details what happens to core body the climb. temperature when a climber rests after a vigorous climb. • describes illnesses that can affect mountain climbers, including hypothermia, hyperthermia, Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS), and AFTER WATCHING High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). • notes the results of one altitude study that revealed that the use of 1 Have students who took notes on ginkgo reduced symptoms of AMS. the same topics meet, compare • chronicles several rescue attempts undertaken to aid climbers in their notes, and share what they danger on the mountain. learned. • relates how oxygen saturation levels are affected during a mountain 2 In the program, the physiological climb and the problems that can occur when the levels get too low. conditions related to AMS and • follows the team’s progress as team members attempt to summit the HAPE are discussed. Have students describe how low oxygen levels and/ mountain. or cold cause or influence these • notes that scientists are coming closer to understanding the limits of conditions. (AMS is mainly a physi- survival in extremely cold, high-altitude environments. ological response to low oxygen; both cold and low oxygen contribute to HAPE.)

Taping Rights: Can be used up to one year after the program is taped off the air. 3 Making a decision to climb a high- elevation mountain involves risk, resources, and much preparation. Make a three-column chart on the board and label the columns Groundwork and Preparations, Potential Risks, and Potential Rewards. Have students fill in the chart with information they learned from the program.

NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/denali CLASSROOM ACTIVITY learning Objectives

Activity Summary Students will be able to: To learn more about some of Earth’s extreme environments and some • identify conditions of some of the of the possible dangers they present. world’s extreme environments. • describe some of the potential Materials for Each Student dangers found in extreme environments around the world. • copy of the “Going to Extremes” student handouts (2 pages) • copy of the “Extreme Survival” student handout • state some of the ways to deal with • copy of the “Extreme Questions” student handout potential dangers in extreme environments.

Background Climbers who ascend Denali (Mt. McKinley) can experience health STANDARDS problems in response to extreme conditions—high altitude, low CONNECTION atmospheric pressure, and severe cold. The mountain is 6,194 meters from its base to its summit. Most humans are adapted to living on Earth’s The “Going to Extremes” activity surface where air pressure is about 14.7 pounds per square inch. At high aligns with the following National Science Education Standards. elevations, because there is less oxygen in a given amount of air, humans who are not acclimated to the environment experience hypoxia, or oxygen Grade 5-8 deprivation, and its consequences due to low air pressure, and they Science Standard F Science in Personal and experience health complications such as hypothermia, frostbite, and Social Perspectives sometimes gangrene due to intense wind and cold. This chart shows Personal health some air pressures at different elevations: Risks and benefits

Altitude* Barometric Pressure* Barometric Pressure* (in meters) (in centimeters) (in Atmospheres) Video is not required 0 (sea level) 76 cm 1 for this activity. 5,486 m 38 cm .5 10,668 m 18 cm .24 15,240 m 9 cm .12 Classroom Activity Author 18,288 m 5 cm .07 Developed by WGBH Educational 22,860 m 2.5 cm .03 Outreach staff. 28,956 m 0.8 cm .01 * pressures are approximate

Mountains are only one example of extreme environments. Others include jungles, deserts, oceans, arctic regions, and space. In this activity, students will learn more about some of these environments.

deadly ascent NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/denali CLASSROOM ACTIVITY (CONT.)

Procedure 1 Distribute copies of the handouts to each student. 2 Have students read the handouts and then answer the questions on their “Extreme Questions” handout. Ask for volunteers to share answers to each question with the entire class. 3 As a class, categorize the dangers and risks presented for each environment. Discuss with students which of the dangers can become life threatening. Which dangers are avoidable? What could be most easily avoided? How? Which dangers seem unavoidable? 4 As an extension, have students explore some of the scientific research being conducted in extreme environments, including environments not listed on the handout (i.e., in arctic regions, inside volcanic craters, and in space). Ask students to choose a research topic and create a poster that describes the environment’s conditions, the research being conducted, and what scientists hope to learn.

deadly ascent NOVA Teacher’s Guide www.pbs.org/nova/denali ACTIVITY Answer links and books

1 Where are you likely to be vulnerable to both hyperthermia and Links hypothermia? Grand Canyon: hyperthermia from hiking (especially NOVA Web Site—Deadly Ascent during summer months deep in the canyon), hypothermia from freezing www.pbs.org/nova/denali Find articles, interactive activities, and nighttime temperatures (particularly during the winter months); resources in this companion Web site to Pacific Ocean: hyperthermia from extended sun exposure, hypothermia the program. from cold nighttime temperatures or deep ocean dives; Desert Survival Denali: hyperthermia from overexertion, hypothermia from freezing www.ci.phoenix.az.us/FIRE/desert.html temperatures. Explains how to survive in a desert 2 You have been bitten by an Anopheles mosquito and now have fever environment. and chills. What’s wrong with you and what should you do? High-Altitude Medicine You have malaria. If you didn’t take chloroquine prior to your trip, you www.aafp.org/afp/980415ap/harris.html should see a doctor as soon as possible for antimalarial drugs. Describes medical conditions that can 3 Oh your aching head. And dizzy body. And nauseous stomach. occur in high-altitude environments. Luckily, a doctor is nearby. She diagnoses you with AMS. Where are Nitrox Scuba Diving you? Should you stay there or go somewhere else (and if so, where)? www.online.uillinois.edu/oakley/nitrox. You are high on Denali. Your symptoms will go away if you descend to html Reports on decompression sickness and a lower altitude. potential remedies that lessen the 4 Your brain tells you that the world looks nice and stable. Your inner ear effects of nitrogen when scuba diving. says everything is pitching up and down. What’s happening to you? You are suffering from seasickness or motion sickness. Books Mount McKinley: Icy Crown of 5 What is that taste in your mouth? Tastes like you bit into something North America rubber. You don’t remember eating your bike tire, so what could it be? by Fred Becky. What should you do about it? You are reacting to the poison from a Mountaineers Books, 1993. western diamondback rattlesnake bite. You should keep the bite area lower Contains routes of specific Denali than the heart and place a constricting bandage between the bite and the climbs, historical photos, a record of accidents, and an analysis of heart before heading to a hospital. problems climbers have encountered. 6 You are in the desert and have developed hyponatremia. What could you have done to prevent this? Hyponatremia (water intoxication caused Surviving the Extremes: A Doctor’s Journey to the Limits of Human by drinking too much water, which dilutes sodium in the bloodstream) can Endurance be prevented by reducing further intake of water and replacing the lost salt. by Kenneth Kamler. 7 Brrrrrr. It’s really cold down here. You are 30 meters below sea level. St. Martin’s Press, 2004. Before you came down here someone told you to be careful about Details stories of human endurance in a jungle, a desert, the high seas, getting Caisson’s disease. What is that? What other dangers do you underwater, and outer space. face in this location? The person was referring to decompression sickness, or the bends, which is also known as Caisson’s disease. This occurs when a diver swims to the surface too rapidly. Other dangers faced here include hypothermia and nitrogen narcosis. Major funding for NOVA is provided by Google and BP. 8 Snails may look pretty harmless when they are slithering by on your Additional funding is provided sidewalk. But there’s one snail that you should avoid at all costs. by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Corporation for Why would that be and where would you have to travel to find it? Public Broadcasting, and You would want to avoid the river snail because it causes schistosomiasis. public television viewers. It is found in Amazon rivers.

The world offers many exciting places to travel. But some of the world’s most beautiful places—rainforests, deserts, deep ocean environments, and mountaintops—are also the most remote. Many of these environments require extreme caution. In this activity learn about some of the extreme places you can go on Earth, some of the dangers you can encounter, and some of the ways you can deal with those dangers. Foundation Educational WGBH 2006 ©

Grand Canyon National Park Pacific Ocean Arizona, United States The Pacific Ocean covers more than one-third of the Get your hat out, because if it’s summer, it’s going Earth’s surface. It is filled with interesting geological to be hot. In July, maximum temperatures range from features, including plateaus, ridges, trenches, and 25˚ to 41˚ C, depending where you are in the canyon. seamounts. If you decide you want to go scuba diving Despite the heat, the park is home to a diverse range to see some of those, remember that water conducts of species, including 50 species of reptiles. You should body heat much faster than air of the same watch out for some of those creatures, particularly the temperature. If you dive too deep for too long, your rattlesnakes. If you are one of the unfortunate few body temperature will drop below 35˚ C. You’re also people to get bitten by the most common rattlesnake, subject to other dangers while you’re down there, the western diamondback, you will likely have a rubbery including nitrogen narcosis if you stay down too long, taste in your mouth, and feel weak and nauseous when and Caisson’s disease if you ascend too rapidly. If you the poison enters your bloodstream. Dehydration is decide to do some deep-sea fishing, better make sure one of the biggest threats here. Drink plenty of water to you have some protection from the sun. If you get replenish what you lose due to sweating but watch out caught adrift and experience extended exposure, your for hyponatremia. Be careful when you hike as well; body temperatures can rise above 41˚ C. If night falls don’t hike the inner gorge in the summer when you and you don’t have warm clothes or blankets, you face may get hyperthermia. If you’re hiking during the winter a different problem—cold temperatures that put you at months, make sure you bring cold weather gear, for risk for hypothermia. And at any time of the day, you night temperatures are cold enough to cause your core are subject to hazards that include typhoons and tidal body temperature to drop below 35˚ C. During the day, waves. Even under normal weather conditions, ocean you will surely want to get pictures of the unique variety wave heights can easily reach eight meters, so take care of rocks and geological features. But be careful of those or you may get mal de mer, where your brain and inner ear rocks; they can form rock landslides. And if there is a have a different take on just how stable the world is. storm, watch out for lightning strikes or flash floods. Deadly Ascent Student Handout Going to Extremes Foundation Educational WGBH 2006 ©

Amazon Jungle Denali South America Alaska, United States Welcome to the Amazon, the wettest area in South You have arrived at one of the world’s seven summits, America. The weather is generally hot and humid the highest mountains on each of the world’s throughout the year, with average temperatures ranging continents. The National Park and Preserve that from 23˚ to 33˚ C. More than one-third of all the species contains Denali (also known as Mt. McKinley) boasts on Earth live here. And some of those can cause you more than 2.4 million hectares of land. First climbed in some problems. You should take care to watch out for 1913, Denali is 6,194 meters high, making it the highest snakes, jaguars, and piranhas, to name a few. On a peak in North America. And with temperatures that can smaller scale, it would be good to try to protect yourself fall below -40˚ C in winter, it is also one of the coldest from the mosquitoes (particularly the Anopheles that mountains in the world. This can give you a serious causes malaria). You might also see the poison dart case of hypothermia. Despite the frigid temperatures, frog while wandering around. It was named that for a if you exert yourself too much you can get too hot. reason—the poison it emits is so deadly the equivalent When this happens, your body’s core temperatures can of two to three grains of table salt is likely to kill a reach dangerous levels of more than 41˚ C. If you look human. Some of the less deadly dangers you face here around you may spot grizzly bears, wolves, and moose. are dehydration, diarrhea, and fungus infection. If you Careful how close you get to any of those, however, as travel to the Amazon, it is likely you will want to see the they could all pose some problems for you. If you world’s largest water basin, the Amazon River. You can decide to try to summit this mountain, be careful as find the biggest freshwater fish in these waters. Called you get to the higher altitudes. If you start to get a the pirarucu, this fish can weigh 250 kilograms and headache; lose your appetite; and feel nauseous, weak, measure up to 2.5 meters in length. There is something and dizzy; you may have Acute Mountain Sickness else in these rivers, which while much smaller, may (AMS). Other dangers here include frostbite, hypoxia, present a bigger problem for you. The rivers contain and High Altitude Pulmonary Edema (HAPE). snails that carry a worm that cause a disease known as schistosomiasis. You will know you have it if you develop a rash or itchy skin, fever, chills, cough, and Check Out the Glossary muscle aches within one to two months of infection. If there is a word you come across that you don’t understand, try looking for it in the Glossary on your “Extreme Survival” handout. been somehow unfortunate consume consider yourself. and clothes before be prevent and the decompression C Extreme Use pills brain or blood the blood. and ences If high fluid illness Altitude High experiences dehydration: Glossary hyperthermia hyponatremia The Deadly respond T cure; to if undertake area If aisson’s T ry Extreme you you you’ve even help knowledgeable higher extra nitrogen) this elevation. as add the best that or lower his as at your unfortunate If occurs descend have a death you heart. Questions. glossary deep the gas dissolved guard don’t result the heart. disease:

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Read your “Going to Extremes” and “Extreme Survival” handouts. Using the information in these handouts, answer the questions below.

Questions 1 Where are you likely to be vulnerable to both hyperthermia and hypothermia? 2 You have been bitten by an Anopheles mosquito and now have fever and chills. What’s wrong with you and what should you do? 3 Oh your aching head. And dizzy body. And nauseous stomach. Luckily, a doctor is nearby. She diagnoses you with AMS. Where are you? Should you stay there or go somewhere else (and if so, where)? 4 Your brain tells you that the world looks nice and stable. Your inner ear says everything is pitching up and down.

What’s happening to you? Foundation 5 What is that taste in your mouth? Tastes like you bit into something rubber. You don’t remember eating your bike tire, so what could it be? What should you do about it? Educational 6 You are in the desert and have developed hyponatremia. WGBH What could you have done to prevent this? 2006

7 Brrrrrr. It’s really cold down here. You are 30 meters © below sea level. Before you came down here someone told you to be careful about getting Caisson’s disease. What is that? What other dangers do you face in this location? 8 Snails may look pretty harmless when they are slithering by on your sidewalk. But there’s one snail that you should avoid at all costs. Why would that be and where would you have to travel to find it?