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National row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage Since early July, four men Ocean. Canadian fi lmmaker Perhaps the best-known one was have been rowing a 7.6-metre Frank Wolf has crossed Canada headed by British explorer Sir boat through Canada’s Arctic by canoe in a single season. Th is John Franklin in 1845. He and islands. Th eir goal is to travel is the fi rst major expedition for 128 men died when their ships 3000 kilometres through the the youngest man, Denis Barnett became lodged in ice for months. fabled Northwest Passage using from Ireland. Sir Franklin and others believed muscle-power only. Th e plan is Th e four left Inuvik, Northwest the Passage would be a great to get to Pond Inlet, on Baffi n Territories on July 4 in their shipping route. Today, easy travel Island, Nunavut by mid- to late- boat, the Arctic Joule. Two men through these islands could help September. row while two rest. Th ey switch tourism and make oil drilling “We’ll be four overworked every four hours. With 24-hour possible. and underfed lads, crammed daylight, they’re able to travel into a space smaller than your non-stop as long as the weather Did you know? average parking stall,” said one cooperates. Parks Canada has been searching of the rowers. “But it’s all about Quest for the Passage for Sir John Franklin’s ships for [trying] something that has fi ve years. never been done before.” Th e Northwest Passage is steeped in history. For centuries, Adventurers on ice Disappearing ice explorers searched for this route Th e team consists of four from Europe to the Orient. Such use of the Passage is more men. Most are experienced Expedition aft er expedition likely now than ever. Th at’s adventurers. Canadian Kevin sailed into dangerous, because travellers have to Vallely has skied to the South uncharted Arctic waters. deal with far less sea ice than Pole. Paul Gleeson from Ireland in the past. Th e reason? Th e has rowed across the Atlantic Earth’s climate is warming, Definitions uncharted: not yet known or mapped 2013/2014: Issue 1 What in the world? • Level 1 Page 3 National row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage and temperatures in the Arctic have been rising twice as fast as Why is the Earth warming? elsewhere. As a result, sea ice Th e Earth is naturally warmed by greenhouse gases that trap and hold cover has been shrinking an the sun’s heat, making life possible. However, over the last 200 years, average of 13 percent per decade. more greenhouse gases have been gathering in the atmosphere than naturally exist. As a result, the Earth is warming faster than ever. Sea ice naturally decreases in What’s causing this? Humans. By burning fossil fuels to run cars, heat summer and builds back up in homes, and make products, people are putting greenhouse gases into colder weather. But in September the atmosphere. Garbage also gives off methane. And cutting down 2012, the portion of the Arctic trees, which absorb these emissions, makes the problem worse. covered by sea ice hit a record low. Th at followed a six-year Th e warming trend has melted ice on glaciers, causing ocean levels trend. If it keeps up, the Arctic to rise. Low-lying areas are increasingly at risk of fl ooding. Global warming also threatens many animal and plant species, causes fresh Ocean could experience ice-free water supplies to dwindle and extreme weather events to occur more summers in 30 years. oft en. However, scientists say there’s hope. Th e worst impacts of global A change for warming can still be avoided if people and countries work together to the worse greatly reduce the greenhouse gases entering the atmosphere. Less sea ice is bad news. For young. Wolves and foxes travel the organic material is starting one thing, the white Arctic on ice. Polar bears use it to hunt. to rot. Th is process may release ice cap normally has a cooling more gases, and accelerate global eff ect on the planet, because it Melting ice is also increasing warming even more. refl ects sunlight back into space. the amount of fresh water in the As it melts away, more solar North Atlantic. Th at’s making Meanwhile, back radiation is being absorbed by it easier for some species to at the oars the open water. Th at’s causing survive, but more diffi cult for During their trip, the Arctic the warming trend to speed up – others. Th e new concentration Joule rowers are gathering data and more ice to melt. of fresh water could alter ocean on ocean conditions to help currents, too. Th at would bring For another, the loss of sea scientists understand more more change. ice is disrupting the habitat of about all of these changes. Th eir many creatures. For instance, Permafrost problems main goal, however, is to make people more aware of the impact it’s causing phytoplankton, the Warmer Arctic temperatures are of global warming. base of the Arctic food chain, to aff ecting the land as well. Much bloom earlier. Th at’s disturbing of the northern Arctic is covered “By traversing the Northwest the normal feeding patterns of by a layer of permafrost. It has Passage … in a rowboat… [we] fi sh, seabirds, seals and whales. prevented organic material in will be able to demonstrate As well, seals and walruses the soil from decaying – oft en fi rst-hand the dramatic eff ects use sea ice to rest or raise their for thousands of years. Now, climate change is having on our the permafrost is thawing and planet,” says Mr. Vallely. J Definitions methane: a very potent greenhouse gas permafrost: ground that stays permanently frozen Page 4 What in the world? • Level 1 2013/2014: Issue 1 National row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage ON THE LINES Answer the following in complete sentences: 1. How do greenhouse gases keep the Earth warm? 2. Why has this warming system been thrown out of balance over the past 200 years? Explain. 3. Where did the Arctic Joule leave from and where is it going? 4. How many kilometres will the Arctic Joule travel and what route will this boat take? 5. Explain why it is more possible now than ever before to travel through the Northwest Passage. 6. Describe at least two environmental impacts of decreasing sea ice. 7. How are warmer temperatures aff ecting land in the Arctic? Explain. 2013/2014: Issue 1 What in the world? • Level 1 Page 5 National row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage BETWEEN THE LINES Making an inference: An inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence. A plausible inference is supported by evidence in the article and is consistent with known facts outside of the article. What inference(s) can you draw from the fact that Parks Canada has been searching for the sunken remains of Sir John Franklin’s two ships for fi ve years? JUST TALK ABOUT IT Brainstorm a list of the challenges that the Arctic Joule’s team might face before, during, and aft er their journey. Th en consider: a) Which of these challenges is most signifi cant? (A signifi cant challenge is diffi cult to overcome and has a strong impact on the team or the success of the journey.) b) What characteristics do you suppose team members must possess to be able to face these challenges? Explain. ONLINE Go to www.news4youth.com and select the What in the World? tab to: 1. View photos of the Arctic Joule’s team preparing for their journey in Vancouver, B.C. (or visit http:// www.cbc.ca/news/canada/bc/photos/4476/#igImgId_73296). 2. Track the rowers’ journey, read their blog, and fi nd out more about their adventure on the Arctic Joule’s website (or visit http://mainstreamlastfi rst.com/). 3. Learn more about global warming on the National Geographic’s Global Warming pages (or visit http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/). 4. Find out more about the Franklin Expedition (or visit http://www.canadiangeographic.ca/ specialfeatures/franklinexpedition/). Read about the Franklin expedition currently underway by Parks Canada (or visit http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2013/08/09/franklin-north-search.html). 5. Finally, submit your thoughts to our forum: Would you consider taking part in an adventure similar to the one being undertaken by the Arctic Joule’s team? Why or why not? OR What causes do you believe in strongly enough that you would consider supporting or promoting them in some way? Why? An eff ective paragraph is clearly written, logically organized (including an introduction and a conclusion), and supported with plausible reasoning. J Page 6 What in the world? • Level 1 2013/2014: Issue 1 Editorial cartoon row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage YOUR TASK: Examine the editorial cartoon above. Th en, answer the following questions: 1. a) As you understand it, what is global warming? b) What are some of the causes of global warming? c) What are some of the eff ects of global warming? 2. Examine the fi rst frame of the cartoon. What bad news is being reported? 3. a) Examine the second frame of the cartoon. What is the ‘good news’ being reported? b) For what reasons could this event be considered ‘good news’? Explain. J 2013/2014: Issue 1 What in the world? • Level 1 Page 7 Getting Inside the Picture row, Row, Row your boat – Through the Northwest Passage Directions: 1.