Soft rime -Jyuhyou-

Soft rime is similar in appearance to hoar frost; but whereas rime is formed by vapour first condensing to liquid droplets and then attaching to a surface, hoar frost is formed by direct deposition from water vapour to solid ice. A heavy coating of hoar frost, called white frost, is very similar in appearance to soft rime, but the formation process is different: it happens when there is no fog, but very high levels of air relative humidity (above 90%) and temperatures below −8 °C  ( Wikkipedia).

Permafrost News vol.8-1

Dear Science Teachers and Principals,

Thank you for supporting our program. Hopefully, you are having a great new year!  Our newsletter reaches new volume (vol.8!). So, we have already 8th years now! There is exciting schedule on this year!!
Here is a recent update of our program and related events:

1. For frost tube schools, it is nice to check your frost depth before big snow fall! If you have a chance to check frost tube, please e-mail me the depth of frost and snow depth. I will update at your school data in our web page. Protocol and worksheet is available from web site (http://ine.uaf.edu/werc/projects/permafrost/frost_tube.htm).

2. We are preparing new spring snowmachine trip across the Canada. You can follow real time in this 6000km Northwest Passage trip from our FaceBook “Snow Mobile Trip on Arctic” (http://www.facebook.com/SnowMobileTripOnArctic). Pease join us!

3. I am planning to revisit Interior Alaska in this winter. I don’t make schedule yet. Let me know, if you have preferable time window me to visit for your school. Also Southeast Alaska in May.

4. “Permafrost reference data book for Alaskan Communities” will be finally published in this spring. Hope we can deliver electric version and hard copy to you. Thank you for your contribution.

5. CryoConn 2013: Teachers warm up to winter science
Educators from across Alaska will gather for CryoConn 2013 at Chena Hot Springs to celebrate winter science and gather tools and ideas for teaching students about vital connections between the Earth’s cryosphere (the portion of Earth’s surface where water is in solid form–snow, ice, permafrost), atmosphere and biosphere. To be held from from February 28 – March 2, CryoConn 2013 will invite 20 teachers statewide to spend three intensely focused days learning from and working alongside world-class scientists. Travel, stipend, and room and board will be provided along with supplies for hands-on classroom investigations.  The workshop is sponsored by JEDC’s STEM AK program with funding from the NASA SpaceGrant program, and with additional support from the National Defense Education Program. http://stemak.org/cryoconn
<http://stemak.org/sites/default/files/2013%20CryoCon%20Flyer%20(2).pdf>

6. Time is for science fair or science project at school! Do you know somebody interesting or doing permafrost related topics? Please let me know!!

7.  Girls on Ice expeditions!

North Cascades 2013: July 21 – August 1 – open to all girls

Alaska 2013: June 21 – July 2 – preference given to girls from Alaska and the Pacific Northwest

The application for both expeditions is the same. You can state your preference of expeditions, but because we choose teams, not individual girls, we may decide you fit better on the other team. To be eligible, girls must be at least 15 years old by June 21, 2013 and no older than 18 on August 1, 2013. Applications are due: February 1, 2013 http://girlsonice.org/apply/

Again, thank you for your participants.
Have a nice winter, stay warm!