Climate Detectives Projects 2018-2019

Project topic: Flora & Fauna

Project title: Earth Savers II: Saving Polar Bears

Team: Earth Savers II

2018-2019   Jesús-María   Burgos   Spain   25 Student’s age: 14-15


Summary of the project

Global warming is a serious problem that we cannot run away from. For years scientists have been warning us that at this rate we may be facing the end of humans. The habitat of the white bear is disappearing at a rate at which it cannot adapt. In the media, images of bears appear continuously looking for food in garbage dumps. While the white bear looks for new places to live in and progressively changes its eating habits, we must look for a solution. All animals require a time to adapt to the new environmental conditions. We are facing a massive extinction of species. Any species saved is an achievement. The steps followed in the investigation: – We are looking for information about the species that are in danger due to the Arctic melting. We also seek information about your diet (at the suggestion of our scientific advisor). – We are looking for a map of the Arctic Circle – We are looking for information on the reduction of Arctic ice – We seek information on which areas are thawed before, in relation to the currents. – We seek information about the location of Polar Bear populations. – We analyze a topographic map of the Arctic Ocean bottom – We look for systems that can support the Polar Bear – We look for information on types of platforms at sea (https://sectormaritimo.es/tipos-plataformas-petroliferas) We set ourselves the following objectives: – Contribute to publicize the tragedy that is brewing in the Arctic. – Studying the Arctic: areas of permanent ice, areas that melt more quickly, geological profile of the Arctic bottom. – Investigate possible solutions to alleviate the impact of the lack of Arctic ice on the white bear (different types of platforms). – Generate elements of dissemination and dissemination of our project.

Main results

With respect to the species that are endangered by the warming, we find: Polar Bear (Ursus maritimus): eats many kinds of animals. His favorites are seal pups and reindeer. They eat about 30 kilos of food a day, and the puppies one. Polar bears do not drink water, since in their environment it is salty and acidic. They live in the coldest areas of the Arctic. The other investigated animals (Fox, Beluga, Walrus, etc.), don’t depend so directly on ice. It is the Polar Bear that depends most on ice. These bears need ice to move from one area to another and reach places with better hunting. They depend on the different species of seals as their main source of food. As these species must move to find their own food, polar bears have less to live. This has led many of them to places very close to humans. Unfortunately, it is estimated that, if climate change continues, all polar bears will become extinct in less than 100 years. The solution during the period of adaptation of the bears, would be the provision of mobile, lightweight marine platforms that were distributed in the areas where the melting begins. From these platforms the bears could hunt and rest. At the same time, bear populations should be monitored by ESA satellites, which could determine their health status. Previously it would be necessary to make a study of if it is possible its cataloging and monitoring by Infrared cameras from the satellites and from the ISS. When they detect that a population isn’t hunting enough, the same platforms could feed the bears. So that it was not a danger for navigation, their trajectory would be corrected by small solar motors. In addition, it would carry a beacon system for vessels to detect them.

Actions to help lessen the problem

The actions that we will take to help in the conservation of the Polar Bear: – Publicize what is happening in the Arctic and the importance it has for all – Make a campaign in the school so that everyone becomes aware of the problem – Design a scale platform prototype and make it known at scientific fairs – Celebrate the International Polar Bear Day, on February 27. – Continue investigating the possibility of monitoring Polar Bear populations. – Make a school newspaper about the Polar Bear. It is essential that people see it as something close, so that they care. There are still classmates who believe that climate change is a hoax. It is important to continue researching and looking for information, so that we do not have any doubts. In part, during the past year a project was already made that aims to raise awareness about global warming and the difficulties that bears are experiencing. In addition, we are making models and posters to get people’s attention. A degree more, a species less!


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