Congrats Roz

And the final answer is...

On September 6, 2009, Roz landed on the island of Tarawa at 2:00 PM local time. Congrats Roz for another amazing adventure. See you next time.

Final Question for Leg 2?

Thanks to Alofa Tuvalu for the wonderful comments to last week's question. Check them out to see the detailed information about the important issues this island faces. For this week: Roz is in her final stages of her row, now to Tarawa. Use the Roz Tracker to predict when she will land. Give the date you think she will make it. Post your answers in the comments section of this blog. Good luck to all and good luck to Roz!

Tuvalu

Did you try last week's question? It was answered on Thursday the 20Th as Roz crossed the International Date Line, or anitmeridian at a little before 4 in the afternoon Hawaii time while still a few days away from crossing the Equator. Go Roz. And now it is on to Tuvalu. Roz keeps saying that Tuvalu is an important symbol of climate change. Can you find out why? Do some research on line and post your answers in the comments section. What's so special about Tuvalu?

A photo of Tuvalu from the Wikipedia commons.

Will Roz cross the Antimeridian or the Equator?

This week's question has to do with Roz's position in the Pacific. As of Sunday, August 16th, her position is 1.47 North 178. 5 West. The Ecuador is just 75 miles away and the Antimeridian (180 degrees longitude) is about 100 miles away. Which will she cross first? When? Make your predictions using the comments section on the blog.

Here is Roz's Expedition track on Google Earth. Do you see the line of clouds that run roughly parallel to the equator? That is the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone or ITCZ. It is an area of storms which are formed by winds, called tropical easterlies or the trade winds, that move from east to west just north and south of the equator. These two wind currents cause air between them to rise. When warm wet tropical air rises, it cools and storms quickly form.

Roz will have to push through this area in order to reach the southern hemisphere. What do you think will happen as she pushes through? Do you think she will be forced to stay in the northern hemisphere? Do you think she will get to the southern hemisphere? If so, when? Write your answer in the comments section of the blog. Good luck!

Intertropical Convergence Zone

A sea-mount is a mountain on the bottom of the sea who's top does not reach the surface of the ocean. These are typically formed by volcanoes under the water which go extinct before the top gets high enough to rise above the surface of the ocean and form an island, like Hawaii.

Roz is about to pass through something called the Intertropical Convergence Zone, and it may effect her voyage. So what's the big deal with the ITCZ? Research this unique area of the ocean and comment back to the blog. What is the ITCZ and how do you think it might effect Roz's voyage?

How Deep is the Water

Thanks for responding. We will see who is right when Roz arrives at her final destination: Tuvalu, or somewhere nearby, later this summer.

Now for this week’s question: We all think of Roz as being over deep ocean water, but you may be surprised to learn that some of the ocean she is sailing over is relativly shallow. As of Wednesday, June 24th, Roz is near a feature called the Harrision Seamount. The water she is over is much shallower than the ocean she has been traveling on. So for this week, what is a seamount? What causes them to form? Will Roz notice a difference?

Roz may see and not see many of the creature in her area. Marine mammals, such as whales and dolphins will be easy to spot. Why? Because they need to come to the surface to breathe. Roz may also spot flying fish, which jump out of the water and may become stranded on her deck. She may catch glimpses of other fish jumping, such as tuna, but most other fish will stay below her boat and may be out of sight.

That being said, Roz is now in tropical oceans. The open ocean tends to be less productive in the tropics (fewer microorganisms is part of the reason the tropical ocean is so clear). The most important and productive ecosystems in tropical seas are in coral reefs, which tend to form in shallower waters.

Now for today's question: Look at the statistics on the Roz Tracker. Roz is attempting to row from Hawaii to Tuvalu. 2,620 statute miles in all. When do you think she will arrive in Tuvalu? Post your predictions to this blog!

What's Under the Boat??

Environmental problems in Roz's part of the ocean are a huge issue. Garbage from land - even land far from the sea - can work its way down streams and rivers and pollute even the most remote parts of the ocean. Click here to learn how. There are other problems effecting her part of the ocean as well. Look up works like overfishing and destructive fishing practices to find out more.

...and now for this week's question: Find Roz's position on the map. What sea life is likely to be around her? Which of those creatures might she be able to see and which not?

The Central Pacific

Congratulations to all who participated in last week's contest. Roz rowed 191 miles by Sunday evening. Congratulations Roz.

This week, let's take a look at the ocean around Roz's boat. Roz has entered a remote part of the central Pacific. She is far from land now. Could people on land be effecting her area of the ocean even though we are so far away? Do some research on the Central Pacific. What environmental concerns can you find for her area of the ocean?

How far will Roz get this week?

Here is your first question of the week. Roz has begun her row and we wish her well. Look at her Marine Tracker on her Main Tracker Page. As she works her way out from Hawaii, watch how far she travels each day. What is the average distance she is traveling each day? Before Friday, can you use that average to figure out how far she will have traveled by Sunday? Post the number of miles you think she will make in her first full week at sea. Be sure to post them by Friday to make it fair.

Welcome to the Question of the Week Area

Welcome to our question of the week area. Each week, we will post questions here and students may post their answers. Teachers, we need your help. Please post your question ideas on our Question wiki!