Bering Sea Ecosystem
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Polar Mail from April 8, 2009

Question:
Hello scientists and crew of Expedition 5!
My 6th grade science class is watching your mission with much anticipation! We are studying density right now and I'm sure some of your studies involve density! We are pleased to see that you got off to a successful start and wish you well on your journey! Please let us know what you hope to find in some of your samplings below the ice! Look for some of my students' future emails! Thanks so much for bringing real world science applications to children all over the world!!!
Mrs. Benoit
grade 6 science
Duxbury Middle School
Duxbury, MA

Answer:
Dear Mrs. Benoit,
Thanks for writing—we are thrilled that you are following our daily adventures! The density of seawater is indeed a property that we calculate based on measurements made with the CTD. Stay tuned for an upcoming dispatch about the CTD to learn more.
Best regards,
Chris Linder


Question:
What changes or difficulties does he (Chris Linder) have with the camera due to the temperatures/conditions?
—Jan Goldstein Guttman

Answer:
Dear Mrs. Guttman,
So far the only problem I have encountered is keeping rain and snow off of my lenses, in particular my wide-angle lens, which I have nicknamed "snow magnet." Precipitation doesn't hurt the lens, but if the droplets are big enough they will be visible in the photo as unsightly blobs. So far it has not been cold enough to affect the operation of my digital cameras.
Thanks for writing,
Best,
Chris Linder