Breaking Down Barriers with Climate Change
Making Connections
All documents and text associated with this activity are printed below, followed by a worksheet for student responses.Introduction
Read through the documents below carefully. Click "View Document Details" to see the complete document. You are investigating how human interactions may have led to the changes in the environment, weather and climate described in these documents. Look closely at each document, and write down five observations. When you observe, remember the central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?Name:
Class:
Class:
Worksheet
Breaking Down Barriers with Climate Change
Making Connections
Examine the documents and text included in this activity. Fill in any blanks in the sequence with your thoughts and write your conclusion response in the space provided.Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows
What are five things you observe?
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
Coal Barge on the Monongahela River Moves Past a United States Steel Corporation Coke Plant
What are five things you observe?
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
Fish Killed By Water Pollution
What are five things you observe?
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
Compare and contrast the first three documents. Did you notice any similarities between the first three documents? Did you notice any differences between the first three documents?
Enter your response
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
What are five things you observe?
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
Municipal Solid Waste - Recycling Bin and Garbage Bag on Curb
What are five things you observe?
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
(Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
The next document in this activity is a naval logbook. Naval logbooks collect weather data during the ship's voyage. This weather data gives researchers glimpses into climate conditions and changes overtime. As you examine the following logbook, look for important weather data that could give you clues about climate conditions.
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
What are five things you observe? (Remember today's central question: How can human interactions lead to changes in the environment, weather and climate over time?)
Enter your response
Using all of the documents presented in this activity, how can humans have a negative impact on their environment? How can humans have a positive impact on their environment?
Enter your response
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Activity Element
Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows
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2
Activity Element
Coal Barge on the Monongahela River Moves Past a United States Steel Corporation Coke Plant
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3
Activity Element
Fish Killed By Water Pollution
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4
Activity Element
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 1
5
Activity Element
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 2
6
Activity Element
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 3
7
Activity Element
Municipal Solid Waste - Recycling Bin and Garbage Bag on Curb
Page 1
8
Activity Element
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 1
9
Activity Element
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 2
10
Activity Element
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 3
11
Activity Element
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 4
Conclusion
Breaking Down Barriers with Climate Change
Making Connections
Take 10 to 15 minutes to reflect on your observations throughout this activity. Can you connect any current events to your observations? How can we become citizen scientists and interact with our environment in a way that leads to positive change?Your Response
Document
Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows
5/1974
Full Caption: Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows, New Jersey Lands Adjacent To The Bight, Rivers Flowing Into It, And Bays And Estuaries Edging It Have Direct Impact Upon The Environment Of The Coastal Waters. Stress Factors Affecting The Bight Include Air And Water Pollution, Destruction Of Natural Wetlands Which Are Nurseries For Marine Life, And Ocean Dumping Of Municipal And Industrial Wastes
This primary source comes from the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 555752
Full Citation: Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows; 5/1974; Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/destruction-of-wetlands-at-hackensack-meadows, May 5, 2024]Destruction Of Wetlands At Hackensack Meadows
Page 1
Document
Coal Barge on the Monongahela River Moves Past a United States Steel Corporation Coke Plant
4/1973
Full Caption: Coal barge on the Monongahela River moves past a United States Steel Corporation Coke plant at Clairton, Pennsylvania, 20 miles south of Pittsburgh. The white plume of smoke contains many pollutants. The plant previously has been cited for violations of the clean air act which was passed by congress and administered by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
This primary source comes from the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 557216
Full Citation: Coal Barge on the Monongahela River Moves Past a United States Steel Corporation Coke Plant; 4/1973; Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/coal-barge-on-the-monongahela-river-moves-past-a-united-states-steel-corporation-coke-plant, May 5, 2024]Coal Barge on the Monongahela River Moves Past a United States Steel Corporation Coke Plant
Page 1
Document
Fish Killed By Water Pollution
6/1972
This primary source comes from the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 543829
Full Citation: Fish Killed By Water Pollution; 6/1972; Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/fish-killed-by-water-pollution, May 5, 2024]Fish Killed By Water Pollution
Page 1
Document
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4/13/1989
Kelli Middlestead, a second grader at Franklin School in Burlingame, California, asked the Alaskan Regional Director of Fish and Wildlife Service, Walter Stieglitz, to clean up the Exxon Oil Spill. Her letter includes a drawing of sea otters.
Transcript
[drawing of sea otters]April 13, 1989
Dear Sir,
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Archives Identifier: 596719
Full Citation: Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4/13/1989; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Correspondence, 1989 - 1991; Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ; National Archives at Seattle, Seattle, WA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-kelli-middlestead, May 5, 2024]Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 1
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 2
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 3
Document
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4/13/1989
Kelli Middlestead, a second grader at Franklin School in Burlingame, California, asked the Alaskan Regional Director of Fish and Wildlife Service, Walter Stieglitz, to clean up the Exxon Oil Spill. Her letter includes a drawing of sea otters.
Transcript
[drawing of sea otters]April 13, 1989
Dear Sir,
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Archives Identifier: 596719
Full Citation: Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4/13/1989; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Correspondence, 1989 - 1991; Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ; National Archives at Seattle, Seattle, WA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-kelli-middlestead, May 5, 2024]Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 1
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 2
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 3
Document
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
4/13/1989
Kelli Middlestead, a second grader at Franklin School in Burlingame, California, asked the Alaskan Regional Director of Fish and Wildlife Service, Walter Stieglitz, to clean up the Exxon Oil Spill. Her letter includes a drawing of sea otters.
Transcript
[drawing of sea otters]April 13, 1989
Dear Sir,
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
I am very sorry but I am very mad about the oil spill. It is killing nature. And it is killing the sea otters.
It makes me very sad because my class is doing a report on sea otters. And sea otters are cute. Sea otters are an endangered species. Please clean up the oil spill.
Sincerely,
Kelli Middlestead.
Mrs. Ashley - 2nd grade
Franklin school.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
National Archives Identifier: 596719
Full Citation: Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; 4/13/1989; Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Correspondence, 1989 - 1991; Records of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, ; National Archives at Seattle, Seattle, WA. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/letter-from-kelli-middlestead, May 5, 2024]Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 1
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 2
Letter from Kelli Middlestead from the Franklin School, Burlingame, California to Walter Stieglitz the Regional Director of the Alaska Region of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Page 3
Document
Municipal Solid Waste - Recycling Bin and Garbage Bag on Curb
9/1996
This image comes from the Environmental Protection Agency's Library of Environmental Images, Office of Research and Development (ORD).
This primary source comes from the Records of the Environmental Protection Agency.
National Archives Identifier: 7868832
Full Citation: Municipal Solid Waste - Recycling Bin and Garbage Bag on Curb; 9/1996; Records of the Environmental Protection Agency, . [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/municipal-solid-waste-recycling-bin-and-garbage-bag-on-curb, May 5, 2024]Municipal Solid Waste - Recycling Bin and Garbage Bag on Curb
Page 1
Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 5, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 4
Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 5, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 5, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Document
Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919
These pages from the logbook (also called a captain's log or deck log) of the USCG Cutter Bear record the weather, positioning, and events for August 11-12, 1919. The ship encountered heavy polar ice pack near Icy Cape, Alaska – thought at the time to be the southernmost limit encountered at this time of year. The logbook records the following observations:
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
August 11, 1919.
70 18N 163 01W
5:00 PM
On account of heavy ice pack ahead, stopped, on the south edge of the pack, awaiting shift of wind to the eastward. Ascertained that by reason of the southern limit of the ice pack being in the vicinity of Lat. 70 deg. N, and the continual drift of the pack to the southward since August 7, that the set of the current has been to the southward, entirely counter-acting the constant northerly current setting along the Alaska shore. It is thought that this is the extreme limit the pack has ever reached, that the southward set of the pack has been entirely due to continual northerly winds blowing for a long period of time.
August 12, 1919
70 19N 163 11W
5:00 PM
Stopped, dropped kedge to await an easterly shift of the wind, to clear sea of ice for further progress to the northward and eastward. The continual S.W. and South winds have banked ice up along the Alaskan shore, and made an impenetrable barrier north of Latitude 70 deg. 20' N, Longitude 163 deg. 00'W. On account of the leaky condition of the boiler it is not deemed expedient to stand to the northward and westward for a clear passage, because of the liability of strong east winds moving the pack off shore, thereby imprisoning the vessel and making extrication impossible.
See the entire logbook for the USCG Cutter Bear documenting January 1, 1918, to January 1, 1920, in the National Archives online catalog.
This primary source comes from the Records of the U.S. Coast Guard.
National Archives Identifier: 23696536
Full Citation: Bear, January 1918 - January 1920; 8/11/1919 - 8/12/1919; Logs of Revenue Cutters and Coast Guard Vessels, 1819 - 1941; Records of the U.S. Coast Guard, ; National Archives Building, Washington, DC. [Online Version, https://www.docsteach.org/documents/document/cutter-bear, May 5, 2024]Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
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Bear, January 1918 - January 1920
Page 4