It’s that time of year again. From the beautiful snow floating through the air to the arctic gale that freezes every square centimetre of exposed skin to the sunshine that rises and sets in what seems like the same hour of the day, winter is well on its way. These seasonal occurrences are a part of being a Canadian and the type of things that lead those of more southern latitudes to think we live in an endless winter wonderland. While much of winter brings out the beauty and power of nature, other parts are much more subtle in how they task us.
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is something that makes itself home in the north. As our seasons change, so do our daylight hours and our proximity to the sun due to the Earth’s tilted axis. The reduced daytime hours and intensity of the sun lead to a recognizable effect on mood and energy levels. Have you noticed that your calculus lecture is that much more sleep inducing this time of year or that those early morning labs make you all the more agitated to start your day? While the actual incidence of clinical cases of SAD are 1-3% of the population, you are likely subject to some smaller magnitude of these symptoms.
Unless you book your ticket to our Dubai campus for every wintery term, there isn’t much you can do to manipulate nature, but being aware of this and compensating with a little extra sleep or some exercise during the precious few daylight hours can help neutralize things.
Supplements are also an effective way to manage this disorder. Vitamin D is an essential nutrient produced through exposure to UVB rays from the sun. In the fall and winter, there is a lower production of this, which can be countered by a daily supplement. The Canadian Cancer Society has recommended an intake of 1000 IUs per day in the latter two seasons. This not only gives the benefit of summer month supplements, but has also been linked to reduction of common cancers.
Being conscious of SAD as the term moves into final exam season should help you stay healthy and ready for the challenges that they bring. If you feel like you are being seriously affected by SAD or it is making an existing condition worse, be sure to seek medical assistance as there are more extensive treatments available.
On a less depressing note, although in no way free of morbidity, is one of the wonders of winter found in our polar oceans. Brinicles are giant underwater icicles that grow from the bottom of sea ice. When sea ice forms in the cold arctic air at the ocean surface, brine (highly saline water), begins to flow out of the bottom of the ice pack at the super cold air temperature. Due to the high salt content, it sinks in the warmer, less saline water. If the flow is large enough and lasts for a long time, it super cools the surrounding seawater as it sinks to form a tube of ice.
This happens fast enough to see it growing below the icepack, reaching to the ocean floor. The tube thickens with time and forms an icicle shape that, under the right conditions, can extend as far as 30 feet to the ocean floor. Once it reaches the bottom, the brine flow continues out onto the floor, creating a river of ice that traps unsuspecting starfish, crabs and other bottom dwellers on contact. While morbid, these little critters fall victim to one of the coolest (literally) forces of nature.
Until recently this phenomenon was only reported in writing, but the documentary crew of Doug Anderson and Hugh Miller working for BBC’s “Frozen Planet” documentary have now captured it on time lapse video. Check out a rough edit of the shot on YouTube. You’ll be glad you did!
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