All Blog Posts from Tech Talk

Working late tonight to finish a story for tomorrow's Early Show about a new warning from scientists about the pace of global warming. The AAAS (American Association for the Advancement of Science) met in Chicago over the weekend and released a dire warning: previous models of industrial greenhouse gas emissions were low, and the feedback loop associated with warming temperatures will only escalate. What does this mean for the planet? You can read more here, and be sure to watch Monday morning.

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"Only On The Web": Daniel Sieberg shoots a behind-the-scenes look at his report on the effects of climate warming on coral reefs.

Our colorful story on what one marine biologist in Miami is doing to help save coral reefs airs tonight on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. I hope you'll tune in to watch! He's got an interesting approach to preserving the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae, and he's hoping to really make a difference with his research. Corals are like the rainforest of the ocean, and they're disappearing at an alarming rate at places around the world. And even though they only cover less than one percent of the Earth's surface, coral reefs are vital as a home for massive biodiversity. You can also watch some behind-the-scenes video clips that I shot on my Flip camera, including our trip about 10 miles offshore to Biscayne Bay and how we tried to keep our balance onboard the tiny boat in some choppy waves.

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It's been three weeks since we returned from our Arctic adventure, and tonight the first in our series of stories will air on the CBS Evening News with Katie Couric. There are four parts in total, with the remainder airing tomorrow, Wednesday and Saturday nights. Do these stories aim to solve the severity of global warming? Of course not. They are meant to shed light on an important subject to us all -- climate change -- and how what happens in the Arctic is tied to those of us in the south. It's a journey to the top of the world.

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APPROACHING CORNWALLIS ISLAND -- Yesterday was filled with adventure, from standing atop of a rocky plateau on Devon Island to interviewing the chief mate, Bryon Gibbons, onboard a Zodiac with an iceberg as a backdrop. We even had a chance to (safely) drink water from the iceberg. Magical. See photos.

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With our time on the Louis rapidly coming to a close we’re madly getting as much material on tape as we can. It’s truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and we’re just trying to take it all in while we can. Plus the time with my dad, Doug Sieberg, at left, has been so special. He’ll be staying on the Louis until Kugluktuk, and then he may leave the Arctic forever after 30 years of coming here. I feel so lucky to have seen his work firsthand after growing up with stories and photos. Sometimes I think he was born about 200 years too late, with his passion for the open seas and wood-hulled tall ships and the life of a mariner.

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I had a bit of a “question your emotional involvement in this trip” moment today when one of the bottles on the main water sampling device – the rosette – “tripped” on the way down and broke 4 others. When told, I jumped up and screamed “you’re kidding me!” at top volume. I was a history major, so this sort of outburst is rare. But the rosette is really the heart of the operation, and without water samples, practically no one on board can do their research. I don’t want the scientists to be sad.

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BAFFIN BAY –- Today is the day. We can’t avoid the crossing ceremony any longer, and is slated to happen this afternoon. If you don’t hear back from us later this evening it’s because we’re recovering. Or locked in the brig or something more diabolical. (ATTENTION: PLEASE SEND IMMEDIATE HELP TO THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.) Chloe is grappling with the taunts of head shaving and whether it’s all for real, I’m bracing for freezing temperatures since it takes place on the flight deck, and Mark seems to be gloating more than anything. (He already has short hair and fears no Fahrenheit.) All I can discern from my sources so far is that we’ll get wet, but likely not with water. Um, yuck?

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NEAR BAFFIN ISLAND -– Ice. We wanted it, and we got it. Last night we began encountering ice floes and pack ice, some only a year old, some much older and therefore likely thicker and harder. It made for a tough night’s rest, banging and bouncing as the Louis broke through it all. But the views are spectacular. As the sun flirted with the horizon around midnight it was almost otherworldly. This morning it’s equally amazing, and we’ve spotted a few seals and Arctic gulls already. We expect it to be like this for a while, surrounded by ice, and that’s just fine with us.

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I was invited to the Captain’s Sunday dinner, or dinner with “the old man.” Five courses with wine, scotch, Sambucca, and Bailey’s would usually be considered a lot. But this was perfect ...

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