About Lindsey Visser Expertise I would love to help you with your questions relating to oceanography, global warming, marine biology, microbial ecology, and marine botany. I can also help with any questions about taxonomy of marine species. If I cannot answer a question, I will look it up or point you in the right direction.
Experience I have a B.S. in marine biology, and am working on a M.S. in oceanography. I am FDA certified for the bacteriological examination of seawater and shellfish. I have experience in working in a microbial ecology lab, culturing marine phytoplankton, and species identification. I have spent time doing oceanography research at sea aboard a NOAA ship.
Education/Credentials B.S. in Marine Biology from Texas A&M University
M.S. in Oceanography expected 2008 from Texas A&M University
Question I am a pre-k teacher in the public school system in Georgetown, Texas. (15 miles north of Austin). Why don't penguin feet freeze to the ice? Especially when they step back onto the ice after a nice icy swim in the water?
Answer Hi Sally
That's an interesting question. I believe you are comparing this concept to when your tongue freezes to an ice cube or metal pole. Your tongue freezes to things that have a high enough thermal conductivity to extract heat faster from your tongue than can be replenished by your blood. Penguin feet act as counter-current heat exchangers- the temperature in their feet is just above that of the ground/ice, so if they need to release heat from their body, more blood will be pumped to their feet. The heat can be released because their feet have a high surface area making blood vessels close to the skin, cooling the blood as it returns to the body. Their feet don't freeze to the ground because as mentioned, they are only a few degrees warmer than the ground itself, so there is not a large enough temperature gradient between the two, and also a low thermal conductivity between the two. I hope this helps, let me know if you have any more questions.
Lindsey
