CONNECTION:CLIMATE LABS

For Activity 1, we had to measure the "heat absorbed" by 3 different materials in pie pans. The materials were water, dirt, and sand. Our results were normal and as expected. The water rose and fell in temperature the slowest. Dirt and sand were about equal, both absorbing heat and cooling off fairly quickly. No material behaved out of the normal.

For Activity 4, we had to measure the heat inside 3 different "atmospheres". These "atmospheres" were bottles with different environmental qualities to them. The different materials played as different roles. The bottle played as the atmosphere, the paint played as clouds, and the water played as itself, or if you will an ocean/lake. The results were really suprising. Our bottle had all 3 of these qualities mentioned, and the temperature barely fluctuated at all. The temperature inside rose in the beggining at a steady pace upwards, but after roughly halfway through, it stopped. There was no change at all. I figured the temperature would rise inside because it was being baked by the light, or "heat source". The "clouds" must have done a good job reflecting the light.

These climate activities do show Earth's climate on a small scale fairly well. The big picture, however, is still way different in the actual breakdown of climate effects. Overall, small variables, small results. My climate topic is lightning. This would be a VERY hard topic, impossible really, to develop in "the lab". The only experiment you could do would be to test on particles in clouds getting charges on them, both positive and negative (recipe for lightning). No one could make a lightning cloud in the lab.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Climate change brings numerous questions with it. What will happen when the Earth is warmer? How will the ecosystem change if there is rapid warming? If the ecosystem changes, how will agriculture be impacted? If agriculture is impacted, what will happen the supply of food? How will climate change ultimately change human society?

"Frequent Questions." US Environmental Protection Agency, 19 Aug. 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2010.

 

Rising global temperatures is a factor of climate change. The current scientific models availiable predict an increase of "3 degrees Celsius (5.4 degrees Fahrenheit) by 2100". With increased temperatures, there is drawbacks. Ice in the polar regions of the world will melt faster, and thus increasing the sea level. With increased sea level, many islands and low-lying regions of the world will flood. Hurricanes will also be stronger due to the would be increase of the sea temperature.

 

Ellis, Jessica. "What Are Some Predictions for Future Climate Change?" Wisegeek.com. 9 Sept. 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2010.

SEWER TREATMENT

The sewer treatment plant was a unique trip for me. The real shocker was that the smell wasn't really that bad. You would assume that  with almost all of the sewage in the Eaton Rapids area going through the plant, the smell would be atrocious. At the plant, I learned that the water goes through multiple steps throughout the plant. Some of these steps catch plastics and other things people shouldn't flush down the toilet. Most of the other processes let the heavy articles in the water either sink to the bottom, or float to the top. At these locations they are collected and dealt with appropriately. Another suprising thing to me was the amount of work microrganisms do to the water to clean it. This really shows how much we depend on mother nature in our everyday lives.

I didn't know a recycling plant for 1 and 2 plastics existed at that facility. My family goes through a lot of plastic bottles, especially at home. I might be able to get them to put it into a special container to deposit at the facility. My only complaint was that it could be more organized.

Posting on City Talk

1. Mrs. Birerley, she was a project manager 
2. The city upgraded the storm drain pipes to include filter for the storm water before it goes directly into the Grand.
3. The water will be mostly rid of the oil, grease, and liter from the runoff of the pavements.
4. The quality of our test will most likely improve will the reduction of runoff pollutants.
5. I didn't know that they added parking lots that absorbed the water before it entered the Grand. Also I'm interested in the fact they said about bringing the "rapids" back into Eaton Rapids.
6. My biobotte is doing very well. It has grown plants, which I didn't expect to happen. The phosphates aren't really affecting the bottle too much right now, time will tell though.
7. For my action project we are doing it on pollution of water and solutions to it.
8. Honestly, we have barely started.