Environmental Science Project

This project is due 4/4/2011.  Please remember that book report digital rough drafts are due on Friday, 4/1/11 (no joke!)


Where are the best renewable and non-renewable energy resources in the US? In the World? 


• Create a map showing the locations of the three best energy resources in our region. The map can be on the scale of county, state, country, continent or world. (Molly and Shayna)

• Create a series of maps showing the distribution of several energy 
resources in our region, with one energy resource depicted in each map. (Rachel and Shandra)


• If you could power an entire region (for instance, the state of Kansas) solely on renewable energy, how would you distribute wind farms, geothermal plants, hydroelectric power, biomass and solar utilities across the region? Create a map showing your plan. (Jacob, Aaron and Matthew).


Resources: 
1. http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/ 
2. http://www.eia.doe.gov/ 
3. http://serc.carleton.edu/research_education/usingdata/index.html 
4. http://www.wattsun.com/resources.html 
5. http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/rt 
6. http://www.ussdams.org/ 
7. http://energy.er.usgs.gov/products/databases/USCoal/index.htm 
8. http://www.epa.gov/enviro/html/em/index.html 
9.  Biomass Resource Information Clearinghouse (see www.nrel.gov) 


Hint: Use information about US Agriculture production to map the location of the best biomass resources. 

Plant ID sites

http://plants.usda.gov/java/
http://npdc.usda.gov/technical/plantid_wetland_mono.html
http://www.grownative.org/help/plantid.asp
http://www.kswildflower.org/
http://ed.fnal.gov/help/prairie/Prairie_Res/forbskey.html

More tsunami news

As tsunami cleanup continues, the worry has now turned to possible failure of the Fukushima nuclear energy facility.  Here is why health risks are minimal. This article explains why nuclear fears may be overstated, especially when compared to the risks of oil-based energy that we all take for granted. 


Here is a primer on how nuclear energy is created.

Lots going on in Japan

First, I threw together this short primer on plate tectonic in the area.

Arctic blooms occurring earlier: Phytoplankton peak arising 50 days early, with unknown impacts on marine food chain and carbon cycling

Arctic blooms occurring earlier: Phytoplankton peak arising 50 days early, with unknown impacts on marine food chain and carbon cycling

No global warming here! Move along, nothing to see!

E.O. Wilson Reading Assignment

Here it is.

7th Grade Biome Diorama Project - DUE FRIDAY, 2/18

Biome Diorama

Objective

You will be assigned a biome to research.  After researching your biome you will construct a diorama that accurately represents it.  You will then present your diorama to class.

A diorama is essentially a miniature world in a box.  For instructions and recommendations on how to build a diorama click here.

Rules

Your diorama must be an accurate model of abiotic and biotic factors in your biome and must include the following:

·         At least 3 animal species  uniquely adapted to live in the biome

·         At least 3 plant species uniquely adapted to live in the biome

·         Background neatly depicted on at least 3 sides of the box

·         At least two geographical features represented

·         A neat, professional written (typed) description of the following

§  what the seasons are like and how long they last

§  the 3 animal species shown in your diorama

§  adaptations to life in your biome

§  average temperature

§  average yearly rainfall

§  approximate longitude and latitude of your biome

§  type of soil that can be found in your biome

§  what life is like in your biome

§  unique conditions in your biome such as, permafrost, length of night and day, any other aspect of your biome that is interesting to you

Due Date

Your diorama and presentation are due Friday, February 18.  No late projects will be accepted!  Please remember neatness and professionalism count!  Spelling and grammar mistakes will be marked down.