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Week 14: Causes of Climate Change

  This week in lab, we explored the rising level of carbon dioxide in our environment globally. We looked at statistics and explored an online simulation to better understand and visualize how this is happening. We also learned how sunlight enters Earth’s atmosphere as visible light, warms the surface, and is then re-released as infrared energy. Normally, some of this heat escapes back into space, but increasing amounts of carbon dioxide trap more of the infrared energy, causing Earth to warm. Understanding this greenhouse effect helped me see why carbon dioxide levels matter so much beyond being just a number. Lastly, we looked into the effects of rising carbon dioxide such as higher temperatures, stronger storms, and larger wildfires. Overall, this lab provided important information that helped me better understand the urgency of climate change.  How are rising carbon dioxide levels negatively impacting our planet? Discussion Notes: Dec 4 Exam Topics  10 space questions...
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Week 13: Local Climate Change

  This week in lab we explore climate change further. We were divided into groups and each group explored how climate change is impacting ag/plant life, precipitation, or temperature. My group explored precipitation, and we learned that overall heavier rainfall is becoming more common, increasing the risk of flooding, runoff, and erosion. Below are my notes about ag/plant and temperature impacts from the presentations.  Ag/Plant Life: Local More rainfall causing soil erosion making it harder for plants to grow  Also causes structural damage to buildings   Destroys habitats  Farmers are changing planting/harvest times Increases temp: stress on animals, decreased food & food quality  Regionally  Changing structure of prairies, wetlands, and forests  Wetlands and rivers more flooding and erosion  Tree mortality  Crop yield/planting season is unpredictable Globally  There has been a shift in typical patterns and climates global...
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Week 12: Before the Flood

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  This week in lab we explored climate change. We began by discussing the movie we watched for our assignment. We then explored how climate change is specifically impacting Iowa by determining the amount of rainfall across many years in different regions of Iowa. As a class, we determined that Iowa is getting warmer and experiencing heavier rainfall. We then ended lab by using this understanding to determine if the Goldfinch is in danger. I determined that I believe it is in danger as the heavy rainfall could impact their nests, and the heat could impact their eggs, chicks, and food source/seeds. Below, I have my notes on climate change and my data on the amount of rainfall in the Des Moines area. What are the primary points in the video? Carbon emission and carbon tax  The different impacts around the world  Energy usage  What are the major issues? People think that climate change is a slow process when it is rapid People do not think it is human caused  Places...
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Week 11: Weather

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  This week in lab, we explored weather. We began by taking a formative assessment and then drawing the water cycle as a group. We then did a jigsaw to learn more about cold fronts, warm fronts, stationary fronts, and occluded fronts. We ended lab by creating our AI spreadsheets to determine which sources give us the most accurate weather prediction. I have an image of the water cycle we created below and my notes from the jigsaw.  Fronts Cold Front: When large masses of cold air and warm air meet they don't mix; the cold air is denser and pushes underneath warmer, less dense air, forcing it upwards. This rapid uplift can lead to the development of towering clouds and severe weather  Warm front: Warmer air rising up and over the colder air, leading to the formation of clouds and precipitation ahead of the front, followed by a rise in temperature and a shift in wind direction as the front passes Stationary front: a boundary between two air masses that has stopped moving, w...
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