In Colorado Springs 75% of water comes from snow melting in the Rocky Mountains. They have built a water collection and distribution system connecting 25 reservoirs and dams for more than 200 miles of pumps and four major pump stations.
Manitou Springs gets its water from a reservoir near Pikes Peak from melted snow. Then, the water is purified in a water treatment facility and stored in tanks as drinking water.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Water Cycle
What is the water cycle?
The water cycle is the continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.
Does the water cycle have a beginning or end?
The water cycle has no beginning or end because it is a continious cycle.
Starting with a puddle on a sunny day, describe how water might move through the water cycle and eventually fall back as rain.
The water would first evapoate because the sun's energy heats water molecules. Then condensation occurs as the water cools and condenses into water droplets that clump together around tiny dust particles in the air to form clouds. Eventually the water droplets become heavy enough to fall back to Earth as precipitation and runs off the surface into rivers, lakes, ect.
Create a diagram (using Google docs or word) of the puddle to rain scenario you created for extra credit.
The water cycle is the continuous process by which water moves from the Earth's surface to the atmosphere and back.
Does the water cycle have a beginning or end?
The water cycle has no beginning or end because it is a continious cycle.
Starting with a puddle on a sunny day, describe how water might move through the water cycle and eventually fall back as rain.
The water would first evapoate because the sun's energy heats water molecules. Then condensation occurs as the water cools and condenses into water droplets that clump together around tiny dust particles in the air to form clouds. Eventually the water droplets become heavy enough to fall back to Earth as precipitation and runs off the surface into rivers, lakes, ect.
Create a diagram (using Google docs or word) of the puddle to rain scenario you created for extra credit.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Ocean Pollution and Annotated Bibliography
Website 1
This website explains how coral reefs are homes to thousands of fish. It is also important to us in the human food chain, but they are being destroyed by human impact, water pollution, climate change, overfishing, hurricanes, and more.
Website 2
This website says how rising ocean temperatures, pollution, and more have been catastrophic for the earth's coral. Now the reefs are disappearing. Scientists are looking for solutions to save the coral reefs, but can think of none. There isn't alot for scientists to do, but sit back and watch. Some reefs might recover, but others won't.
Website 3
This website explains how coral reefs are often referred to as the "rainforests of the oceans." Twp types of problems that exist are natural and human induced. Reefs that are in a hurricane usually recover, but are not adapted to long term stress such as agricultural and industrial runoffs.
Website 4
The purpose of this website is to explain different ways to help save the coral reefs. To conserve water because the less water you use, the less runoff and waste water will pollute our oceans. Also help reduce pollution by walking, riding the bus or your bike because cars release fossil fuels and lead to ocean warming which causes coral bleaching. When you are at the beach or ocean pick up the trash. Spread the word and encourage others to get involved.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Saving the Coral Reefs-Essential Questions
1. What specifically about your topic, are you going to research?
I'm going to research what’s destroying coral reefs, how to save the coral reefs from extinction, and why they are important to everyone.
2. What conclusions did you come to? What do you recommend average citizens do to make a difference?
The coral reefs are the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth and support more species per unit area that any other marine environment. The coral reefs support about 4,000 species of fish. Coral reefs protect shorelines from wave action and prevent erosion, property damage and loss of life. Fishermen fish for the fish, they sell the fish, and we eat it. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and other diseases. Other fish eat the fish living in the coral reefs and if the reefs are gone, then the fish that eat them will die along with the plants. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism. Diving tours, fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reefs systems provide millions of jobs. The average citizen should try to help the coral reefs by reducing water usage because the less water you use, the less runoff and waste water that will pollute our oceans. Help reduce pollution by walking, riding a bike or the bus. Cars release fossil fuels that lead to ocean warming which causes coral bleaching and the destruction of coral reefs. When you are at the beach, throw away your own trash and others. That way the trash won’t go into the ocean and pollute it. When you dive or snorkel in the ocean, don't touch only look, take pictures, and leave bubbles. Contact with the coral can kill the delicate coral animals. Surfing the net to learn more about coral reefs and what you can do to become involved. Spread the word and encourage others to get involved.
3. What would happen if, worst-case scenario, nobody listened to your recommendations?
If nobody listened to my recommendations, then the coral reefs would be gone and the fish living down there would be extinct. The ocean pollution would get worse and the fish and plants living in the ocean would die.
4. What would happen if, best-case scenario, everybody listened to your recommendations?
If everybody listened to my recommendation then we would do everything we can to help the coral reefs for example conserving water, reduce pollution, and spread the word to other people. From there we can keep adding onto our group and have other people supporting us, contributing what they can. If the coral reefs are saved then the fish living them won’t die due to their home being destroyed and plants will be saved. Other fish that eat the fish living in the coral reefs won’t die of starvation. Everything would be in balance.
I'm going to research what’s destroying coral reefs, how to save the coral reefs from extinction, and why they are important to everyone.
2. What conclusions did you come to? What do you recommend average citizens do to make a difference?
The coral reefs are the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth and support more species per unit area that any other marine environment. The coral reefs support about 4,000 species of fish. Coral reefs protect shorelines from wave action and prevent erosion, property damage and loss of life. Fishermen fish for the fish, they sell the fish, and we eat it. Many drugs are now being developed from coral reef animals and plants as possible cures for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, viruses, and other diseases. Other fish eat the fish living in the coral reefs and if the reefs are gone, then the fish that eat them will die along with the plants. Healthy reefs contribute to local economies through tourism. Diving tours, fishing trips, hotels, restaurants, and other businesses based near reefs systems provide millions of jobs. The average citizen should try to help the coral reefs by reducing water usage because the less water you use, the less runoff and waste water that will pollute our oceans. Help reduce pollution by walking, riding a bike or the bus. Cars release fossil fuels that lead to ocean warming which causes coral bleaching and the destruction of coral reefs. When you are at the beach, throw away your own trash and others. That way the trash won’t go into the ocean and pollute it. When you dive or snorkel in the ocean, don't touch only look, take pictures, and leave bubbles. Contact with the coral can kill the delicate coral animals. Surfing the net to learn more about coral reefs and what you can do to become involved. Spread the word and encourage others to get involved.
3. What would happen if, worst-case scenario, nobody listened to your recommendations?
If nobody listened to my recommendations, then the coral reefs would be gone and the fish living down there would be extinct. The ocean pollution would get worse and the fish and plants living in the ocean would die.
4. What would happen if, best-case scenario, everybody listened to your recommendations?
If everybody listened to my recommendation then we would do everything we can to help the coral reefs for example conserving water, reduce pollution, and spread the word to other people. From there we can keep adding onto our group and have other people supporting us, contributing what they can. If the coral reefs are saved then the fish living them won’t die due to their home being destroyed and plants will be saved. Other fish that eat the fish living in the coral reefs won’t die of starvation. Everything would be in balance.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Observing Water's Properties
picture can be found hereIn an experiment the class did, we put a penny on a piece of paper and with a plastic dropper and a glass of water we placed a single drop of water on the penny. Then we had to predict how many drops we could add before the water overflows. I predicted it would take 5 drops. The outcome was 15 drops. I was very surprised because a penny isn't that big and there is nothing to absorb the water. An explanation for this is that water has a strong surface tension caused by polar molecules pulling on one another. Those molecules stick together in a process called cohesion and in adhesion, when one substance sticks to another.
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