Website Link

http://www.coastalwetlands.webs.com

The Dead & the Gone

The Dead & the Gone is about the incidents that occur when an asteroid collides with the moon and alters reality. Food and water become scarce, the weather turns exceedingly cold, the sky is forever covered with volcanic ash, all coastal areas are flooded, and nothing but survival and family is important. This is a story of how Alex, a guy alone in New York City, who has to take care of his sisters since there is no sign of his parents. He goes to extremes to feed his sisters and himself and to find them warmth to live in. This book connects to food webs, food chains, and energy pyramids in every aspect.

Since the moon provoked volcanoes to erupt, the sun was blocked by the ash. Without the sun the plants, or the producers, weren't able to grow. Hence, all the first-level consumers died due to lack of food and sunlight. Next, all the second-level consumers died because they weren't able to prey on first-level consumers. This kept going on until all the animals were gone, eaten by humans (omnivores) or dead because of lack of food, water, sunlight, etc. This explains how important sunlight is. Without it, planet Earth would be a graveyard. This also explain how important every animal in the world is. Without one animal the ecosystem would be unbalanced and eventually tip over and make everything thing chaotic. Furthermore, producers are extremely substantial to the biosphere. The lack of producers also means that every animal (including humans) would perish. This book shows why all animals (and plants) are important to have on this Earth.

Picture: http://karinlibrarian.files.wordpress.com/2008/01/the-dead-and-the-gone.jpg

Symbiosis

Now you might be wonder why someone would post a picture of a hand on their science blog. What's a hand got to do with science? However odd this might seem, this hand has everything to do with science. For example: it happens to represent one of the three relationships of symbiosis. Symbiosis is a close relationship between two species that benefits at least one of the species. Furthermore, the three relationships of symbiosis are mutualism, commensalism, and parasitism. Mutualism is when two species benefit from each other because of their relationship. Commensalism is when one of the species benefits from the relationship while the other is neither helped or harmed. Lastly, parasitism is when one organism lives in or on another organism and harms it.

This hand represents mutualism. I claim that there are mites that live on this hand that clean all the dead skin cells away. This process occurs over the whole human body. While the "owner" of the hand receives cleanliness, the mites also benefit. Moreover, the mites have food to eat (dead skin cells), a place to live (the hand), and a purpose to serve (free the hand of dead skin cells). Since both the organisms seem to benefit, this exemplifies that this is a mutualistic relationship.

Picture: Orangemath96.blogspot.com

Source: Classroom

Abiotic and Biotic

These are just a couple of trees in my back yard. They are also a biotic factors. What that simply means is that this is a living factor in the environment that alters the ecosystem. These trees are limiting factors because if they were eliminated: birds, squirrels, and numerous other animals would lose their homes, there would be less carbon dioxide intake, less fruit would be produced, and all animals that live there would lose their food supply (including humans). These, as you can see, limit our environment very much. As you can see these trees are more than just towering statues of green. They serve a valuable place in our ecosystem.

Picture by: Orangemath96.blogspot.com

Source: Classroom!

Website Link

http://tornado-reasearch.webs.com/apps/blog/

From Space To Sea

Lately, some of NASA's missions have been underwater instead of space. NASA is experimenting, or recreating, some of the same experiences, from space, underwater. It is called NEEMO. The latest mission was launched on May 10th. A group of 6 scientists, lab technicians, and astronauts will "live" in Aquarius Underwater Laboratory for 14 days. This Lab is located near Largo, Florida and is 62 feet below the ocean's surface.

Aquarius will give the squad a chance to test low-gravity surroundings, just like the moon and the planets. Furthermore, another experiment is what it feels like to live in a tiny, detached environment for a lengthy period of time. The most important idea is to learn to work as a team. This will help the astronauts when they go on space missions to the ISS or the moon. Lastly, they crew is also studying a the marine life.

"Even though we are working on stimlating a space mission, we are also
evaluating the underwater envioronment and looking at the health of the coral
reef," says engineer Heather Paul, who is part of the shore-based crew.

Wearing special equipment, the squad will perform 24 "spacewalks" underwater. They will treat the equipment and the drive the vehicals as if they were on the moon. Wearing special diving suits the team will adjust the gravity just like it is in space. These experiments will help NASA design better spacesuits for the future. NASA hopes to learn very much by this experience.

www.timeforkids.com/TFK/kids/news/story/0,28277,1988927,00.html
http://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/technology/diving/aquarius/media/aquarius_port_side_600.jpg
http://www.sti.nasa.gov/tto/Spinoff2006/images/p092-0109_img_20.jpg

Air Pressure (Read About It)

Answers

1a. Air pressure is the result of the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area.

1b. Increasing the density of a gas affects its pressure because the mass of the air is its density, so when they density is increased the mas increases. When the mass increases so the pressure.

2a. Two instrument used to measure air pressure are Mercury Barometers and Aneroid Barometers.

2b. The units commonly used to measure air pressure are millibars and inches.

2c. About 922 millibars equal 27.23 inches of mercury.

3a. Altitude, or elevation, is the distance above sea level, the average level of the surface of the oceans

3b. As altitude increases, air pressure decreases and so does density. The air has less weight pressing on it as the altitude increases. The density decreases because the molecules are farther apart at higher altitude.

3c. If I carried a barometer down a mine shaft, I would expect the air pressure to increase because the lower the altitude the higher the air pressure and density. The mine shaft is a book on the bottom of the pile, so it has to carry the weight of the other books on top of it. Air pressure is just like that, it increases when the elevation is lower and decreases when the elevation is higher. A mine shaft is below sea level, so I would expect the density and air pressure to be higher.

Heat Transfer Activity (Interactive)

When I learned about conduction, convection, and radiation in class I wasn't sure I understood what they were. This activity helped me understand the terms and their meanings more clearly. To begin with, I learned that convection is when heat is transferred by a liquid/fluid such as water. Furthermore, conduction, I learned, is when heat is passed by touching a substance. Lastly, I learned that radiation is when heat moves without having to touch or transfer through an object. An example is Space, heat travels in outer space without having to touch an object. Like when UV rays travel from the Sun to the Earth they don't have to transfer through a fluid or touch an object. They just come, this is probably called radiation. This activity was funny and enjoyable to do. That is what I learned from doing this activity.

Temperature Game (Interactive)

There are numerous facts that I learned about temperature when doing the interactive activity. To begin with, I learned that temperature is really the rate at which the atoms or molecules move in a substance. Next, I learned that when we measure temperature, we are actually measuring the rate at which molecules or atoms are moving in the substance. Furthermore, I read that there is a third temperature measurement scale called Kelvin. The degree symbol, I comprehended, is not used in the Kelvin scale and the scale is mostly used by scientists. Moreover, I learned that space is -270 degrees C! I never imagined space being that cold. Lastly, I acquired, that Death Valley is 56 degrees C!! It must be very hot there, for I can't imagine 56 degrees C. That's the knowledge that I acquired after doing the temperature game.

Physik

A book I am reading is Physik by Angie Sage. This book connects to science very clearly. In this book Septimus Heap is pulled back in time 500 years by force, where he learns the art of Physic. When he is back in his own time he makes an antidote for a Sickness that is lingering in his own time. He successfully accomplishes his task of making a potion to help prevent the Sickness. He is technically a physician. Physic has everything to do with science. Physics involves formulas, equations, chemicals, and solid substances. All these terms were taught by my science teacher, so they have everything to do with science. Ultimately, this book is clearly related to science.

Link:http://ebooks-imgs.connect.com/product/400/000/000/000/000/082/299/400000000000000082299_s4.jpg

Chile's Earthquake

It might seem impossible, but an earthquake actually moved numerous cities in South America. The 8.8 magnitude earthquake that hit Chile moved the Chilean city of Concepcion for about at least 10 feet to the west. This 5th most powerful quake measured shifted other parts of South America as well. For example: Buenos Aires 1 inches to the west, Chile's capital, Santiago, 11inches to the southwest, and greatly moved the cities of Valparaiso and Mendoza, Argentina, too. The earthquake occurred off the coast of the Maule region of Chile. The Nazca tectonic plates and the South American plates rubbed together to create tension between them. Not only did the earthquake moved cities, it also permanently changed the axis and the rotation of Earth. Scientists say that an average day on Earth should have been shortened by 1.26 microseconds after the earthquake. Furthermore, the 7th strongest earthquake in the recorded history, has now permanently changed the Earth's axis by 3inches. The scientists say that the rotation might smooth out, but it is too early to tell.

All earthquakes have had a huge impact on the whole world. I am just really worried that is natural forces like these keep reoccurring it might destroy Earth totally. Whatever is causing all these earthquakes and other natural disasters has to be put to a stop because I have noticed that earthquakes are occuring very frequently. That's why this force should be put to a stop.

Links:

http://www.space.com/news/chile-earthquake-earth-days-100302.html

http://www.livescience.com/environment/chile-earthquake-moved-city-100309.html

http://www.shopequita.com/images/blog/haiti-earthquake2010.JPG

Snowacane and Hurricane

The snowstorm that we had is being called a snowacane in comparison to a hurricane. The storm that we had and a hurricane are very different. These two storms are formed differently too. A winter storm forms when a massive cold air that is full of precipitation moves south from Canada and warm air moves north from Gulf of Mexico. Where the two airs meet is called a front. If the cold air pushes away the warm air and advances it called a cold front. If the warm air overcomes the cold air and advances it is called a warm front. If both the air masses are stationary and neither one advances it is called a stationary front. When it is a cold front either one of these precipitations fall, rain, freezing rain, sleet, or snow falls. Precipitation is when the clouds are too heavy to hold the water that evaporated from the ocean. The water falls in the form of sleet, rain, freezing rain, or snow depending on what kind of front there is. In our case it was snow. Snow is formed when water vapor experiences the stage of deposition. Deposition is when water vapor changes directly into ice, without becoming a liquid first and then falls to ground. When snow falls continuously for a long period of time it is called a blizzard. A blizzard has very strong winds and severe snowfalls. There are three main factors to have a blizzard, cold air surface, moisture, and lift. Lift is when warm air rises over the cold air. As opposed to this, hurricanes form differently.

A hurricane is a gigantic storm that rotates counter-clockwise around an eye. The eye of the hurricane is the calmest part of the hurricane with good weather and slow winds. Also, a hurricane has very strong winds that can be as fast as 75 to 200 mph. A hurricane can form only over really warm ocean water that are 80 degrees Fahrenheit or warmer. Furthermore, the wind must be blowing in the same direction to force air upward. Then the wind has to flow above the storm allowing the air below to rise. Humid air that is rising makes the clouds of the storm. Lastly, the light winds from the outside steer the hurricane and let it grow. Even though, these two storms are formed differently they both are affected by the same thing. Changing Global Patterns. Global Patterns are long-term global climates changes that reach far around the globe and affect day-to-day weather.

These storms have another thing in common, they affect the community in a negative way. A snowstorm traps the people inside and causes all kinds of damage to the houses. Moreover, a snowstorm causes accidents on the road when the snow on the ground turns to ice. Also, the winds can be very strong and temperatures can be very low. Similarly, a hurricane can be just as worst depending on the winds and type. A hurricane can destroy forests, hurt people and animals, damage buildings, damage cars, and some hurricanes can destroy houses to an extent that the houses can't be fixed. These are the differences and similarities between a winter storm and hurricane.

A snow storm. A hurricane.


Picture:http://static.howstuffworks.com/gif/hurricane-weather-opal.jpg
Picture: http://image-photo.weather.com/E9/40/full/E940D4F0-843E-459E-965A-2F88C66B6A80.jpg
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/2006-04-19-global-climate-patterns_x.htm

http://www.weatherwizkids.com/

http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.86f46a12f382290517a8f210b80f78a0/?vgnextoid=91435d795323b110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Math is EVERYWHERE!

Math is everywhere. We are doing a research project in school and were told to find write about how math is related to the research we did. My topic is Global Warming and it has a whole bunch of statistics. For example: the hot and humid temperatures that we are facing today have risen 1.8 degrees from 1880s (when Global Warming started) to 2006. The Arctic temperatures are soaring. The temperatures rose 5.4 degrees Fahrenheit over the last 50 years in the Arctic. This may seem not too much, but it is a lot of degrees in the average temperature rise. Because of Global Warming, people are dying and the number of deaths increase every year. The heat waves caused at least 20,000 European deaths in August 2003. Climate change is responsible for at least 150,000 extra deaths a year, and this number is going to double by 2030 according to the World Health Organization. Now since the climate has changed, there are more storms and natural disasters all around the world. During heavy rainstorms, in more that 700 U.S. cities the sewer systems over flow into the water supplies. Global Warming isn't only affecting humans. Animals and plants are getting the worst effects of Global Waring too. Scientists say that 15-37% of all plants and animals might be extinct by 2050. In addition, 21 kind of fishes have left the oceans that are too hot for them. Also, the glaciers and ice are melting in the Arctic which causes the polar bears and other animals that live in the cold weather to die. This has increased since 2000. One specific animal that has been disappearing very fast is the Pika. Pikas have left 1/3 of their habitats because the habitats are getting too warm. Lastly, Global Warming is affecting Earth's protective layer, the Ozone Layer. This Ozone layer is depleting very fast and without it life on Earth is impossible. The Ozone layer is depleting .5% every year. Less than 10% of Ozone is left over Antarctica. 3% to 7% reduction of the Ozone layer in the atmosphere has already happened. Global Warming needs to be prevented before it gets out of hand and impossible to prevent. If this doesn't happen total destruction of the Earth is what lays ahead.

http://www.abc.net.au/reslib/200309/r9763_382063.jpg (Picture)

Water on the Moon!

It is now official that there is water on the moon. Scientists have now confirmed that there is water on the moon and not only a little bit but a significant amount. When the LCROSS probe impacted that moon at the southern pole in order to find any signs of water, this discovery was made.

"Indeed, yes, we found water. And we didn't find just a little bit, we found a
significant amount," said Anthony Colaprete.

When LCROSS probe impacted the moon looking for signs of water, it collected a sample so the scientists could test it for any signs of ice water. When tested the sample contained ice water. This was confirmed by two of scientific instruments. Based on the measurements, there is about 100 kilograms of water on that particular spot the moon. This is about a dozen 2-gallon buckets. Even though this might not be very much water, it was a good amount in a 20-meter crater. Scientists also predict that there might be more water on the moon in different spots. For example: The permanently shadowed craters at the southern pole of the moon. These craters might contain frozen water. The excitement doesn't stop here. Water was also detected by a NASA-built instrument on board India's Chandrayaan-1 probe and other spacecraft. Furthermore, scientists think there there might be other compounds where the LCROSS probe impacted the moon, besides water. Scientists aren't really sure of what these compounds are yet.

Even though water was found on the moon, there many more questions to be answered about this topic. For example: What state is the water in? The water might be filled with dirt molecules from the moon. Another questions is: How did the water get there and how long has it been on the moon? Scientists predict that the water has been on the moon for billions of years. Also, the scientists don't know how the water got there, they have a couple of different hypothesis about the subject. Finding water on the moon changed the scientists view of the moon completely. They are saying that the moon isn't just a dead planetary body anymore.

Scientists are planning to send astronauts to the moon again in 2020 for extended missions on the lunar surface. They say that the water discovered could be water that is drinkable and used for other causes. Even though they now know there is water on the moon, this wasn't discovered until a week after the impact made by LCROSS probe. NASA plans to launch LCROSS and its sister, LRO, in June.

http://www.livescience.com/space/091113-lcross-moon-crash-water-discovery.html

Picture from: http://moonpark.files.wordpress.com/2009/06/moon32.jpg