topic and method
Topic and Methods
You will choose 2 topics that you will quantify using an experiment. You can use your environmental issues or observations. Once you have chosen your topics, you will write the methods you will folllow to conduct the experiment.
For this assignment you will only turn in the topic and methods (two of them). The experiments will be done once your methods have been revised.
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For this assignment you will be researching a topic and methods that will be used for the Experiment Assignment
What to Measure: Environmental Science examines how human activity interacts with the environment and its effects. So, you have a wide range of choices. Most experiments will involve field work, but some experiments may not. This is where you can apply what you have learned in ESCI 1 lecture to the real world.
The goal is to develop a method to quantify an aspect of the environment. You can choose to quantify an environmental issue or observation from previous assignments.
I will review, approve, and give feedback for this assignment. Don’t start your field experiment until I approve and grade this assignment.
This may seem difficult, take your time and think about each step you will take to collect your data. If you get stuck, contact me and I can help you out.
Instructions:
Use the knowledge gained from previous assignments.
Develop a method that will allow you to quantify your topic.
Your methods should describe each step you will take in detail. Number each step in order.
Possible Topics:
Transit ridership
Wildlife survey
Litter
Recycling
Park use
Carbon Emissions
It is up to you on what subject to choose and how to quantify(measure or count) the data.
The goal of this assignment is to quantify and assess something in nature or an interaction between the built environment and nature.
What to Avoid:
Do Not choose a topic that is purely research. In order for you to receive credit, you must quantify (count) something in nature.
In other words, simply looking up your carbon footprint is not enough since there is not quantification on your part. The website gives you the results.
Do not choose a survey. In general, environmental science does not use surveys because they are less reliable than direct observation.
Helpful information:
Field research is usual conducted in 1 of three ways, but there are many methods. For this assignment you will typically choose between a point count, area count, or transect count.
A point count is where you draw/use a map and go to specific ‘points’ on the map to quantify your topic. Commonly used to count moving animals such as birds. Point counts are usually timed 10-15 minutes at each point and you will need enough points to gather sufficient data for your topic.
An area count is where you go to an area, such as a park and quantify the whole of your topic. This is common for counting plants or determining plant communities. You will want to make sure you have enough of an area to gather the data needed for your topic.
A transect is where draw a map and determine a path to count your topic found along the pathway or close to it. This method can be used for counting plants as well as trash/waste. You want to make sure that you have a long enough path to gather data for your topic.
What to turn in:
A topic to quantify and explain why this topic interested you.
Detailed methods that describe each step you will take in as much detail as possible.
*Although you don’t have to submit a hypothesis with this assignment, you will for the Experiment. It is important to have a general idea of what you want to find an answer too and then develop the methods accordingly.
Examples:
This example is just a guide, do not copy these steps. Use them as a guide, but change the steps so that it is more applicable to the experiment you choose.
Topic: Carbon emissions from cars
Methods:
Overview: A sample of 30 cars from my parking lot was made. Each cars was researched to identify average MPG which was then compared to the California requirements. Carbon emissions data was also calculated.
Steps:
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Choose method to gather data (Transect, Point, of Area). I choose to do an Area count of a parking lot.
- Record the vehicle maker and model (research will be needed to find miles per-gallon) of randomly chosen samples.
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To be significant, a reasonable number of samples (cars) will need to be recorded, usually 20-30 depending on the total sample size (in this case 95). I choose 30 cars randomly from the parking lot of 95 cars. To randomize I numbered each car and used a random number generator to choose which car to include in my experiment.
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Draw a map or use an online map resource to identify your points, transects or area that you will collect data from. (Point counts will need a time limit, 10 minutes per point is sufficient). I used a whole parking lot, so I did not need to draw a transect line or data points on a map.
- Research the maker and model of the samples to identify miles per gallon, highway, and city. Find or calculate the average mileage. (use a car website such as Edmunds.com to find this data)
- Calculate the amount of CO2 Because emissions are based upon how much people drive, research, and use the average miles people drive in the South Bay per year.
- Identify the amount of CO2 released from 1 gallon of fuel.
- Calculate the average annual CO2 emissions for each car based upon the average number of miles driven per year in your city or state. I used 12 thousand miles per year.
- Formula: Average miles driven in South Bay / average miles per gallon for each car * amount of CO2 released from one gallon of fuel.
- Average the results.
- Evaluate the hypothesis based upon the results.
- For this experiment I will have 2 data points to evaluate, the average miles per gallon of vehicles and the average CO2 emissions from that result.
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