Spring Break

This year the Chicago public schools took the earliest spring break ever. What did you do? Where did you go? Here is what some of Mr. Lopatka's GLOBE students did. Here is a tale of 2 boys, one from 206 and one from 209. Walter is a 5th grader in Mrs. Koval's class and Emery is a 6th grader in Mrs. Combs room. Walter's Grandparents and Emery's Mom brought them over to Marquette park to help gather scientific data for GLOBE scientists. You can see all of them in the picture below.

The GLOBE students in Mr. Lopatka's after school program have been monitoring the water at Marquette park for several years. (See the Hydrology web pages) Several weeks ago, the GLOBE students took part in a Web chat with a scientist from Alaska. They decided to help him with his Phenology studies. Phenology is the study of seasonal changes and their affect on living things. Randolph students have been watching the Cotton wood tree below for bud burst. When the buds burst, they will report the GPS (Global Positioning System) location of the tree and the date of the bud burst. Scientist can then locate that tree from satellite images Click here to see Randolph from space.

Emery collects a water sample for testing. The boys measured the following characteristics of the water:

Temperature 14C PH 6.5 Conductivity .39 Turbidity 30cm (Transpariency)

They also sent in a report of cloud cover and cloud type.

In the picture above you see Emery reading the conductivity meter. Polluted water gives a high reading. Distilled water gives a reading of 0. The Marquette Park pond water had a reading of 39.

Walter uses his fancy binoculars to check for bud bursts.

This is one of the trees that we have been monitoring for Bud burst. On March 31, the buds had not opened. (See inset picture) On April 2, the seed pods opened.

GLOBE scientists can check our precipitation and temperature data that we have been entering into the GLOBE database.

The boys return the water to the pond.

Mr. Lopatka checks the thermometer.

Walter observes and Emery records.

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