Planet Earth
Semester Project: Planet Earth
Experimental Component Instructions
Procedure
For the experimental component of the semester project, you are required to participate in:
1. A sustainable activity (one that supports our environment).
2. Investigate three indicators of climate change (temperature, sea level, and the annual greenhouse gas index).
Listed below is more information about sustainable activities. Please take precautions when you participate in these activities to prevent spread of the coronavirus.
1. Tree planting
Trees can help capture atmospheric CO2. However, trees need to be taken care of, to ensure they grow to maturity and remain in good health. You can plant a tree or several trees in your backyard. You can then attach the picture of the tree(s) you planted to your project report.
Another meaningful way to contribute, is to volunteer for tree planting and tree restoration programs of the Texas Trees Foundation:
Another volunteer opportunity is the “Branch Out Dallas” program.
Please attach a picture (or signature from an organizer) of you helping at these events to your semester project report.
https://dallascityhall.com/departments/waterutilities/Pages/branch-out-dallas.aspx
2. Carpooling
You can reduce your carbon footprint by carpooling with friends or family.
Remember, use common sense and safety considerations when carpooling. Attach a description of your carpooling activity to your semester project report. You can also attach a picture of your carpooling activity, however the picture should preferably not include people’s faces because of privacy concerns. Please take precautions against the coronavirus.
3. Government policy
You can contact your local, state, and federal government to urge action on climate change.
Attach evidence of your participation in this category to your semester project report.
4. Recycling
You can reduce your carbon footprint by adopting sustainable lifestyle choices. Three simple ways to do this are to “reduce, reuse, and recycle.” The website below has more information. Attach evidence of your participation in this category to your semester project report. For example, you may attach a picture, or log of your recycling efforts.
http://greendallas.net/recycling/what-can-i-do-recycling/
5. Clean energy
You can generate your own clean energy by installing solar panels or wind turbines at your home. You can also choose clean energy power companies for your energy needs. Some example websites are below. You can attach evidence of your participation in this category to your semester project report.
https://www.greenmountainenergy.com/2014/03/go-solar-and-sell-power-to-your-utility/
https://www.choosetexaspower.org/
6. Join an Earth-friendly organization
The link below has a list of fifty non-profit organizations that need your support. You can choose a cause, and an organization you feel most passionate about. One example is 350.org, which is a global grassroots movement striving to address climate change:
https://climatestore.com/take-action/get-involved/non-profit-organizations-working-on-climate-change
Project Drawdown is another worldwide effort led by Dr. Katharine Wilkinson. You can find out more at:
and in the following 11:13 min YouTube video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Iz5pfXXLB4Y
7. Other lifestyle choices
You can reduce your carbon footprint by making lifestyle choices. Some examples are:
i) Improving the insulation at home.
ii) Adjusting your A/C or heating thermostat to consume less energy, especially when you are not home.
iii) Install a low-flow shower nozzle so you use less hot water when showering.
iv) Install energy-efficient light bulbs (e.g., compact fluorescent bulbs).
v) Install energy-efficient appliances and gadgets such as refrigerators, TVs etc.
vi) Turn off computers when not in use. Unplug devices from the wall so that they do not consume “invisible/needless” power.
vii) Wash clothes in cold water or water at low temperatures, as much as possible.
viii) Hang-dry your clothes.
ix) Perform regular maintenance on your car. Select energy-efficient transportation options.
x) Limit air travel, since airplanes are powerful contributors of greenhouse gases and to global warming.
xi) Minimize plastic waste. Buy items in bulk. Bring your own bag to the grocery store.
xii) Buy carbon offsets from environmentally friendly companies.
More information is available at the following websites:
https://changingthepresent.org/collections/clean-air-cool-planet
https://www.green-e.org/certified-resources/carbon-offsets
https://www.goldstandard.org/take-action/offset-your-emissions
https://www.washingtonpost.com/travel/tips/questions-about-carbon-offsets-flights-answered/
8. Other sustainable activities not listed above:
If you participate in any other sustainable activities not listed above, please attach evidence in your semester project report.
I have done the graph and pasted it here:
Indicators of climate change
There are various physical indicators that can help study, and track climate change. We will look at three in this part of the project.
A. Temperature
1. Go to NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) website:
https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/cag/national/time-series
This website allows you to plot recorded temperature data for over 100 years.
Click on “Display Trend,” and then click on “Plot” in the blue box. Study the resulting graph. It shows a record of the temperature measured in the US for the same month, for over a century. The blue line shows you the way the temperature has been changing. You may need to “refresh” your browser page to see the plot.
If you continue to have problems seeing the plots, please try using a different browser.
2. Change the month to the coldest month of the year (January), click on “City” at the top, and make a similar plot for your city (e.g., Dallas, TX). Study the resulting graph, make sure the blue “Trend” line is visible. Take a screenshot of one such graph and paste it in the “Results” section of your project report. Add a few words describing what the graph is in figure caption in the Results section of your project report.
3. Write a few words about what you learned about the trend in the temperature in “Discussion” section of your project report.
4. You can change the parameter from “Average Temperature” to “Maximum temperature” etc. to investigate more on your own. You can also study the global temperature trends by clicking on “Global” at the top.
-Average and maximum temperature graph:
Climate at a Glance | National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI) (noaa.gov)-If you want to visit the site with description
B. Sea level
1. Go to the NOAA website:
https://www.climate.gov/news-features/understanding-climate/climate-change-global-sea-level
2. Study the plot that shows change in global mean sea level from 1880 to 2020.
3. Take a screenshot of this graph and paste it in the “Results” section of your project report. Add a few words describing what the graph is in the figure caption in the Results section of your project report.
4. Write a few words about what you learned from this website in the “Discussion” section of your project report.
C. Annual Greenhouse Gas Index (AGGI)
1. Go to the NOAA website:
2. Study the plot that shows the warming influence of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere since 1980.
3. Take a screenshot of this graph and paste it in the “Results” section of your project report. Add a few words describing what the graph is in the figure caption in the Results section of your project report.
4. Write a few words about what you learned from this website in the “Discussion” section of your project report.