36002 Topic: SCI 207 Our Dependence upon the Environment
Number of Pages: 2 (Double Spaced)
Number of sources: 3
Writing Style: APA
Type of document: Essay
Academic Level:Undergraduate
Category: Environmental Issues
Language Style: English (U.S.)
Order Instructions: Attached
Week 1 – Assignment 1
Stream Morphology Laboratory
[WLO: 1] [CLOs: 1, 3, 5]
This lab enables you to construct a physical scale model of a stream system to help you understand how streams and rivers shape the landscape, and how human actions can affect river ecosystems. This lab is done with materials that you will need to supply; the list of items you will need to obtain is in the Stream Morphology Investigation ManualPreview the document.
The Process:
Take the required photos and complete all parts of the assignment (calculations, data tables, etc.). On the “Lab Worksheet,” answer all of the questions in the “Lab Questions” section. Finally, transfer all of your answers and visual elements from the “Lab Worksheet” into the “Lab Report.” You will submit both the “Lab Report” and the “Lab Worksheet” to Waypoint.
The Assignment:
Make sure to complete all of the following items before submission:
Before you begin the assignment, read the Stream Morphology Investigation ManualPreview the document and review The Scientific Method presentation video.
Complete Activity 1 and Activity 2 using the materials that you supply. Photograph each activity following these instructions:
When taking lab photos, you need to include in each image a strip of paper with your name and the date clearly written on it.
Complete all parts of the Week 1 Lab WorksheetPreview the document and answer all of the questions in the “Lab Questions” section.
Transfer your responses to the lab questions and the data tables and your photos from the “Lab Worksheet” into the Lab Report TemplatePreview the document.
Submit your completed “Lab Report” and “Lab Worksheet” through Waypoint.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
Stream Morphology
Investigation Manual
STREAM MORPHOLOGY
Table of Contents
2 Overview 2 Outcomes
2 Time Requirements
3 Background
9 Materials
10 Safety
10 Preparation 10 Activity 1
12 Activity 2
13 Submission
13 Disposal and Cleanup
14 Lab Worksheet
18 Lab Questions
Overview
Students will construct a physical scale model of a stream system to help understand how streams and rivers shape the solid earth (i.e., the landscape). Students will perform several experiments
to determine streamflow properties under different conditions. They will apply the scientific method, testing their own scenarios regarding human impacts on river systems.
Outcomes
• Design a stream table model to analyze the different characteristics of streamflow.
• Explain the effects of watersheds on the surrounding environment in terms of the biology, water quality, and economic importance of streams.
• Identify different stream features based on their geological formation due to erosion and deposition.
• Develop an experiment to test how human actions can modify stream morphology in ways that may, in turn, impact riparian ecosystems.
Time Requirements
Preparation ……………………………………………………………. 5 minutes, then let sit overnight Activity 1: Creating a Stream Table ………………………….. 60 minutes
Activity 2: Scientific Method: Modeling Human Impacts
on Stream Ecosystems……………………………. 45 minutes
Key
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Background
A watershed is an area of land that drains
any form of precipitation into the earth’s water bodies (see Figure 1). The entire land area that forms this connection of atmospheric water to the water on Earth, whether it is rain flowing into a lake or snow soaking into the groundwater, is considered a watershed.
Water covers approximately 70% of the earth’s surface. However, about two-thirds of all water is impaired to some degree, with less than
1% being accessible, consumable freshwater. Keeping watersheds pristine is the leading method for providing clean drinking water to communities, and it is a high priority worldwide. However, with increased development and people flocking toward waterfront regions to live, downstream communities are becoming increasingly polluted every day.
From small streams to large rivers (hereafter considered “streams”), streamflow is a vital part of understanding the formation of water and landmasses within a watershed. Understanding the flow of a stream can help to determine when and how much water reaches other areas of a watershed. For example, one of the leading causes of pollution in most waterways across the United States is excessive nutrient and sediment overloading from runoff from
the landmasses surrounding these waterways. Nutrients such as phosphorus and nitrogen
are prevalent in fertilizers that wash off lawns and farms into surrounding sewer and water systems. This process can cause the overproduction of algae, which are further degraded
by bacteria. These bacteria then take up the surrounding oxygen for respiration and kill multiple plants and organisms. A comprehensive understanding of the interaction between streams and the land as they move downstream to other areas of a watershed can help prevent pollution. One example is to build a riparian buffer—a group of plants grown along parts of a stream bank that are able to trap pollutants and absorb excess nutrients; this lessens the effects of nutrient overloading in the streambed. (A riparian ecosystem is one that includes a stream and the life along its banks.)
Sediment, which is easily moved by bodies of water, has a negative effect on water quality. It can clog fish gills and cause suffocation, and the water quality can be impaired by becoming very cloudy because of high sediment flow. This can create problems for natural vegetation growth
by obstructing light and can prevent animals
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Figure 1.
Precipitation
Snow
Rainfall
Overland flows
Underground sources
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STREAM MORPHOLOGY
Background continued
from visibly finding their prey. Erosion also has considerable effects on stream health. Erosion, or the moving of material (soil, rock, or sand) from the earth to another location, is caused by actions such as physical and chemical weathering (see Figure 2). These processes loosen rocks and other materials and can move these sediments to other locations through bodies
of water. Once these particles reach their final destination, they are considered to be deposited. Deposition is also an important process because where the sediment particles end up can greatly impact the shape of the land and how water is distributed throughout the system (see Figure 2). Erosion and deposition can occur multiple times along the length of a stream and can vary because of extreme weather, such
as flooding or high wind. Over time, these two processes can completely reshape an area,
Figure 2.
causing the topography, or physical features, of an entire watershed to be altered. Depending on weather conditions, a streambed can be altered quite quickly. Faster moving water tends to erode more sediment than it deposits. Deposition usually occurs in slower moving water. With less force acting on the sediment, it falls out
of suspension and builds upon the bottom or sides of the streambed.
Sediments are deposited throughout the length of a stream as bars, generally in the middle of
a channel, or as floodplains, which are more ridgelike areas of land along the edges of the stream. Bars generally consist of gravel or sand-size particles, whereas floodplains are made of more fine-grained material. Deltas (see Figure
3) and alluvial fans (see Figure 4) are sediment deposits that occur because of flowing water
Figure 3.
Erosion Deposition
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Figure 4.
the water moving in the stream) are both vital to the shaping of streambeds. Within stream ecosystems, there are microhabitats (smaller habitats making up larger habitats) that have different discharges and velocities. The type
of microhabitat depends on the width of that part of the stream, the shape of the streambed, and many other physical factors. In areas that contain rifles, water quickly splashes over shallow, rocky areas, which are easily observed in sunny areas (see Figure 5). Deeper pools of slower moving water also form on the outside of the bends of the streams, as shown in Figure 5. Runs, which are deeper than rifles but have a moderate current, connect riffles and pools throughout the stream. The source of a stream and are considered more permanent structures because of their longevity. They are both fan-shaped accumulations of sediment that form when the stream shape changes. Deltas form in continuous, flowing water at the mouth of streams, whereas alluvial fans only form in streams that flow intermittently (when it rains or when the snow melts). Alluvial fans are usually composed of larger particles and will form in canyons and valleys as water accumulates in these regions. The fan shape of both deposits is easy to spot from a distance because they are formed due to the sand settling out on the bottom of the streams.
Streamflow Characteristics
Discharge, or the amount of water that flows past a given location of a stream (per second), is a very important characteristic of stream- flow. Discharge and velocity (the speed of
Figure 5.
Riffles Pool
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STREAM MORPHOLOGY
Background continued
is where it begins, while the mouth of a stream is
where it discharges into a lake or an ocean.
The flow rate is very helpful for engineers and scientists who study the impacts of a stream on organisms, surrounding land, and even recreational uses such as boating and fishing. The speed of the water in specific areas helps to determine the composition of the substrate in that area of the streambed, i.e., whether the material is more clay, sand, mud, or gravel. Particle sizes of different sediments are shaped and deposited throughout various areas of a stream, depending on these factors.
Most streams have specific physical features that show periodicity or consistency in regular
intervals. Meanders can occur in a streambed because of gravity. Water erodes sediment to the outside of a stream and deposits sediment along the opposite bank, forming a natural weaving or “snaking” pattern. This pattern can form in any depth of water and along any type of terrain. Sinuosity is the measure of how curvy a stream is. This is a helpful measurement when determining the flow rates of streams because it can show how the curves affect the water velocity. In major rivers and very broad valleys, meanders can be separated from the main body of a river, leaving a U-shaped water body known as an oxbow lake (see Figure 6). These lake formations can become an entirely new ecosystem with food and shelter for some organisms, such as amphibians, to thrive in.
Figure 6.
Oxbow Lake Formation
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Another feature important for streamflow is the difference in elevation or the relief of a stream as it flows downstream. Streams start at a higher elevation than where they end up; this causes the discharge and velocity at the source versus that at the mouth of the stream to be quite different, depending on the meandering of the stream and the type of deposition and erosion that occurs. The gradient is another important factor of stream morphology. This
is a measure of the slope of the stream over
a particular distance (the relief over the total distance of the stream). For a kayaker who wants to know how fast he/she can paddle down a particular stream, knowing the difference in elevation (relief) is important over a particular area; however, knowing the slope of this particular area will give the kayaker a more accurate prediction. With erosion and deposition occur- ring at different rates and at different parts of the stream, knowing the gradient is a very important part of determining streamflow for the kayaker.
Groundwater is also affected by changes in
the stream shape and flow. Water infiltrates the ground in recharge zones. If streams are continuously flowing over these areas, the ground is able to stay saturated. Most streams are perennial, meaning they flow all year. However, a drought or an extreme weather event may lower the stream level. This can lower the groundwater level, which then allows the stream to only sustain flow when it rises to a level above the water table. With the small amount of available freshwater on Earth, it is vital that our groundwater sources stay pristine.
Biotic and Economic Impacts of Streams
Not only stream a major source of clean
freshwater for humans, but they are also a hotspot for diversity and life. There is great biotic variability between the different microhabitats (e.g., riffles, pools, and runs) of a stream. Riffles, in particular, have high biodiversity because of the constant movement of water and replenishment of oxygen throughout. Pools usually have fewer and more hardy organisms in their slower, deeper moving waters where less oxygen is available. There is also a multitude of plant
and animal species living around streams. From a stream in a backyard to the 1,500-mile-long Colorado River, streams have thousands of types of birds, insects, and plants that live near them because they are nutrient-rich with clean freshwater. Sometimes nutrient spiraling can occur in these streams. Nutrient spiraling is the periodic chemical cycling of nutrients throughout different depths of the streams. This process recycles nutrients and allows life to thrive at all depths and regions of different-size streams.
Streams can also have significant economic impacts on a region. Streams are a channel for fishing and transportation, two of the largest industries in the world. Because of all the commercial boating operations that occur worldwide in these channels, it is vital to understand the formation and flow patterns of streams so that they are clear and navigable. Fishing for human consumption is another large, worldwide industry that depends on stream health; keeping streams pristine and understanding how they form are of utmost importance in sustaining this top food industry. Recreational activities such
as kayaking, sportfishing, and boating all shape areas where streams and rivers are prevalent as
well.
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continued on next page
STREAM MORPHOLOGY
Background continued
All acts that happen on land affect the water quality downstream. Through creating a model stream table in this lab, one can predict large, system-wide effects. Many land features and physical parts of a streambed can affect the flow of water within a watershed. Houses along a streambed or numerous large rocks can cause the streamflow to change directions. If any of these factors cause erosion or deposition in
an area of the stream, microhabitats can be created. These factors can affect the stream on a larger scale, creating changes in flow speeds and widths of the streambeds.
The Importance of Scaling and the Use of the Scientific Method
When a stream table model is created, a large- scale depiction of a streambed is being reduced to a smaller scale so that the effects of different stream properties on the surrounding environment can be demonstrated. While the stream table made in this lab is not a to-size stream and landscape, the same processes can be more easily observed at a scaled-down size. Scientists frequently create models to simplify complex processes for easier understanding. For example, to physically observe something that is too big, such as the distance between each planet in the solar system, the spatial distance can be scaled to create a solar system model. By changing the distance between each planet from kilometers to centimeters, this large system is now more feasibly observed. Similarly, the stream model allows us to physically view different scenarios of a streambed and analyze different stream properties. Mathematical equations are also used frequently to observe
data to predict future conditions, such as in meteorological models. Ultimately, models can be very important tools for predicting future events and analyzing processes that occur
in a system.
When one creates a model, many different outcomes for the same type of setup can be possible. In this case, multiple variations of similar-size streambeds will be designed to evaluate different stream features and their impacts on the surrounding ecosystem. When performing any type of scientific evaluation time
, the scientific method is very useful in obtaining accurate results. This method involves performing experiments and recording observations to answer a question of interest.
Although the exact step names and sequences sometimes vary a bit from source to source,
in general, the scientific method begins with
a scientist making observations about some phenomenon and then asking a question. Next, a scientist proposes a hypothesis—a “best guess” based upon available information as to what the answer to the question will be. The scientist then designs an experiment to test the hypothesis. Based on the experimental results, the scientist then either accepts the hypothesis (if it matches what happened) or rejects it (if it doesn’t). A rejected hypothesis is not a failure; it is helpful information that can point the way to
a new hypothesis and experiment. Finally, the scientist communicates the findings to the world through presenting at a peer-reviewed academic conference and/or publishing in a scholarly journal like Science or Nature, for example.
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When creating stream table models, we are trying to understand how different factors can affect streamflow. A few very important steps from the scientific method are required. The first is forming a testable hypothesis, or an educated prediction, of what you expect to observe
based on what you have learned about stream morphology thus far. In Activity 1, the steps are already listed, so the main goal is to compare the two differences in stream reliefs. However,
in Activity 2, the goal is to alter a different variable and predict what will happen to several stream features in this new situation. In general, when recording these observations to test a hypothesis, it is important to repeat the tests.
To obtain valid results, you need to have similar results over multiple attempts to ensure consis- tency in the findings and to show that what you are discovering is not by chance but is instead replicated each time the experiment is run. While multiple trials are not required in this lab experiment, if you feel particularly less than confident with your results from doing only one trial run in Activity 1 or 2, feel free to do multiple trials to test for validity.
Materials
Needed but not supplied:
• Tray or cookie sheet (or something similar)
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• •
• •
• •
• •
2–3 lb bag of sand or 1 lb bag (or more) of cornmeal
A single-use cup that can have a hole poked in it (e.g., plastic yogurt cup, foam cup)
A small piece of foam (such as from a foam cup), about the size of a grain of rice
Cup, such as glass, mug, or plastic cup Paper clip, skewer, or thumbtack (to poke a hole in the single-use cup)
2 books, one approximately twice as thick as the other
Ruler (There is a ruler in the Equipment Kit if you have already received it, or you can print one at a website such as printable-ruler.net.) Tap water
2 Plastic bags (to cover the books or objects you don’t want to get wet)
Stopwatch (or cell phone with a timer) Digital camera or mobile device capable of taking photos
A piece of string Marker
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STREAM MORPHOLOGY ACTIVITY
Safety
Wear your safety goggles, gloves, and lab apron for the duration of this investigation.
ACTIVITY 1
A Creating a Stream Table
In this activity, you will be measuring different factors (see Step 5) for two different stream models: one where the streambed is tilted at a steeper angle and another where the streambed is tilted at a shallower one. Propose four separate hypotheses for which of the two streambed angles (steeper or shallower) will have the highest values for sinuosity, velocity, relief, and gradient. Briefly state why you feel that way. Complete this information in the “Hypotheses” section of the Lab Worksheet.
1. Bring the tray outside. Place the thicker book in a plastic bag. Place the tray on one end of the book so it is tilted (see Figure 7).
Figure 7. Tray Thicker book
2. Fill the cup without a hole in it with tap water and slowly pour the water into the single-use cup. Ensure that the single-use cup is right above the higher end of the tray.
Note: Store extra tap water on-site if more water is needed to form a stream.
3. Let the water trickle out of the hole in the single-use cup down the sand/cornmeal. Observe how the water forms a “stream” in the table. Stop pouring after small streamflow has formed down the table.
Poking a Hole in a Cup to Create a Stream
https://players.brightcove. net/17907428001/HJ2y9UNi_default/ index.html?videoId=5973740372001
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Read all the instructions for these laboratory activities before beginning. Follow the instructions closely, and observe established laboratory safety practices, including the use of appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE).
Do not eat, drink, or chew gum while performing these activities. Wash your hands with soap and water before and after performing the activities. Clean the work area with soap and water after completing the investigation. Keep pets and children away from lab materials and equipment.
Preparation
1. Read through the activities.
2. Obtain all materials.
3. Pour the sand or cornmeal in one, even layer on the tray or cookie sheet.
4. Pour water slowly over the sand/cornmeal until it is completely saturated. Pour off any excess water outside.
5. With your hands, rub the sand/cornmeal so it is flat, and let it dry overnight in the tray/ cookie sheet.
6. Using the paper clip, skewer, or thumbtack, poke a hole in the side of the single-use cup, 1 cm up from the bottom of the cup.
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Note: This investigation is best performed outdoors or in an area in which it is easy to clean up wet sand/cornmeal and water. Do not dump any of the sand/cornmeal and water mixtures down the sink, because it can cause clogging.
4. On a separate sheet of paper, draw what the formed stream looks like.
Label where erosion and deposition occur along the streambed. Then take a photograph of your completed drawings of the stream to upload to the “Photographs” section of the Lab Worksheet.
5. Use the instructions below to calculate the values for the different physical stream features in the “Calculations” section of the Lab Worksheet. Record these values in Data Table 1 of the “Observations/Data Tables” section of the Lab Worksheet.
a. Sinuosity = curvy distance (cm)/straight distance (cm) (no units)
i. Use a piece of string to measure the distance from the mouth to the source
of the stream along the curve (curvy distance). Once you have used the string to trace the stream, hold each end of the string, straighten it, lay it flat, and mark where the two ends of the stream were. Use a ruler to measure this distance between the marks (the curvy distance).
ii. Use a ruler to measure the distance straight down the stream from the mouth to the source of the stream (no curve— straight distance).
iii. Now, divide the curvy distance by the straight distance. Note: If there is no curvy distance (if the stream forms straight down the table), then the sinuosity is 1.
How to Measure the Sinuosity of a Stream
https://players.bright- cove.net/17907428001/ HJ2y9UNi_default/index. html?videoId=5973736251001
b. Velocity = distance traveled (cm)/time to travel (s) (recorded in cm/s)
Obtain the small piece of foam (about
the size of a grain of rice). Hold the single-use cup over the raised edge of the stream table, allow water to flow out of the hole, and drop the piece of foam into the top of the stream. Time how long it takes (in seconds) for the piece of foam to float downstream. Divide the curvy distance by this time.
How to Measure the Velocity of a Stream
https://players.brightcove. net/17907428001/HJ2y9UNi_default/ index.html?videoId=5973739032001
c. Relief = highest elevation (cm) − lowest elevation (cm) (recorded in cm)
Measure the elevation change from the beginning to the end of the stream. Use the ruler to measure the highest point of the incline to the ground for the highest elevation and measure the bottom part of the tray to the ground for the lowest elevation.
How to Measure the Relief of a Stream
https://players.brightcove. net/17907428001/HJ2y9UNi_default/ index.html?videoId=5973740399001
d. Gradient = relief (cm)/total distance (cm) (rise/run) (no units)
Measure the slope of the stream; divide the relief by the total distance (calculated in Steps c and a). Note: If the stream is curvy, this distance is the curvy distance;
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ACTIVITY
ACTIVITY 1 continued
if it is not, then this distance is the straight distance.
How to Measure the Gradient of a Stream
https://players.brightcove. net/17907428001/HJ2y9UNi_default/ index.html?videoId=5973742678001
6. Gently pour the excess water from the stream table into the grass, and flatten the sand/ cornmeal out where the stream formed, making a uniform layer.
7. Repeat Steps 1–6 with the thinner book to obtain a more gradual stream formation.
8. While not required, if you feel particularly less than confident with your results from doing only one trial run, feel free to do multiple trials to test for validity.
ACTIVITY 2
A Scientific Method: Modeling Human Impacts on Stream Ecosystems
Note: In Activity 1, the heights of the source of the streams were altered to observe how streamflow and streambed formation were affected. In Activity 2, use your streamflow knowledge to design an experiment by altering a different characteristic. You will record the same calculations for your new experimental setup.
1. Design a procedure similar to Activity 1. Choose one height to test the trials and change a different variable to analyze the same calculations for stream movement
and formation throughout the streambed. Choose a variable to change that models how humans might modify a stream channel for good or for ill. Activities such as pre-digging
a stream, adding a dam or other features along the streambed, or adding plants along these areas are all common factors that
can be altered within a streambed. Feel
free to implement additional materials from your surroundings, such as using a rock to represent a dam, for example.
2. Hypothesize whether each of the four calculations (sinuosity, velocity, relief, and gradient) will increase, decrease, or stay the same, and include your reasoning in your choices. Record this in the “Hypotheses” section in your Lab Worksheet.
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3. Test your new experimental design by using the same procedure as in
Activity 1. On a separate sheet of paper,
draw what the formed stream looks like. Label where erosion and deposition occur along the streambed. Then take a photograph of your completed drawings of the stream to upload to the “Photographs” section of the Lab Worksheet.
4. Calculate the values of the four different stream features in the “Calculations” section of the Lab Worksheet. Record your findings in Data Table 2 of the “Observations/Data Tables” section of the Lab Worksheet.
5. While not required, if you feel particularly less than confident with your results from doing only one trial run, feel free to do multiple trials to test for validity.
Submission
Submit the following two documents to Waypoint for grading:
• Completed Lab Worksheet
• Completed report (using the Lab Report
Template)
Disposal and Cleanup
1. Dispose of the sand/cornmeal mixture either in the environment or in the household trash. Dispose of any other materials in the household trash, or clean them for reuse.
2. Sanitize the workspace, and wash your hands thoroughly.
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ACTIVITY
Lab Worksheet
Hypotheses
Activity 1.
Sinuosity hypothesis:
Activity 2.
Sinuosity hypothesis:
Velocity hypothesis:
Velocity hypothesis:
Relief hypothesis:
Relief hypothesis:
Gradient hypothesis:
Gradient hypothesis:
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Observations/Data Tables
Data Table 1.
Trial
Sinuosity
Velocity (cm/s)
Relief (cm)
Gradient
Thicker Book
1
2
3
Thinner Book
1
2
3
Data Table 2.
Variable changed: _________________________________________________________________________ Book thickness used: ______________________________________________________________________
Trial
Sinuosity
Velocity (cm/s)
Relief (cm)
Gradient
1
2
3
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ACTIVITY
Lab Worksheet continued Calculations
Activity 1.
Sinuosity:
curvy distance (cm)/straight distance (cm) = sinuosity (no units)
___________ / ____________ =
Both the curvy and straight distances are measurements taken from the stream formation in the stream table. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Velocity:
distance traveled (cm)/time it takes to travel (s) =
velocity (cm/s)
___________ / ____________ =
The distance a small piece of foam travels downstream divided by how long it takes to get downstream is the velocity. Refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Relief:
highest elevation (cm) – lowest elevation (cm) =
relief (cm)
___________ – ____________ =
Subtract the lowest elevation of the stream from the highest elevation of the stream to calculate the relief. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Gradient:
relief (cm)/total distance (cm) = gradient (no units) ___________ / ____________ =
Divide the relief by the total distance of the stream to calculate the gradient. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Activity 2.
Sinuosity:
curvy distance (cm)/straight distance (cm) = sinuosity (no units)
___________ / ____________ =
Both the curvy and straight distances are measurements taken from the stream formation in the stream table. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Velocity:
distance traveled (cm)/time it takes to travel (s) =
velocity (cm/s)
___________ / ____________ =
The distance a small piece of foam travels downstream divided by how long it takes to get downstream is the velocity. Refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Relief:
highest elevation (cm) – lowest elevation (cm) =
relief (cm)
___________ – ____________ =
Subtract the lowest elevation of the stream from the highest elevation of the stream to calculate the relief. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Gradient:
relief (cm)/total distance (cm) = gradient (no units) ___________ / ____________ =
Divide the relief by the total distance of the stream to calculate the gradient. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
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Photographs
Activity 1.
Activity 2.
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ACTIVITY
Lab Questions
Please answer the following entirely in your own words and in complete sentences:
Introduction
1. Background—What is important to know
about the topic of this lab? Use at least one outside source (other than course materials) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format. Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
2. Outcomes—What was the main purpose of this lab?
3. Hypotheses—What were your hypotheses for Activity 1? What were your hypotheses for Activity 2? Identify each hypothesis clearly, and explain your reasoning.
Materials and Methods
4. Using your own words, briefly describe
what materials and methods you used in each of the activities. Your answer should be sufficiently detailed so that someone reading it would be able to replicate what you did. Explain any measurements you made.
Discussion
5. Based upon the results of each activity,
explain whether you accepted or rejected your hypotheses and why.
6. What important information have you learned from this lab? Use at least one outside source (scholarly for full credit) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format. Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
7. What challenges did you encounter when doing this lab? Name at least one.
8. Based upon your results in Activity 2, what next step(s) might a scientist take to explore how humans affect stream ecosystems?
Literature Cited
9. List the references you used to answer these
questions. (Use APA format, and alphabetize by the last name.)
Now copy and paste your answers into the Lab Report Template provided. Include the data tables and photographs. You may wish to make minor edits to enhance the flow of your resulting lab report.
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NOTES
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ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Stream Morphology Investigation Manual
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PLEASE USE THE RESOURCES I AM GIVING BELOW:
Required Resources
Text
Bensel, T., & Turk, J. (2014). Contemporary environmental issues (2nd ed.). Retrieved from https://content.ashford.edu
Chapter 1: Ecosystems
Chapter 2: Human Population Dynamics
Chapter 4: Land Use Changes and Biodiversity Loss
Multimedia
Moovly. (2015, January 8). The ecological footprint explained (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/fACkb2u1ULY
This video provides information about what ecological footprints are and why they are measured and will assist you in your Ecological Footprints discussion this week. This video has closed captioning and a transcript.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Weekend Edition (Producers). (2010, August 28). ‘The sound of a snail’: A patient’s greatest comfort (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Audio podcast]. Retrieved from https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129475625?storyId=129475625
This article provides information on how a nature experience can happen anywhere and despite overwhelming obstacles, and will assist you in completing your Nature Experience Project you will begin this week. The full project is due in Week 5. This podcast has a transcript.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Web Pages
Global Footprint Network. (n.d.). What is your ecological footprint? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. Retrieved from http://www.footprintcalculator.org/
This web page provides an interactive calculator for determining your resource consumption and is necessary for completing your Ecological Footprints discussion this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
The United States Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Carbon footprint calculator (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/
This web page provides an interactive calculator for determining your greenhouse gas emissions and is necessary for completing the Ecological Footprints discussion this week.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Website
Water footprint calculator (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. (https://www.watercalculator.org)
This website provides an interactive calculator for determining your water consumption and is necessary for completing your Ecological Footprints discussion this week.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Supplemental Material
Carolina Distance Learning. (n.d.). Stream morphology investigation manual [PDF]. Retrieved from https://ashford.instructure.com
This lab manual provides background information on stream morphology and will assist you in your Stream Morphology Laboratory assignment. This manual is available for download in your online classroom.
Recommended Resources
Article
Carrington, D. (2018, March 12). What is biodiversity, and why does it matter to us? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. The Guardian. Retrieved from https://www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/12/what-is-biodiversity-and-why-does-it-matter-to-us
This article from The Guardian provides information about our global biodiversity crisis and may assist you in completing the Sustainable Living Guide Contributions, Part One of Four: Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystems assignment.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Multimedia
Biointeractive [HHMI Biointeractive]. (2015, April 8). Humans, biodiversity, and habitat loss – HHMI biointeractive video (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/1drkFgHbcWY
This video provides information about biodiversity loss and how people are contributing to it, and may assist you in completing your Sustainable Living Guide Contributions, Part One of Four: Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystems assignment. This video has closed captioning and a transcript
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
TED-Ed. (2015, April 20). Why is biodiversity so important? (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/GK_vRtHJZu4
This video provides information about biodiversity and why it is important, and may assist you in completing your Sustainable Living Guide Contributions, Part One of Four: Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystems assignment. This video has closed captioning and a transcript.
Accessibility Statement (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Privacy Policy (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.
Web Page
GreenFacts. (n.d.). Biodiversity & human well-being (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.. Retrieved from https://www.greenfacts.org/en/biodiversity/l-3/1-define-biodiversity.htm
This web page provides detailed information about global biodiversity issues and may assist you in completing the Sustainable Living Guide Contributions, Part One of Four: Sustaining Biodiversity and Ecosystems Assignment.
Accessibility Statement does not exist.
SCI207: Additional Lab Supplies Checklist
Week
Lab Title
Additional Supplies Needed (not in kit)
1
Stream Morphology
☐ Tray or cookie sheet (or something similar) ☐ 2–3 lb bag of sand or 1 lb bag (or more) of
cornmeal
☐ A single-use cup that can have a hole poked in it
(e.g., plastic yogurt cup, foam cup)
☐ Cup, such as glass, mug, or plastic cup ☐ Paper clip, skewer, or thumbtack (to poke a
hole in the single-use cup)
☐ 2 books, one approximately twice as thick as
the other
☐ Ruler (There is a ruler in the Equipment Kit if
you have already received it, or you can print
one at a website such as printable-ruler.net) ☐ Tap water
☐ 2 Plastic bags (to cover the books or objects you don’t want to get wet)
☐ Stopwatch (or cell phone with a timer) ☐ Camera (or cell phone capable of taking
photographs)
2
Properties of Soil: Agricultural and Water Availability Impacts
☐ Sheet of white paper ☐ 2 Soil samples
☐ Distilled water
☐ Tap water
☐ Liquid hand soap
☐ Scissors
☐ Stopwatch (or cell phone with a timer) ☐ Camera (or cell phone capable of taking
photographs)
3
Ground Water and Surface Water Interactions
☐ Water
☐Tape
☐ Plastic bowl/container
☐ Scissors
☐ Paper towels
☐ Stopwatch (or a cell phone with a timer) ☐ Camera (or cell phone capable of taking
photographs)
SCI207: Additional Lab Supplies Checklist
4
Greenhouse Gases and Sea Level Rise
☐ Blank white paper ☐ Water
☐ Printout of page 12 ☐ Freezer
☐ Salt, 3 Tsp
☐ Scissors
☐ Pencil
☐ 2 Coins (dimes or pennies) ☐ Timer
☐ Teaspoon
☐ Camera (or cell phone capable of taking
photographs)
5
Lab Worksheet
Hypotheses
Activity 1.
Sinuosity hypothesis
Velocity hypothesis:
Relief hypothesis:
Gradient hypothesis:
Activity 2.
Sinuosity hypothesis:
Velocity hypothesis:
Relief hypothesis:
Gradient hypothesis:
continued on next page
ACTIVITY
Lab Worksheet continued
Observations/Data Tables
Data Table 1.
Trial Sinuosity Velocity (cm/s) Relief (cm) Gradient (cm)
Thicker Book 1
2
3
Thinner Book 1
2
3
Data Table 2.
Variable changed: Book thickness used:
Trial Sinuosity Velocity (cm/s) Relief (cm) Gradient (cm)
1
2
3
continued on next page
Calculations
Activity 1. Sinuosity:
curvy distance (cm)/straight distance (cm) = sinuosity (no units)
Activity 2. Sinuosity:
curvy distance (cm)/straight distance (cm) = sinuosity (no units)
/ = / =
Both the curvy and straight distances are measurements taken from the stream formation in the stream table. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Velocity:
distance traveled (cm)/time it takes to travel (s) = velocity (cm/s)
Both the curvy and straight distances are measurements taken from the stream formation in the stream table. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Velocity:
distance traveled (cm)/time it takes to travel (s) = velocity (cm/s)
/ = / =
The distance a small piece of paper travels downstream divided by how long it takes to get downstream is the velocity. Refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Relief:
highest elevation (cm) – lowest elevation (cm) = relief (cm)
The distance a small piece of paper travels downstream divided by how long it takes to get downstream is the velocity. Refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Relief:
highest elevation (cm) – lowest elevation (cm) = relief (cm)
– = – =
Subtract the lowest elevation of the stream from the highest elevation of the stream to calculate the relief. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Gradient:
relief (cm)/total distance (cm) = gradient (cm)
Subtract the lowest elevation of the stream from the highest elevation of the stream to calculate the relief. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Gradient:
relief (cm)/total distance (cm) = gradient (cm)
/ = / =
Divide the relief by the total distance of the stream to calculate the gradient. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
Divide the relief by the total distance of the stream to calculate the gradient. Please refer to Activity 1 for more details.
continued on next page
ACTIVITY
Lab Worksheet continued
Photographs
Activity 1
Activity 2.
Lab Questions
Please answer the following entirely in your own words and in complete sentences: Introduction
1. Background—What is important to know about the topic of this lab? Use at least one outside source (other than course materials) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format. Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
[Write your answers here]
2. Outcomes—What was the main purpose of this lab?
[Write your answers here]
3. Hypotheses—What were your hypotheses for Activity 1? What were your hypotheses for Activity 2? Identify each hypothesis clearly, and explain your reasoning.
[Write your answers here]
Materials and Methods
4. Using your own words, briefly describe what materials and methods you used in each of the activities. Your answer should be sufficiently detailed so that someone reading it would be able to replicate what you did. Explain any measurements you made.
[Write your answers here]
Discussion
5. Based upon the results of each activity, explain whether you accepted or rejected your hypotheses and why.
[Write your answers here]
6. What important information have you learned from this lab? Use at least one outside source (scholarly for full credit) to answer this question. Cite the source using APA format.
Answers should be 5–7 sentences in length.
[Write your answers here]
7. What challenges did you encounter when doing this lab? Name at least one.
[Write your answers here]
8. Based upon your results in Activity 2, what next step(s) might a scientist take to explore how humans affect stream ecosystems?
[Write your answers here]
Literature Cited
9. List the references you used to answer these questions. (Use APA format and alphabetize by the last name.)
[Write your answers here]
Name of Lab
Your Name
SCI 207: Our Dependence Upon the Environment
Instructor’s Name
Date
*This template will enable you to turn your lab question responses into a polished Lab Report. Simply copy paste your answers to the lab questions, as well as all data tables, graphs, and photographs, in the locations indicated. Before you submit your Lab Report, it is recommended that you run it through Turnitin, using the student folder, to ensure protection from accidental plagiarism. Please delete this purple text before submitting your report.
Name of Lab
Introduction
Copy and paste your response to Question One here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Two here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Three here.
Materials and Methods
Copy and paste your response to Question Four here.
Results
Copy and paste your completed Data Tables here.
Copy and paste any Graphs here. Include a numbered figure caption below it, in APA format.
Copy and paste your Photographs here, in the order, they were taken in the lab. Include numbered figure captions below them, in APA format.
Discussion
Copy and paste your response to Question Five here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Six here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Seven here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Eight here.
References
Copy and paste your response to Question Nine here.
Name of Lab
Your Name
SCI 207: Our Dependence Upon the Environment
Instructor’s Name
Date
*This template will enable you to turn your lab question responses into a polished Lab Report. Simply copy paste your answers to the lab questions, as well as all data tables, graphs, and photographs, in the locations indicated. Before you submit your Lab Report, it is recommended that you run it through Turnitin, using the student folder, to ensure protection from accidental plagiarism. Please delete this purple text before submitting your report.
Name of Lab
Introduction
Copy and paste your response to Question One here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Two here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Three here.
Materials and Methods
Copy and paste your response to Question Four here.
Results
Copy and paste your completed Data Tables here.
Copy and paste any Graphs here. Include a numbered figure caption below it, in APA format.
Copy and paste your Photographs here, in the order, they were taken in the lab. Include numbered figure captions below them, in APA format.
Discussion
Copy and paste your response to Question Five here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Six here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Seven here.
Copy and paste your response to Question Eight here.
References
Copy and paste your response to Question Nine here.
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