pHocus on RainpHocus on RainKey Peninsula Middle SchoolKey Peninsula Middle School

Peninsula High SchoolPeninsula High School

Gig Harbor, WAGig Harbor, WA

AbstractThe purpose of this investigation is to The purpose of this investigation is to determine if there is a correlation between determine if there is a correlation between weather front direction and pH of local weather front direction and pH of local precipitation samples.   As a weather front precipitation samples.   As a weather front passes over a highly populated area, passes over a highly populated area, atmospheric pollution will be picked up causing atmospheric pollution will be picked up causing a more acidic precipitation.  Students will a more acidic precipitation.  Students will individually collect precipitation at a defined individually collect precipitation at a defined site and test for pH.  There will be 250 sites site and test for pH.  There will be 250 sites and data will be entered on a school district and data will be entered on a school district website.  This data will be correlated with the website.  This data will be correlated with the path of the weather frontpath of the weather front..

Question and Hypothesis Question: Does the Question: Does the

direction of a weather front direction of a weather front affect the pH of the affect the pH of the precipitation on the Gig precipitation on the Gig Harbor peninsula?Harbor peninsula?

Hypothesis: If a weather Hypothesis: If a weather front passes over a highly front passes over a highly populated area, then the populated area, then the precipitation will have a precipitation will have a lower pH because lower pH because atmospheric pollution can atmospheric pollution can produce acidic produce acidic precipitation. precipitation.

Significance

The Gig Harbor peninsula has three major The Gig Harbor peninsula has three major population centers in close proximity. There is population centers in close proximity. There is concern that these population centers concern that these population centers contribute to acid rain. contribute to acid rain.

By collecting data from a large geographical By collecting data from a large geographical area, students can determine if the direction of area, students can determine if the direction of the weather front correlates to a decreased pH the weather front correlates to a decreased pH in the precipitation.in the precipitation.

Standards

State Benchmark 1.2.1: Analyze how the State Benchmark 1.2.1: Analyze how the parts of a system interconnect and influence parts of a system interconnect and influence each other.each other.

State Benchmark 1.3.3: Observe and State Benchmark 1.3.3: Observe and describe that substances may react describe that substances may react chemically to form new substances with chemically to form new substances with different chemical properties.different chemical properties.

State Benchmark 2.1.2: Generate a logical State Benchmark 2.1.2: Generate a logical plan for a simple field investigation.plan for a simple field investigation.

Materials/Methods Materials per student:Materials per student:

1 500 mL plastic cup1 500 mL plastic cup30 pH test strips30 pH test stripsDigital cameraDigital camera

Methods:Methods:1. Students will define their site.1. Students will define their site.

2.2. Students will place cups at their selected site.Students will place cups at their selected site.

3.3. When precipitation amount completely does not cover the bottom When precipitation amount completely does not cover the bottom of the cup, the precipitation will be dumped.of the cup, the precipitation will be dumped.

4.4. Record the pH in lab journal.Record the pH in lab journal.

5.5. Enter data on school district website. Enter data on school district website.

6.6. When precipitation amounts cover the bottom of the cup, students When precipitation amounts cover the bottom of the cup, students will test for pH level.will test for pH level.

Camera Use

Students will photograph surrounding areas.  This Students will photograph surrounding areas.  This information will be displayed in the classroom on a information will be displayed in the classroom on a map of the Puget Sound area.  This information will map of the Puget Sound area.  This information will help identify potential ground sources of factors that help identify potential ground sources of factors that contribute to acid rain. contribute to acid rain.

Students will photograph their data collecting site Students will photograph their data collecting site paying particular attention to surrounding physical paying particular attention to surrounding physical features. features.

Students will photograph clouds and construct a GIF.  Students will photograph clouds and construct a GIF.  This data will demonstrate cloud direction.This data will demonstrate cloud direction.

Data Transformation

Students will construct an isoline map showing Students will construct an isoline map showing similar pH areas on the Gig Harbor peninsula. similar pH areas on the Gig Harbor peninsula.

Students will graph over time of the average pH Students will graph over time of the average pH levels on the peninsula. levels on the peninsula.

Students will determine if there is a correlation Students will determine if there is a correlation between lower levels of pH and the weather between lower levels of pH and the weather front passing over populated areas.front passing over populated areas.