Gasses and Climate Change

Combustion Demo

Hypothesis: I think that when Miss Leland ignites the gas in the container, it will have a small "eruption" and a small amount of black soot will come out if the top of the bottle.

Observation: When Miss Leland lighted the gas in the bottle, it shot across the room while on fire (it probably was about 8 feet or so).

Today I learned that combustion can cause a warming affect on the Earth. This change is caused by emmissions that are mostly from humans.

Co2 Gas Demo:

Hypothesis: I think the Co2 gas is going to put out the candles with a small "explosion".

Observation: When the gas was introduced to the surrounding air around the lit candles, the flames died out.

Hydrogen Gas Demo:

Hypothesis: If the liquid is combined with the metal, it will turn into a gas.

I learned that Hydrogen could be used in place of fossil fuels.

Observation: my hypothesis was correct but then she lit it on fire, it was ignited and sounded like it was sizzling very loudly. The zinc is completely dissolved and the solution left is fizzy and grey.

Air Pressure Demo:

Hypothesis: for the first test, I think that when the air vapor is introduced to the ice water, you will be able to see it because it will be like when you breathe outside in the winter time. For the second test, I think there will be bubbles because the gas will be escaping from the drowned can.

Observation: For the first test, absolutely noing happened when the can was introduced to the ice water. For the second test, the can crumpled when introduced upside down to the ice water!

Research: "Researchers have found that changes in air pressure over the past 50 years bear the fingerprint of human influence." Humans have caused air pressures to fluctuate due to our emissions. A map showing what the actual air pressure and the one without human emissions was completely different.

5 Questions About Chernobyl

1. Was everyone evacuated all at once, or different priorities at different times?

2. Was it really just a few worker's faults for the explosion or was there more to it?

3. Will it ever be safe for humans to live in again? If so, when?

4. Why were the animals who live there not harmed by the nuclear explosion?

5. What parts of Ukraine were effected?

My Questions for the panel

1. Even though there is still a microscopic amount of chemicals left in a completed blocked off area, how can you prove it's not in the air?

2. How do you plan to deal with the people who no longer want to live there due to the way it's effecting there family, but can't due to the economic crisis of today.

3. Are you going to fund medical needs for the people who have been or already were effected?

4. By a show of hands, how many people have not been effected in anyway, whether it be you or a family member or a friend, by the chemicals in the canal.

5. About how long does EPA estimate for the chemicals to biodegrade, if ever?

Catalyst 8/30

1.) What caused the toxic waste to begin being pushed to the surface?

The Blizzard of 1977 caused the "bathtub effect" on the canal. With all the winter snow, rain, etc. caused an early spring and an early thaw, and all the water was forced underneath the canal from this clay pit to the top and it started oozing out of the top of the canal.

2.) What are some of the health hazards associated with the chemicals dumped there?

There were over 400 chemicals found there. Including lead, arsenic, lindane, a variety of other pesticides, benzene, and many more. Many of these cause cancer, some of them cause liver problems, liver disease, many of them cause central nervous system problems and some of them cause birth defects.

3.) Besides humans how are other parts of the ecosystem affected by this?

The chemicals flowed to a nearby set of creeks. The chemicals had made there way underground to the creeks. The EPA wanted to dredge the creek.

Hazards of Oil Dispersants

Long term effects of dispersants the physical effects on marine life.

"74% of the oil had either been directly captured, burned or skimmed; evaporated at the surface; been consumed by micro-organisms; or dissolved or dispersed into microscopic droplets under the water... That left just 26% of the original spill still present, either in sheen or in weathered tarballs, on the shore or buried in sediment."

There is a lot of this "74% gone" inside the animals or on them! So technically it isn't gone, it's just "misplaced".

8th grade dlc reflection

three things i want to know about chemical dispersants are:

1. why isn't there a safer one, that isn't toxic

2. how does it effect the animals in a negative AND postive way, if any

3. how does effect humans and the environment