Micro-climate+Hack

Areas of Study: (Monitor micro-climates and mini-crops remotely using robots) (Investigate surface soil temperatures and humidity) (Experimenting to get ground cover to hold the most moisture and carbon) Using ground cover to alter the micro-climate of surface soil was inspired by Allan Savory's TED Talk. [|How to Green the World's Deserts and Reverse Climate Change]

The idea of this project is that different micro-climates would be created in small surface soil plots. Sensors and rovers would be assembled and used to monitor the different surface soil conditions. The amount of carbon in plants would be estimated. Concrete hands-on measurement methods would be used to facilitate the understanding of digital measurements and calculations. These activities would complement the study of desertification, climate change and carbon-sequestration.

(The following would be plausible if created a piece at a time and incorporated into a STEM program.)

Surface soil conditions could be measured using sensors connected to microprocessors assembled by the students. http://www.amazon.com/Environmental-Monitoring-Arduino-Building-Devices/dp/1449310567/ref=pd_sim_b_2 http://www.amazon.com/Building-Wireless-Sensor-Networks-Processing/dp/0596807732/ref=pd_sim_b_2 http://www.amazon.com/Making-Things-Talk-Sensors-Networks/dp/1449392431

Rovers could be assembled by students to monitor surface soil conditions in a few areas. http://www.amazon.com/Make-extending-MINDSTORMS-open-source-electronics/dp/1449321062/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368983762&sr=1-1&keywords=lego+arduino http://www.amazon.com/Arduino-LEGO-Projects-Jon-Lazar/dp/1430249293/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1368983762&sr=1-2&keywords=lego+arduino Students would also use sensors to monitor the areas to assess the abilities of their rovers.

Students would prepare many different square meter plots of ground to monitor. (Some for two or three years) Some plot would be bare ground. Other plots would have varying amounts of mulch or litter. Chia plants would be grown on additional plots. Various techniques of mulching the plants and letting them self seed could be explored. The statistical sampling of the chia plants could be done to estimate the amount of carbon they contain with different amounts of mulching for different plots.

To determine the amount of carbon in the chia samples could be determined by mass, heating water and producing electricity under a fume hood using a balance and this device. http://www.rei.com/product/846334/biolite-wood-burning-campstove With their micro-climate measuring skills, students could then map the micro-climates of the campus and natural settings. The amount of electricity produced could be measured in a very simple and concrete way using a motor, wheel, and bicycle odometer /speedometer. These concrete measurements should promote an understanding calculations and digital measurements.

Chia