CASE STUDY: ANALYSIS OF CALIFORNIA MINING SITES AND THE FEASABILITY OF MONITORED NATURAL ATTENUATION
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The purpose of this paper is to consider the feasibility of monitored natural attenuation (MNA) as a remedial strategy for four mining sites in California, and calculate how effective the results would be. Using data from the sequential extraction procedure (SEP) for MNA, major sinks for treated soils are recognized. These major sinks are used to determine a method for removing different levels (mg/kg) of contaminants (Pb2+, Cu2+, Hg2+, Cr2+). Conclusions of studies focuses on SEP data and site specific data, such as soil texture, exchange and organic matter content.
This paper is relevant to the ELOs Global Awareness and Program Competence. Analyzing different locations with different soil types, parent material, and geologic formations helped my Global Awareness by introducing me to new chemical and physical scenarios. This case study involved prior knowledge from Soil Science, Field Morphology, and Geology; relevant to Program Competence because the assignment integrated different theories and concepts all within one major field. |
CHANGES IN LAND USAGE IN ATLANTIC COUNTY AND GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP
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The purpose of this paper is to analysis the change in land use and determine if there is a correlation between the rate of urban sprawl, and the loss of forested acres. Data from these maps portrayed a correlation between loss of acreage and urban development. Atlantic County and Galloway township experienced an increase in urban land acreage of 14,563 acres and 3,553 acres, from 1995 to 2015/ Atlantic County and Galloway Township both lost a percentage of forested area from 1995 to 2015, nearly 153,710 and 52,806 acres.
This paper is relevant to the ELOs Teamwork & Collaboration, and Information Literacy & Research Skills. Working with partners, analyzing different types of changes in land use and learning how to collaborate all of the groups work into one paper is a really good experience for the work field. This paper involved using geographic information systems (GIS) to display changes in population and acreage. Using GIS data for this lab involved research skills and the ability to locate, evaluate, and use information to successfully demonstrate a trend in land usage. |
Atlantic County Land Use
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WATER BUDGET FOR MONO LAKE
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The purpose of this paper was to establish a water budget with a surface elevation of 6,392ft for Mono Lake. Annual change in storage was determined by gathering data on the rate of inputs, and he rate of outputs. In order to raise the elevation of Mono Lake 14ft, the managers will have to reduce the current diversions by 10% so that an annual surplus is established on the net water level. The only constant within this system that remains the same is groundwater inflow, and after 25 years Mono Lake will reach its target elevation.
This paper is relevant to the ELO Quantitative Reasoning because it required the ability to understand working with numbers and confidently displaying mathematical concepts used in hydrology. This assignment also proved relevance to Information Literacy & Research Skills because data on the rates and sources of inputs were required in order to calculate the duration of time this method will take to rise. In the future I would be interested in doing studies similar to this assessment. Being able to predict the surplus or deficit of a water body will be important in the future dealing with climate change and sea level rise. |
CASE STUDY: LAND DESERTIFICATION IN CALIFORNIA FROM SALT
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The purpose of this paper is to analyze 4 farms in California all experiencing different rates of salinity in the soil. California is known as the breadbasket of the World, producing high yields thanks to the warm climate, high levels of precipitation and deep soils. The 4 farms analyzed in this case study have unique physicochemical properties (such as pH, moisture content, and soil organic matter), and different textural classifications. Web Soil Survey was used to gather information at each site including particle size analysis and land scape morphology.
This paper is relevant to the ELOs Teamwork and Collaboration, and Program Competence. Practicing analyzing salinity in different types of soils and climates helped gain skills towards expanding my knowledge on different areas, with different soils and climate patterns. Being able to work together and collaborate all the group members thoughts was good practice joining with other to achieve a common goal. Personally, I enjoy doing case studies and analyzing a specific area for potential risk of land desertification and will hopefully continue to study agricultural soils around America. |
BUILDING YOUR OWN SPECTROSCOPE AT HOME
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The purpose of this lab was to successfully build two spectroscopes and analyze how the performance of the spectroscopes differ when using different dispersing elements; a DVD and a CD. I built my spectroscope using cardboard paper, tape, a LED flash light, a 1" glass mirror, and a 1000 lines/mm linear diffraction grating. Using my cell phone camera and the color spectra App, different dilutions of water and food coloring dye were measured for grey value and distance (pixels). The lower the concentration of food coloring the higher the gray scale values were.
This experiment is relevant to the ELO Creativity & Innovation, and Quantitative Reasoning. Making an at home spectroscope helped me practice my ability to generate ideas, recognize opportunities in problem solving and distinguish relationships between the different correlation coefficients between parts of the spectroscope. |