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Today will feature
two areas of investigation by LDEO scientists.
"Could Global Warming Mean Less Sunshine and
Less Rainfall?"
with guest
scientist Beate Liepert
Over the last four
decades, scientists have observed a 1.3% per decade decline in the
amount of sun light reaching the Earth's surface. This phenomenon,
coined “global dimming” is due to increasing air pollution and
changes in clouds that are impeding the suns ability to penetrate.
Scientists believe
that the combination of growing quantities of man-made aerosol particles
in the atmosphere and more moisture are causing the cloud cover to
thicken. Despite this decline in solar radiation, the Earth’' surface
continues to warm. An explanation for this paradox is that a warmer
world may mean a wetter and dimmer world.
Results of the latest
research on this subject and assessments of what happens when air
pollution is reduced will be discussed.
.JPG)
"The
Plumeflow Project"
with guest scientist Martin Stute
The
NSF supported Plumeflow project allows students to explore the basic principles
of groundwater flow and transport by using portable physical models that show a
vertical cross section through two aquifers. Each model consists of a small tank
filled with a sand and gravel aquifer separating by clay, a bottle feeding water
into the model on one end, a drain on the other, and plastic tubing "wells" that
allow pumping of groundwater and the introduction of contaminants (in the form
of dyes). Students interact with the model to visualize groundwater flow and
contaminant transport, interactions between surface waters and groundwater, and
various water resources management and cleanup strategies. The models, which are
commercially available (http://www.uwsp.edu/water/portage/teach/gwmodel.htm)
were tested in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms in a number of New
York City schools and curriculum was developed in collaboration with the
teachers (http://research.radlab.columbia.edu/Emsi/edout/sandtanks/)
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