Description
*NOTE: these assignments should be done twice as if two different students did them*
(Assignment 1) Lesson 18: Arid Landscapes
What is causing desertification? Where is it happening on Earth? Can we reverse, prevent, or stop desertification?
Draw a diagram of any type of sand dune, including the wind direction, windward slope, leeward slope, and slip face.
Let’s investigate Burning Man and Black Rock Playa
Read SF State researchers return to Burning Man for a new look at the festival’s environmental impact.Links to an external site.
Check out USGS Black Rock PlayaLinks to an external site. and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM)Links to an external site. who manages Black Rock Playa.
Do an internet search about Burning Man Flooding in 2023.
What to write:
Give a summary of the Burning Man study. Make sure to answer what is the climate and weather like at Burning Man. Why was the study conducted? What were they measuring? Why does it matter?
Also answer, what is the BLM and what does it do?
From the USGS imagery, list 3 features you see that are in chapter 18 and explaining how they are formed.
What happened and why did Burning Man Flood?
Lesson 19: Coastal Processes and Environments
Using the Internet, research the tallest wave ever seen off the shores of California. How tall was it? When/where was it? How did someone measure it?
______ is the term for the distance between the top of two waves or the distance between the bottom of two waves.
What are the perfect conditions for a surfer? Waves, water, temperature, wind?
We live on the Pacific Ring of Fire. Do we have tsunamis? Why or why not?
What is beach nourishment and why is it needed? Is it a good investment for a costal community? Why or why not?
Research the history of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego. How did it begin? What are some of the current projects they are studying there today?
Find a picture on the internet of a coral species that you find “pretty”. Draw it or paste the picture here. Give its name and where it can be found in the world. What is happening to coral reefs?
Details:
Due at 11:59 PM on Sunday each week of the quarter.
Canvas will check to see what percentage of your homework is copy and pasted from the Internet or external sources. When submitting homework, look for the “similarity index.” 25% is the maximum. Any homework 26% or greater will be given zero points. Your work is to show me what you learned and know, not what is online.
If the percent is greater than 25%, simply re-write your answers in your own words.
DO NOT write the questions, just the answers.
Canvas will let you resubmit your homework after several hours.
When asked to draw in the homework question, you can draw it by hand and take a photo, draw it with a drawing program, or draw it and scan it with the other answers. Whatever works for you, but it must be drawn by you.
When you are asked to search or find something on the internet, provide the link. You do not have to cite, but paste the source with the question.
(assignment 2) Geography News
What is the latest news in Physical Geography? You are about to find out!
Prepare
This week, you are going to share a news article about the latest happenings in Physical Geography. This article must be relevant to our coursework but does not have to be about any lesson in particular.
*As part of our on-line etiquette, please be careful when posting links to websites. Sometimes websites have good information, but the advertisements on the page are inappropriate. Remember that the whole class will be directed to the site and we need to avoid spam and viruses.
Post
List the title and paste the url of one article you read.
Summarize the article in your own words. 3-4 sentences.
Explain why you chose to read that particular article.
(assignment 3) Lab 5 Information: Land Cover Classification
Getting Started:
For this lab, we are going to be making land cover observations and estimating land cover percentages using GLOBE Land CoverLinks to an external site.. Start by reading Taking Land Cover MeasurementsLinks to an external site. and watching the video below. Read Land Cover Science Links to an external site.to prepare for your measurements and lab report. Make sure to watch all videos on the science page.
What can remote sensing tell us?
Instead of a question or hypothesis, we are going to do an investigation. Check out the video above or click the video link hereLinks to an external site. for more information. As you learned in Lesson 2, remote sensing is the study of an object or surface from a distance by using various instruments, including aircraft, satellites, and other spacecraft. Remote sensing uses different imagery methods to capture different regions of the electromagnetic spectrum which allows us to see beyond visible light.
Check out The Remote Sensing Classroom Links to an external site.. You can return to the main lesson pages by clicking the home button at the bottom of the classroom screen. Complete the lessons on Landsat’s Orbit, 30-M Resolution, and Landsat Bands. You will use this to answer 2 questions in your lab report.
Let’s check out NDVI- Normalized Difference Vegetation Index. What can the NDVI tell us about biomes and their amount of insolation, temperature, and rainfall or water availability?
Open the NDVI Maps of the San Joaquin Valley RegionLinks to an external site., March 2022 and March 2023. There is a slider in the middle of the imagery which you can drag across the screen to see the difference between 2022 and 2023.
In your lab report, analyze this image and compare the differences in rainfall and water availability between the 2022 and 2023. What does this NDVI map say about the soil-water budget/balance in 2022 and 2023? (page 350 of your textbook).
Procedure:
Watch this video on how to use the app and take a land cover observation and classify the land cover types according to the MUC, Modified UNESCO Classification. This video is what you will be doing in the field and what you will summarize in the methods section of your lab report. Check out this abbreviated guide to MUC Download abbreviated guide to MUCor this extensive MUC field guide Download extensive MUC field guidefor more information. The MUC is the land cover types that GLOBE prompts you to fill in. These are what you will be entering in on your data sheets under “MUC Land Cover Description and site percentages”.
You can also use Taking Land Cover MeasurementsLinks to an external site. to create the methods section of your report.
Fill out the Lab 5: Land Cover Classification Data Sheets Download Lab 5: Land Cover Classification Data Sheets. You are only required to survey 1 site. Make sure to take at least one personal site photo outside the app for your lab report!
Create your report
See Lab Report Guidelines
MAKE A TITLE FOR YOUR LAB REPORT
INTRODUCTION
Why study land cover?
Why does NASA want this data?
Key terms
METHODS
Site Sketch with figure caption.
Explain how you took your observations
RESULTS
At least 1 photo the site you surveyed with a figure caption including the MUC Land Cover description(s) and site percentages.
What we are trying to tell others in our lab report is how we classified the land. Basically, what were your percent estimates?
This is the same data you are putting in your data sheet under “MUC Land Cover Description and site percentages”
Check out the screen shot, but what you put in GLOBE as the land cover should be listed. Estimate the total for the site- you do not need each direction separately.
Your data sheets
You can say “See attachment” and attach your data sheets separately or you can add the table in to your lab report if you can copy and paste it from your data sheet.
DISCUSSION
Why might a park in a city not show up on a land cover map?
How does Landsat 8 capture imagery?
Compare Google Earth and Landsat’s 30-m resolution. Do you think it is representative of the landscape? Why or why not?
Analyze the NDVI of the San Joaquin Valley and compare the differences in rainfall, water availability, and the soil water budget between the 2022 and 2023.
What did you find interesting from your results or the process?
CONCLUSION
What we (as a scientific community) can learn from your measurements
What you did
DELIVERABLE
A lab report in either .pdf, .doc, .docx
Lab reports must be typed.
Attached or in the lab report- your data sheets.
(Assignment of Evaluating) (This one needs to be done once) a literature review section of a research article. You may select a topic of your choice.
Note. This is not a summary of the research article.
Include an APA citation of the article used.
Submit your evaluation by Sunday as a Word document.
Rubric
Literature Review Critique
Literature Review Critique
Criteria Ratings Pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeElements
10 pts
Paper addresses all key elements required and provides more than the required 2 references goes beyond the parameters of the assignment.
8 pts
Paper addresses the key elements required and meets the parameters of the assignment.
6 pts
Paper attempts to address a few of the key elements required but is missing information.
4 pts
Paper does not address the key elements required of the Paper.
0 pts
No Marks
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeAnalysis and Evidence
10 pts
Paper shows an in-depth analysis with a firm understanding of the concepts. Evidence is relevant with a strong connection to the main point.
8 pts
Shows a level of analysis with a clear understanding of concepts. Evidence is used to support the Paper but some is unclear or irrelevant.
6 pts
Paper provides some analysis, but connections made are unclear or inaccurate. Some evidence used but does not clearly support the analysis.
4 pts
Lacks an in-depth analysis and fails to provide an understanding of the concepts. No evidence used or evidence does not support the analysis.
0 pts
No Marks
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeStructure and adherence to APA format
10 pts
Paper is organized well, follows a logical structure, and transitions well. All content presented are coherent and clearly states points.
8 pts
Organized logically and flows smoothly. Most content presented are coherent, transitions well, and clearly states points. Only a few areas seem disconnected and vague.
6 pts
Shows some organizational structure, however not all parts are cohesive. Some areas are difficult to follow and lack development.
4 pts
Flow of the Paper is difficult to follow. Overall, Paper lacks cohesion and clarity.
0 pts
No Marks
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeGrammar and Spelling
10 pts
Paper follows proper structure, grammar and spelling. Little to no errors throughout the entire Paper.
8 pts
Paper follows proper structure, grammar, and spelling. Few errors are shown.
6 pts
Paper follows some proper structure, grammar, and spelling but contains enough errors to distract the viewer.
4 pts
Paper contains many errors in grammar, and spelling.
0 pts
No Marks
10 pts
This criterion is linked to a Learning OutcomeCitation
10 pts
Sources used follow guidelines required by the college. There are little, to no errors made.
8 pts
Sources used follow guidelines required by the college; however, there are a few errors.
6 pts
Minimal sources used and inconsistently follows guidelines required by the university.
4 pts
No sources used or sources used do not follow proper guidelines required by the university.
0 pts
No Marks
10 pts
Total Points: 50
