SON GCE Portfolio

H2O Unit 3: CLIMATE CHANGE  by SN INTRODUCTION: In this unit, my classmates and I have been studying climate change and how it effects the future of our planet. The safety zone for carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere is anything below 350 PPM (parts per million). Right now, as the amount of fossil fuels being used throughout the world is increasing, the CO2 level in our atmosphere has reached well over 400 parts per million. This means, the Carbon Cycle is off balance and there is more CO2 entering our atmosphere than being absorbed from it. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that traps heat in our atmosphere and keeps it warm. The more greenhouses gases build up in our atmosphere, the warmer our planet becomes. When the balance is upset like this, climate change occurs, producing stronger storms, warmer temperatures, and melting glaciers. For this Action Project, our assignment was to choose a city in a different part of the world and learn about the impact of climate chan

INTRODUCTION: For the H2O Unit 2 Field Experience: 4.5 Billion, we went to the Jardine Water Plant in Chicago, near Navy Pier. This plant filters all of the water for Chicagoland. I learned that the plant takes water directly from Lake Michigan and filters it for safe drinking and everyday use. After the water is pumped to the plant, it goes through many stages of filtration. First, chemicals are added (chlorine, flouride, and aluminum sulfate) to remove particles and dangerous microorganisms. After the chemicals are added, the water is filtered through layers of sand and gravel in large pools. This is the part of the plant that resembles ground water filtration. For this Action Project, I built a homemade filter based on the cycle water goes through in nature. QUESTION: How would I thrive in a water crisis if I built a water filter designed after groundwater filtration? HYPOTHESIS: By using a few household items and some materials found in nature, a homemade water filter can be as ef