Field Investigation of Ozone and Weather Patterns in Houston

I.                   Brief Description of the Project

·        on-going field investigation of the correlations between weather variables and air pollution in Houston

II. Educational Goals

·        Study encompasses science process skills, field investigations, study of chemical interactions, weather, and the effects of human impact on earth systems

·        Investigation of a problem with real-world connections

·        Students experience the excitement of doing real science

·        Internet research

·         Integration of science, technology, & mathematics using spreadsheets to make coordinate graphs relating ozone levels and weather variables

·        Writing persuasive letters

II.                Planning the Project

·        Implementation plan developed at CIRES outreach program at University of Colorado at Boulder

·        Researching accurate, easy to do, and inexpensive method of testing ground level ozone

·        Choice of 1 hour ozone test papers and the Zikua ozone test reader

·        Preliminary study in May 2002 showing that results correspond well with TNRCC data for nearby Hedwig Village monitoring station

·        Preliminary study showed 6th graders could easily perform the ozone test and were excited about the investigation                                                                                                                                    

V. Implementation

·        Study began in September 2002

·        Teams of 4 students rotate ozone testing each day

·        Data collected in morning and afternoon

·        Data entered by students into spreadsheet  & graph created of results

·        Team compares school values with other Houston areas on TNRCC website

·        Team reports data to two national data bases, GLOBE & Cyber March

·        Team reports school results, citywide values & any watches or warnings to class

VI.              Additional Needs

·        Additional ozone test card readers

·        Additional ozone test paper

·        More accurate device for measuring wind speed and other weather variables

·        Calibrated sun photometer to measure haze

·        Ozone badges and test paper for home testing in student’s neighborhoods

VI.              Community Education

·        Description of ozone study and results posted on school website

·        Reporting on student-produced TV news program on daily ozone level at school

·        Testing ozone levels in students’ neighborhoods

·        Students making a video or power point presentation on ozone to explain their results to their families and educate them about clean air issues

·        Field trip for students and interested parents to visit areas where major sources of ozone pollution are located and conduct ozone tests there

·        Students enter ozone data in two national data bases, and compare ozone levels in Houston with ozone data from other similar cities in the United States

·        Students write persuasive letters to share the first-hand knowledge they have gained about clean air solutions with elected officials   

Budget Proposal 

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