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toc = ABOUT THE TEAM =

=** STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE **= =** ﻿Step 1 - Preliminary Question **= These are the three questions that were created from each feature of interest:
 * Are there parts of the earth where noctilucent clouds are more likely to form?
 * Are rivers in certain parts of the world or certain climates more likely to flood than others?
 * In what parts of the world do the largest snowstorms form?

The question that was decided to be best was: **Are rivers in certain parts of the world or certain climates more likely to flood than others?**

=** Step 2 - Initial Observations **= Websites used to view astronaut photos:
 * [] - Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth
 * [] - NASA Earth Observatory


 * Astronaut Photos**
 * **Image ID#**   ||    **Location**    ||    **Color of Water**    ||    **Climate**    ||    **Type of Data**    ||
 * 1. [|ISS026-E-17421]   ||  Brisbane, Australia  ||  Red-brown  || [|Humid subtropical]  , drought from ‘01-08, dust storms/tropical cyclones-rare   ||    Astronaut Photo    ||
 * 2. [|ISS005-E-10000]  ||  Vác, Hungary  ||  Light brown/tan  || [|Continental]  , frequent rainshowers   ||^   ||
 * 3. [|ISS005-E-10926]   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||
 * 4. [|ISS019-E-5989]   ||  Red River o. t. North, ND/MN  ||  Black/dark gray  || [|Humid continental]  , summers warm/ humid, frequent thunderstorms   ||^   ||
 * 5. [|ISS018-E-25705]   ||  Betsiboka River, Madagascar  ||  Red brown  ||   Hot/Subtropical   ||^   ||
 * 6 [|. ISS007-E-15210]   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||
 * 7. [|ISS007-E-15208]   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||^   ||
 * 8. [|ISS023-E-50542]   ||  Vistula River, Poland  ||  Brown  || [|Continental]    ||^   ||

||   False color    || [|Caprivi]  , tropical, rainy season December-March (high temp, lots of rain), wettest region in Namibia. Terrain-swamps, floodplains, wetlands, woodland  ||    ETM+    ||
 * Non-Astronaut Photos**
 * **  IOTD #   **  ||  **   Location   **  ||  **   Color of Water   **  ||  **   Climate   **  ||  **   Type of Data   **  ||
 * 1. [|37711]   ||   Zambezi River, Namibia   ||    Dark green/ black    || [|Caprivi]  , tropical, rainy season December-March (high temp, lots of rain), wettest region in Namibia. Terrain-swamps, floodplains, wetlands, woodland   ||    ALI    ||
 * 2. [|2731]   ||   Elbe River, Germany   ||    False color    || [|Temperate seasonal]  , continental climate in east (winters can be cold, summers can be warm, long dry periods are often recorded)   ||    ETM+    ||
 * 3. [|6334]   ||   Gascoyne/Murchison/Hope River, Australia   ||    False color    || [|Mediterranean]    ||    MODIS    ||
 * 4. [|46715]   ||   Indus River (Sukkur), Pakistan   ||    False color    ||    Hot, hazy summer weather; dry, cold winters. Summer before monsoon~95°F     ||    MODIS    ||
 * 5. [|37470]   ||   Normanton, Australia   ||    Brown    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Hot]  , humid, dry season April-November (very dry SE->E winds), wet season December-March(most rainfall, many lowlying areas are flooded,) cyclones common during Nov-April   ||    ALI    ||
 * 6. [|37051]   ||   Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Hot, humid]  , dry season April-November, wet season December-March, cyclones November-April   ||    MODIS    ||
 * 7. [|5341]   ||   Tigris River, Iraq   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Hot arid]  , humidity is low, dust storms to west are common   ||    MODIS    ||
 * 8. [|7140]   ||   Farah River, Afghanistan   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Sistan]  <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|basin]  -one of the driest places in the world, severe drought began at beg. Of 21st century, hot summers, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|frequent dust storms, fiery winds]     ||    MODIS    ||
 * 9. [|4869]  ||   Gonaives, Haiti    ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Tropical]  , rainy seasons April-June/October-November, periodic droughts/floods, subject to hurricanes   ||    ASTER    ||
 * 10. [|4864]   ||^   ||    Brown    ||^   ||    Space Imaging    ||
 * 11. [|4332]   ||   Betsiboka Estuary, Madagascar   ||    False color    ||    Hot/Subtropical    ||    ASTER    ||
 * 12. [|4137]   ||   Iran   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Hot desert]  , slightly more rain since it’s close to the coast, high humidity common, summer temps can easily exceed 113. <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Arid]  , dry hot summers   ||    MODIS    ||
 * 13. [|1245]   ||   Zambeze River, Mozambique   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Tropical]  , wet season October-March, dry season April-September, rainfall heavy along coast    ||    MODIS    ||
 * 14. [|45393]   ||   Indus River (Hyderabad), Pakistan   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Arid climate]  , hot/dry days, cool/breezy nights, heavy downpours in recent years, dust storms(rare) May-June, Southeast Monsoon June-September(heavy, can cause significant flooding)    ||    Landsat-5    ||
 * 15. [|8042]   ||   Brahmaputra River, Northeast India   ||    False color    ||    Prone to flooding in spring when the Himalayan Snows melt, high rainfall, high humidity    ||    MODIS    ||
 * 16. [|3856]   ||   Rann of Kutch, Pakistan   ||    Green-blue    ||    Floods in summer monsoon    ||    MODIS    ||
 * 17. [|8641]   ||   Apodi/Piranhas River, Northeast Brazil   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Humid tropical(by the ocean)]    ||    MODIS    ||
 * 18. [|3611]   ||   Zambezi River, Africa
 * 19. [|38212]   ||   Zambezi River, Namibia   ||    False color    ||^   ||    MODIS    ||
 * 20. [|41546]   ||   Rio Negro(Paso de Los Toros), Uruguay   ||    Black    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Temperate]  , warm to hot summers, cold to cool winters   ||    ALI    ||
 * 21. [|45343]   ||   Indus River (Kashmore), Pakistan   ||    Tan    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Subtropical]  , May-August temps frequently above 115, average rainfall 6-7 in/year   ||    Landsat-5    ||
 * 22. [|48420]   ||   Rockhampton, Queensland   ||    False color    || <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';"><span style="color: blue; font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 10pt;">[|Humid subtropical]  , summer thunderstorms, Fitzroy River=history of flooding(date back to 1859)   ||    MODIS    ||
 * 1. What is your preliminary question?**
 * Are rivers in certain parts of the world with certain climates more likely to flood than others?
 * 2. Based on your current observations, what do you think a possible outcome or answer to this question will be?**
 * The climates where floods seem to occur most are areas that are tropical with a rainy season and a dry season, and deserts that see a monsoon.
 * 3. What observations have you made that directly support this hypothesis?**
 * The data tables of both astronaut photos and non-astronaut photos seem to confirm these observations.

=** Step 3 - Background Research **=
 * **REFINED PRELIMINARY QUESTION** || Are rivers in certain climates more likely to flood than rivers in other climates? ||
 * **DATA COLLECTION METHODS**
 * (Bulleted or numbered list)** || * Climate/Seasons
 * Location
 * Data collection method (satellite, astonaut photo, etc) ||
 * **OTHER COMMENTS** || None. ||

** Basic Background Research and Information **
 * 1. Name and define the features that you are studying as the focus of your research:**
 * **River** - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel or series of diverging and converging channels ([|source] )
 * **Flood** - an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges lan d ([|source])
 * 2. Name and define other terms associated with your research that are important to understand:**
 * Monsoon – the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern ([|source])
 * 3a. What sphere does this feature you are studying most closely relate to? **
 * Rivers belong to the **hydropshere**.
 * 3b. What is the significance/role/importance of this feature within this Earth system. **
 * Rivers provide water to humans, animals, and plants. Without them, humanity could not have advanced as far as it has, as all major civilations started near rivers.
 * 3c. If what you are researching plays a major role in another Earth system as part of your study, please explain. **
 * Rivers play a part in the **biosphere**. Forests, grasslands, and deserts all get water from rivers. In the case of deserts, rivers flash flood when it rains, and this can be particularly devastating.
 * 3d. Describe the process of how this feature is formed. **
 * Water from rain is collected through surface runoff, groundwater recharge, springs, and the storage of water in natural ice or snowpacks ([|source])
 * 3e. Draw a sketch or diagram to show how this feature forms.**
 * 4a. What specific characteristics are used to identify this feature in an image?**
 * Long, winding streams of a blue or brown color (or what looks like branches) are usually what identifies a river
 * 4b. Are there any features that look similar to the features you are studying but are actually something else? How do you know you are not misidentifying features?**
 * Dry riverbeds could possibly be mistaken for flowing rivers, since a good amount of rivers from space are color adjusted for easy identification.
 * 5. List the image identification numbers and/or show images for at least three astronaut photos that include the feature you are studying.**
 * ISS005-E-10000
 * ISS018-E-25705
 * ISS023-E-50542
 * 6. What specific regions of Earth will you focus on and why?**
 * All parts of the world will be focused on, providing they have rivers that flood. Enough data needs to be collected from a variety of climates, not just one.
 * 7. Planetary body comparison?**
 * A planetary body comparison will not be used.

=** Step 4 - Experiment Design **= <span style="font-family: 'Calibri','sans-serif'; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">**Refining your question:** 7. **Sources:** =** Step 5 - Collect and Compile Data **= The number of astronaut images we plan on analyzing is around five, since only eight astronaut photos of flooding could be found. Around fifteen non-astronaut photos will be used as well. =** Step 6 - Display Data **=
 * **Current Research Question** || Are rivers in certain climates more likely to flood than rivers in other climates? ||
 * **Suggested Refined Research Question** || Are rivers in certain climates more likely to flood than rivers in other climates? ||
 * **Final Refined Research Question (After discussing options with the class)** || Are rivers in certain regions of the world more likely to flood than rivers in other regions? ||
 * 1. Name and describe the specific data set you will use as the primary source of image data for your research of Earth.**
 * For each astronaut photo, the Image Identification Number, latitide and longitude, location, and climate will be recorded (exact climate will be recorded with sources other than astronaut photos). For the non-astronaut photos, the location and climate will be recorded.
 * 2. What other data sets of Earth will you use, if any, to support your research of Earth?**
 * We plan on finding out the average temperatures of each region during the seasons when it rains and when it does not rain.
 * 3. What specific geographic region(s) of Earth will you focus on to gather your data?**
 * We will focus on regions that have rivers that flood.
 * 4. How many images, at a minumum, will you observe overall in order to draw conclusions about your research?**
 * Around 5 to 10 astronaut photos will be observed, and at least 15 non-astronaut photos will be observed.
 * 5. List each specific piece of data you will log from each image you observe.**
 * Longitude/Latitude (if applicable)
 * Surrounding terrain of the river
 * Color of water
 * 6. If you are going to make measurements, list the procedures you will use to ensure all measurements used are made in the same consistent manner?**
 * Log the image identification number (if applicable)
 * Write down the location and terrain.
 * Find out the climate, interesting facts, etc.
 * Source 1
 * **Name:** []
 * **Accessed**: February 19 & 22, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Collected climate details of each image and various definitions of words.
 * Source 2
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Used for the image of the climate map to map the locations of the rivers.
 * Source 3
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Used for finding the locations of the flooded rivers for placing dots onto maps.
 * Source 4
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 25, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Gathered tropical climate info.
 * Source 5
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 25, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Gathered desert climate info.
 * Source 6
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Various definitions of words.
 * The data table of images and information is in **Step 2**.
 * For now, a Data Request Form does not seem necessary.
 * Data Table**
 * **How you may sort your data** || **Describe how this may help you later draw conclusions** ||
 * Data tables || Allows for easy identification of information; everything is sorted nicely. ||
 * Maps (marked locations) || Locations could be marked on climate, precipitation, or terrain maps to show any sort of similarities or correlation. ||
 * Maps**
 * **Describe what information you will plot on a map** || Locations of flooding rivers (Astronaut photos) ||
 * **Type of map** || Global Map ||
 * **How will this plotted data be helpful and relevant for your research?** || It shows the location of rivers around the world. Depending on the kind of map it is plotted on, precipitation, terrain, climate, and temperature maps can be shown too. ||
 * Image Illustrations**
 * ** FEATURE FOCUS ** || Label the rivers and close cities, and have a key showing what is what (if the colors are confusing). ||
 * ** IMAGE COMPARISONS ** || Before and after pictures of the rivers (flooded and not flooded). ||
 * ** INTERRELATED FEATURES ** || Undecided. ||
 * Creating Data Displays and Making Observations**
 * **Title of Data Display** || Climate map ||
 * **Type of Data Display** || Map ||
 * **Summarize what the data display is illustrating** || This will show the climates where the rivers that flood are located. ||
 * **List 1‐3 general observations or trends of what the data display is showing:** ||
 * **Observation #1**: The locations in the world where the floods are. ||
 * **Observation #2**: The climate of the ares of the flooding rivers will be shown. ||

=** Step 7 - Analyze and Interpret Data **= =** Step 8 - Draw Conclusions **=
 * **Title of Data Display** || Rainfall map ||
 * **Type of Data Display** || Map ||
 * **Summarize what the data display is illustrating** || The amount of rainfall in the aress with the flooding rivers. ||
 * **List 1‐3 general observations or trends of what the data display is showing:** ||
 * **Observation #1**: The locations in the world where the rivers are. ||
 * **Observation #2**: The average rainfall of the areas will be shown. ||
 * State your research question:**
 * Are rivers in certain regions of the world more likely to flood than rivers in other regions?
 * If you formulated a hypothesis, state your hypothesis:**
 * Rivers in tropical areas that receive a lot of rain are more likely to flood. Rivers in desert areas that do not receive much rain year-round, but a lot in a couple of months, will also overflow their banks and flood.
 * ** SPECIFIC OBSERVATION FROM DATA DISPLAY ** || ** INTERPRETATION(S) OF WHAT **** OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION ** || ** EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS INTERPRETATION (from specific data displays and/or background knowledge) ** ||
 * The rivers mainly lie in tropical dry/arid/semiarid climates. || Tropical areas receive a lot of rain, and deserts areas generally do not unless it is monsoon season. || Looking at the rainfall map, the locations are located mostly in areas that get +18 inches of rainfall annually. ||
 * The average annual temperatures of most are 59+ Fahrenheit. || Tropical areas are fairly warm, and humid. Deserts are warm and arid. || Looking at the map, most locations are in hot areas. ||
 * **Consideration of issues, potential errors, or limitations of your research:** ||
 * **Potential errors or inaccuracies:** || The dots weren't easy to place on a map, and some exact locations were extremely hard to find even with by searching the internet. ||
 * **Potential misinterpretations:** || The maps were of average annual rainfall and average temperature. The rivers could have possibly flooded in a time that was very far from average – like Australia getting a lot of rain after being in a drought for a number of years. ||
 * **Limitations of data:** || They’re just maps, and won’t be completely accurate. ||
 * **Other:** || Dots could be slightly misplaced, since the maps are fairly small and dots are huge. The wrong climate/temperature/rainfall could possibly be shown. ||
 * State your research question:**
 * Are rivers in certain regions of the world more likely to flood than rivers in other regions?
 * Based on your research and analysis of data, what do you feel the answer to your question is? Summarize your supporting evidence.**
 * The answer is yes – rivers in certain regions are more likely to flood than rivers in other regions. The maps that were made show that there are mainly two climates where the flooding rivers were located, and there was a certain range of temperatures. Rainfall also seemed to play a part in this: most of the flooded rivers received more rainfall on average, or significantly less. One can assume that the areas that receive more rainfall are tropical, and the areas that receive less are desert.
 * If you formulated a hypothesis, state your hypothesis:**
 * Rivers in tropical areas that receive a lot of rain year-round, as well as rivers in dry climates that receive a lot of rain only in one part of the year (such as a monsoon) are more likely to flood than other rivers.


 * Based on your research and analysis of data, if you formulated a hypothesis, was it supported or refuted? Summarize pertinent evidence.**
 * The hypothesis was supported. Based on the locations of the rivers that were mapped, the dominant climate of flooding rivers is TROPICAL DRY followed by ARID and SEMIARID. Tropical areas usually receive a bit of rain, or are rather humid. Arid and semiarid areas are rather dry, and do not receive much rain for the majority of the year.

=** Step 9 - Share Research **= A powerpoint will showcase the main points and information of the research. In the verbal presentation, everything will be expanded on to further explain and clarify the points.
 * List at least 1 new question or explain what future research, sparked from your investigation, could be conducted.**
 * Does the type of soil or earth around rivers affect their ability to flood? Weak soil could be easily displaced, while areas with a lot of trees could not flood as much, due to the trees’ ability to hold the ground together.
 * Who would you like to acknowledge for helping you complete your investigation? This may include your teacher, mentor, parent, or anyone else that helped you or provided support throughout your investigation.**
 * Mr. Hill
 * The astronauts that took the photos

= GLOSSARY =
 * **River** - a natural stream of water of fairly large size flowing in a definite course or channel of diverging and converging channels ([|http://dictionary.reference.com])
 * **Monsoon** - the rainy phase of a seasonally-changing pattern ([|http://en.wikipedia.org])

= REFERENCES =
 * Sources:**
 * Source 1
 * **Name:** []
 * **Accessed**: February 19 & 22, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Collected climate details of each image and various definitions of words.
 * Source 2
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Used for the image of the climate map to map the locations of the rivers.
 * Source 3
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Used for finding the locations of the flooded rivers for placing dots onto maps.
 * Source 4
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 25, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Gathered tropical climate info.
 * Source 5
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 25, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Gathered desert climate info.
 * Source 6
 * **Name**: []
 * **Accessed**: February 24, 2011
 * **Information collected**: Various definitions of words.

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