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Microclimates are all around us! They are created between the buildings we build and exist in the spaces that are left green. Studying them can help us determine how can we design our world to create spaces which are optimal for both nature and us.
Scientists Steve Dickson and Chris Marotta, from the CESAME (Center for Excellence in Science and Math Education) project at SUNY Stony Brook, worked with Scott Smith’s Regents Earth Science students to study and map the microclimates surrounding the high school campus. Students used digital weather meters and heat sensors to gather data near the buildings and contrast that with the spaces which were left green. Afterwards, the class discussed what they had learned and how to apply this information when planning urban construction and land use. This lab qualifies for about 120-180 Regents laboratory minutes and was part of a series of activities our earth science students are able to participate in this year--thanks to a grant from the National Science Foundation. Later that month, the RHS Regents Earth Science classes went to the SUNY Stony Brook campus to do some labs on porosity and permeability and to use their big stream table.
Photo Caption: RHS Earth Science students, Joanna Kurzyna, Cassandra Messina, Steven Keller, Andrew Ruggiero and Anthony Galvan, work with SUNY-Stony Brook scientist Chris Marotta to take microclimate readings around the HS.
UPCOMING: Wednesday, March 9th, 2011--The CESAME scientists will be at RHS once again to conduct labs in Dan Hafner’s Earth Science class periods 4, 5 9:38-11:04 and periods 7, 8 11:53-1:19 in room 234. They will be conducting porosity labs. During the lab, they will discuss and analyze the causes of the flooding on Horton Avenue in Riverhead.
Source: Riverhead Central School District press release March 8, 2011
