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Title
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Monitoring Soil Changes
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Type
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Primary: Field Assignment
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Operation
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Tectonic Fury
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Mission:
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Mission 2: Earth's Changing Face
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Subjects
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Science | Earth and space science | Weather | Clouds | Fronts | Precipitation | Pressure | Storms | Wind
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Grades
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5 | 6 | 7 | 8
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Keywords
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weather systems, fronts, precipitation, rain, weather symbols, weather stations, severe weather, watches, warnings, clouds, cloud cover, wind speeds, low pressure systems, high pressure systems, warm fronts, cold fronts, stationary fronts, occluded fronts, troughs, dry lines, dew points, fronts
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Audience
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Teachers | Elementary Grades | Junior High
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Created On
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5/7/2010
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From: Tectonic Fury Mission 2: Earth's Changing Face (pp: 31) |
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Monitoring Soil Changes In this culminating field assignment, students will apply their understanding of weathering, erosion, and soils to help monitor soil quality. Students will analyze data collected by Dr. Virginia Dale over space and over time and create a graph that will help them compare soil data from several different locations. Once students have analyzed her soil data, they will test one factor that determines the quality of soil in their local area. Through this analysis, students will develop some strategies for monitoring and evaluating soils in their local community. |
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Recall that your mission is to scour Earth's surface for evidence of weathering and erosion – processes that sculpt and shape our ever-changing planet. Now that you have been fully briefed, you will apply your understanding of weathering, erosion, and soils to help monitor soil quality.
Soil is the foundation for a large proportion of life that exists on this planet. The constant forces of weathering and erosion, as well as land management practices, greatly affect the way soil develops. Dr. Virginia Dale is interested in the factors that may affect soil over space and over time. With the help of a team of scientists, Dr. Dale has been monitoring the carbon content in soil, an indicator of soil fertility and richness, to observe the effects of different management strategies in several different locations.
Long term monitoring studies also provide information about how soils can change over time. Dr. Dale has collected data from Mount St. Helens since its eruption, and has monitored the carbon content changes in different locations. The data gained from her studies will provide people with a better understanding of the factors that may result in soil problems in their area. This data will also help scientists develop ways to help manage these issues more effectively into the future.
In this field assignment, you will analyze data collected by Dr. Virginia Dale over space and over time. You will create a graph that will help you compare soil data from several different locations. Once you have analyzed her soil data, you will test one factor that determines the quality of soil in your local area. Through this analysis, you will develop some strategies for monitoring and evaluating soils in your local community.
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Caution!
You must have the landowner’s permission to access any land in your study. Even if your study site is on public land, inform the proper authorities of your intent. Obtain permission before collecting samples at your study sites. Never travel alone. Take a responsible adult with you to your study site. |
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| Field Prep |
- Read about total organic carbon as an indicator of soil quality in the data set.
- Outline some relationships carbon has with soil function.
- Outline some effects of poor carbon levels in soil.
- Outline some ways carbon levels may be improved in soils.
- Using the graph, describe the effect of conventional tilling on organic carbon in soils of different depths.
- Analyze Dr. Dale’s data on carbon levels in a variety of soils. Create a graph for Data Set A and Data Set B from the data sheet.
- What does Data Set A suggest about the soil quality based on the different types of plants over space?
- Based on Data Set B, how has the carbon content in the soil changed since the Mount St. Helens eruption? Explain.
- Assuming that carbon levels have changed at a constant rate, what is the rate of carbon content change on Mount St. Helens per year? Per month? Per week? Per day? Why do you think it is useful to know the rate of change?
- Go to the Mount St. Helens photo gallery to qualitatively analyze how the environment around the blast zone has changed since its eruption on May 18, 1980.
- What do Data Set B and the photo gallery suggest about what may be causing the changes in soil quality around Mount St. Helens over time?
- What are some advantages and limitations to studying an area over space (different locations at the same time) and studying an area over time (same location at different times)?
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| Mission Challenge |
- Read about soil infiltration as another indicator of soil quality in the data sheet.
- Outline some factors that may affect the level of soil infiltration.
- Outline some relationships soil infiltration has with soil function.
- Which is generally better for soil quality, slow infiltration or fast infiltration?
- What are some effects slow soil infiltration has on soil quality?
- Assemble the soil infiltration tool.
- Identify areas around your school or community to test soils. Plot these locations on a map of the area.
- At each location:
- Write a physical description of the surroundings, including any plants that are growing in the soil. Use plant identification books to help.
- Document any signs of weathering and erosion that may be occurring at the location.
- Write a physical description of the soil, including color, texture, and particle diversity.
- Use the soil infiltration tool and instructions in the data sheet to determine the infiltration time or rate for soils at each location.
- Share your data with your class.
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| Mission Debrief |
- Based on the infiltration data, which locations have slow infiltration times/rates? Which locations have fast infiltration times/rates?
- Based on the physical analysis of the soil, infiltration times/rates, your observation of the ecology that lives on the soil, and any weathering and erosion that may be occurring, which locations may have higher soil quality? Which may have lower soil quality?
- Considering your data and observations, develop a strategy for monitoring the soil quality of these locations over time. Develop a hypothesis about soil quality changes at each location before conducting your long term research.
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Journal Question
What are some other ways you could monitor the soils at each research location in your local community? Conduct research to learn about other methods for measuring soil quality besides carbon content and infiltration. How can this analysis be helpful when making decisions and policies about your community? |
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