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climate_change_and_the_scientific_method.docx

Climate Change and the Scientific Method

Hands on Labs, Inc. Version 42-0045-00-01

Lab Report Assistant This document is not meant to be a substitute for a formal laboratory report. The Lab Report Assistant is simply a summary of the experiment’s questions, diagrams if needed, and data tables that should be addressed in a formal lab report. The intent is to facilitate students’ writing of lab reports by providing this information in an editable file which can be sent to an instructor.

Exercise 1: Pollen Study

Observations

Data Table 1: Sediment Layer Data
	1	2	3	4	5	6
Plant Species	Count	%	Count	%	Count	%	Count	%	Count	%	Count	%
Meadow grasses and Wildflowers	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Aspen	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Limber pine	12	48	6	24	6	24	3	12	0	0	0	0
Lodgepole pine	0	0	6	24	9	36	3	12	4	16	7	28
Sedges and Mosses	0	0	0	0	0	0	6	24	0	0	6	24
Ponderosa pine	8	32	0	0	10	40	0	0	6	24	0	0
Engelmann spruce	0	0	7	28	0	0	5	25	0	0	4	16
Bristlecone pine	0	0	6	24	0	0	3	12	0	0	0	0
Douglas fir	5	20	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	25	2	8
Willows	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	25	10	40	2	8
Alpine grasses and Daisies	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Alpine sage	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	4	16
Total pollen count	25	100	25	100	25	100	25	100	25	100	25	100

Experiment

Climate Change and the Scientific Method

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Data Table 2: Climate description of each sediment layer

Layer

Climate Description

1

Harsh climates. Strong winds, extreme cold temperature, drought, poor soil nutrition. A dominant species on mountains at tree line. Warm temperatures, dry air. Moderate cool to warm temperature. Prefers

moist air conditions.

2

Harsh climates. Strong winds, extreme cold temperature, drought, poor soil nutrition. A dominant species on mountains at tree line. Cool climate temperatures, and high altitudes. Cold temperatures with sub-alpine terrain. Harsh temperatures and climates – similar characteristics of limber pine.

Thrives in the Rocky Mountains.

3

Harsh climates. Strong winds, extreme cold temperature, drought, poor soil nutrition. A dominant species on mountains at tree line. Cool climate temperatures, and high altitudes. Warm temperatures, dry air.

4

Harsh climates. Strong winds, extreme cold temperature, drought, poor soil nutrition. A dominant species on mountains at tree line. Cool climate temperatures, and high altitudes. Harsh temperatures and climates – similar characteristics of limber pine. Very cool temperatures. Thrives in alpine and subalpine meadow sites with cool summers and cold winters. Cold temperatures with sub-alpine terrain.

Thrives in the Rocky Mountains. Prefer glaciated regions of sub-alpine areas. Thrive in wetland or areas with rivers.

5

Cool climate temperatures, and high altitudes. Warm temperatures, dry air. Prefer glaciated regions of sub-alpine areas. Thrive in wetland or areas with rivers. Moderate cool to warm temperature. Prefers moist air conditions.

6

Cool climate temperatures, and high altitudes. Cold temperatures with sub-alpine terrain.

Thrives in the Rocky Mountains. Very cool temperatures. Thrives in alpine and subalpine meadow sites with cool summers and cold winters. Prefer glaciated regions of sub-alpine areas. Thrive in wetland or areas with rivers. Moderate cool to warm temperature. Prefers moist air conditions. Cold temperatures and high-altitude.

Questions

A. Discuss the importance of a large sampling of data such as pollen. Give an example to support your statement.

B. Clearly describe why pollen grains are good climate indicators.

C. Describe other indicators besides pollen that scientists can use to determine past climates.

D. Using the climate descriptions in Data Table 2, describe the general change in climate from layer 6 to layer 1.

Exercise 2: The Scientific Method

Observations

Data Table 3: List of hypotheses for investigation.

Hypothesis

1

There is a uniform warming trend at this location.

2

Pollens of specific plant species are good indicators of climate.

3

There are six distinct sediment layers at this location.

4

There is a uniform trend of strong winds in this region.

5

There seems to be a trend of cold climate in this region.

Data Table 4: Hypothesis research

Hypothesis

Research / Data Interpretations

1

Three of the six layer soil samples have a warming trend.

2

All of the six layers of soil sample have pollen, which would help explain an indicator of climate.

3

There may be more than six layers in that region but only six layer samples were taken.

4

Four of the six sample layers of soil taken had a climate of strong winds.

5

All six layers of soil sampled had a climate indicator of cold in that region.

Data Table 5: Hypothesis Results and Conclusions

Hypothesis

General Result and/or Conclusion ( one sentence)

1

There was a trend of warmth in the region at half the samples which means half the time.

2

All six layers had pollen sample, which also stated which climates were in the region.

3

Only six layer samples may have been taken but more could have been found.

4

There was a trend of strong winds in the region at four of the six samples. This means there were strong winds at a time.

5

All six layers had a trend of cold in the region.

Data Table 6: Hypothesis Correct?

Hypothesis

Correct / Incorrect

1

Correct

2

Correct

3

Incorrect

4

Correct

5

Correct

Data Table 7: List of the Final Hypotheses

1

There is a uniform warming trend at this location.

2

Pollens of specific plant species are good indicators of climate.

3

There are distinct sediment layers at this location.

4

There is a uniform trend of strong winds in this region.

5

There seems to be a trend of cold climate in this region.

Data Table 8: Share your results

Name of person who results were shared with: Brian Ashkar

Data Table 3: List of hypotheses for investigation.
Hypothesis
1	There is a uniform warming trend at this location.
2	Pollens of specific plant species are good indicators of climate.
3	There are six distinct sediment layers at this location.
4	There is a uniform trend of strong winds in this region.
5	There seems to be a trend of cold climate in this region.

Data Table 4: Hypothesis research
Hypothesis	Research / Data Interpretations
1	Three of the six layer soil samples have a warming trend.
2	All of the six layers of soil sample have pollen, which would help explain an indicator of climate.
3	There may be more than six layers in that region but only six layer samples were taken.
4	Four of the six sample layers of soil taken had a climate of strong winds.
5	All six layers of soil sampled had a climate indicator of cold in that region.

Data Table 5: Hypothesis Results and Conclusions
Hypothesis	General Result and/or Conclusion ( one sentence)
1	There was a trend of warmth in the region at half the samples which means half the time.
2	All six layers had pollen sample, which also stated which climates were in the region.
3	Only six layer samples may have been taken but more could have been found.
4	There was a trend of strong winds in the region at four of the six samples. This means there were strong winds at a time.
5	All six layers had a trend of cold in the region.

Data Table 6: Hypothesis Correct?
Hypothesis	Correct / Incorrect
1	Correct
2	Correct
3	Incorrect
4	Correct
5	Correct

Data Table 7: List of the Final Hypotheses
1	There is a uniform warming trend at this location.
2	Pollens of specific plant species are good indicators of climate.
3	There are distinct sediment layers at this location.
4	There is a uniform trend of strong winds in this region.
5	There seems to be a trend of cold climate in this region.