|
Greater Newark Conservancy |
|
Sampling Objective (e.g. Why you are sampling and what you hope to learn)
Does the level of industry and/or the number of people in our urban environment effect the quality of life here? Measurements of identified air pollutants will be analyzed to confirm normal and abnormal levels.
What parameters are you sampling for? (e.g. N02, CO, C02)
Amounts of the following potential pollutants will be sampled: CO2, CO, SO2, NO2, O3, and particulates. Wind speed and direction, relative humidity, temperature, and barometric pressure will also be measured.
Describe the Method of Data Collection - (Include the frequency, duration and location of monitoring.)
Utilizing air sampling equipment, observations will be made at various locations in Newark: Independence Park, the corner of Van Buren and Ferry Streets, Penn Station, East Side High School cafeteria, East Side High School main office, and room 468 at East Side High School.
Explain how you will establish background levels of sampling parameters.
In almost all cases, samples will be taken in open areas, away from emission sources such as people and machines. When a wind is present, it often changes direction; however, there are some correlations between temperature/pollutant and wind speed/pollutant.
How will you teach scientific concepts?
Presently there are concepts in the Newark Board of Education biology curriculum and the AIR Currents curriculum that relate to our pollutants. Specifically, the aforementioned curriculum outlines activities that include:
graphing, observation of ozone depletion charts, analysis of acid rain effects on plants, and the monitoring/interpretation of air pollutants.
All of the aforementioned activities are being dealt with in biology.