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Team Number: 032 School Name: Kirtland Central High School Area of Science: Environmental Science Project Title: Air Pollution Project Abstract: http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/97.98/abstracts/032.html Interim Report: http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/97.98/interims/032.html Final Report: http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/97.98/finalreports/032/finalreport.html
At the Challenge Kickoff Conference, in October, our team was told what we need to research in order for our project to be successful. We were told that our project's research would need to include the following: Meterorology, possible use of limestone to decrease the amount of acid in the water, the amount of water vapor in LA, the volume of the smog in LA, condensation, the amount of heat needed, the amount of steam needed, the amount of fuel needed, the amount of electricity needed, certani aspects of chemistry, the rate of evaporation along the coast of Claifornia, desalination, and the possible productionof asid rain from the heating plants and combinig of the smog with extra water.
Since the Kickoff Conference or team has made contact with Bryan Travis whom referred us to Melvin Prueitt who we haven't yet contacted. These equations will pertain to chemistry, condensation, eaporation, and desalination. Allof which are invlved in our project. We hope to receive information from him. Meanwhile, one of our team members has made contact with the local power plant in an attempt to find information on the differing amounts of fuel, electricity, heat, and steam. Another member has a relative in California that has information on the meteorology portion of our project.
At the beginning, we thought that there might have been a problem with acid rain. While there is a certtainty that acid rain will be a factor, In The southern Califorinia area that this project is based on the soil is slightly alkaline. This leads us to be certain that acid rain will not have an effect in our particular project. If the soil were more base then this would be a side effect that could not be looked over. This is something to take into consideration when dealing with multiple heating plants.
If the project continues and our hypothesis is correct, then air pollution across America and the world could be severely reduced. Air pollution is an obvious problem. I think that people in New Mexico don't understand it as well as people in bigger states. While there is a strong amount of air pollution in New Mexico, it is not as visible as the white skies of Southern California. The pollution, atleast in Northern New Mexico, is mostly only noticed when you've just come out of Colorado and you begin to smell that dank smell of air pollution. Air pollution needs a cure. Ten years ago a study was taken in Los Angeles. Ten years ago it was found that living a low impact life in L.A. does as much damage as smoking two packs a day in clean air. Think of what a smoker living in L.A. is doing to their lungs. This test was ten years ago. TThink of how bad it is now. Something must be done about the air in America.a.