Activity 1: Advanced Water Cycle System Modeling
Create comprehensive models of the water cycle including energy transfers and climate interactions
Systems modeling & energy flow
Learning Objectives
- • Model water movement through Earth's systems
- • Analyze energy transfers in the water cycle
- • Investigate climate factors affecting water distribution
- • Connect local Caribbean water systems to global patterns
- • Evaluate human impacts on water cycle processes
Materials
- • Large clear containers for ecosystem models
- • Heat lamps and thermometers
- • Ice cubes and hot water
- • Plastic wrap and rubber bands
- • Food coloring and pH strips
- • Digital scales for mass measurements
Investigation Process
1
System Construction (30 minutes)
Build closed-system water cycle models with multiple variables
2
Data Collection (40 minutes)
Monitor temperature, humidity, and water movement patterns
3
Climate Analysis (20 minutes)
Connect findings to Caribbean climate patterns and global systems
Energy Variables
- • Solar radiation intensity
- • Surface temperature differences
- • Atmospheric pressure changes
- • Humidity and condensation rates
Caribbean Climate Connections
Hurricane Formation
- • Ocean temperature requirements
- • Atmospheric pressure systems
- • Water vapor and energy transfer
- • Seasonal pattern analysis
Drought and Rainfall Patterns
- • Trade wind effects on precipitation
- • Orographic rainfall in mountainous islands
- • El Niño/La Niña impacts
- • Water resource management strategies
Activity 2: Caribbean Geology and Plate Tectonic Modeling
Investigate volcanic activity and earthquake patterns in the Caribbean through geological modeling
Geological processes & hazard assessment
Learning Objectives
- • Model plate tectonic processes affecting the Caribbean
- • Investigate volcanic formation and eruption patterns
- • Analyze earthquake distribution and causes
- • Evaluate geological hazards and risk assessment
- • Connect geological processes to island formation
Geological Modeling Kit
- • Modeling clay (different colors)
- • Foam boards for plate models
- • Baking soda and vinegar for eruptions
- • Sand and gravel for sediment layers
- • Pressure plates and weights
- • Caribbean geological maps
Modeling Sequence
1
Plate Boundary Construction (25 minutes)
Model Caribbean, North American, and South American plates
2
Volcanic Activity Simulation (35 minutes)
Create eruption models and analyze lava flow patterns
3
Hazard Assessment (25 minutes)
Evaluate risks and develop emergency preparedness plans
Caribbean Volcanoes
- • Soufrière Hills (Montserrat)
- • La Soufrière (St. Vincent)
- • Mount Pelée (Martinique)
- • Kick 'em Jenny (Grenada)
Risk Assessment and Preparedness
Volcanic Hazards
- • Pyroclastic flows
- • Ash fall patterns
- • Lahar formation
- • Gas emissions
Earthquake Risks
- • Fault line mapping
- • Tsunami potential
- • Building codes
- • Emergency protocols
Community Preparedness
- • Evacuation routes
- • Emergency supplies
- • Communication systems
- • Recovery planning
