Digging up the Dirt on pH

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Digging up the Dirt on pH

• Sabrina Cooper (GA), Dave Emery (AK), Sheila
  Forster (MN), Horace Magwood (GA) Linda
  Shepherd (AR)

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Global Map of our Cities
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Abstract

• Comparison of latitude affect on soil pH level
  looking at three different latitudes in the
  northern hemisphere.

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Question

• Does latitude affect soil pH levels?

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Hypothesis

• Latitude does affect soil pH levels

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Introduction/Background/Significance

• Prior acid/base knowledge or activities
• Soil horizons
• Vegetation growth

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Standards

• Soil consists of weathered rocks and decomposed
  organic material from dead plants, animals, and
  bacteria. Soils are often found in layers with
  each having a different chemical composition and
  texture.
• Water, which covers the majority of the earths
  surface, circulates through the crust, oceans,
  and atmosphere in what is known as the water
  cycle. Water evaporates from the earths
  surface, rises, and cools as it moves to higher
  elevations, condenses as rain or snow, and falls
  to the surface where it collects in lakes,
  oceans, soil, and in rocks underground.

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Materials

• Dried sieved soil
• Distilled H20
• 100 ml graduated cylinder
• 4 100 ml containers
• scale
• pH data sheet (hotmail)
• writing utensil
• stirring rod
• pH meter
• golf tee
• small shovel
• 4 marking flags
• weather station including rain gauge, digital
  thermometer, and barometer
• Panasonic Lumix DMC-LZ2 camera

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Procedure

• Mark the soil sample site (choose a secure site
  that meets GLOBE protocol) with the golf tee.
  Move 200 cm from the site making sure it is the
  same soil environment, and dig a hole with the
  small shovel 50 cm deep. Place flags around
  perimeter of site. Take a photograph of the soil
  profile, and measure in centimeters and record
  data.
• Use pH meter (take sample once a week).
• Include all aspects of a weather station (soil
  temperature, precipitation, and humidity).
• Place soil samples in small zip-loc bags, record
  the date, pH, and list any anomalies that may
  have been noted.

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Camera Usage

• Take pictures of the sample site once every month
  starting on September 15 until May 15, 2007. A
  picture of the clouds on that particular day
  should also be taken.
• Any significant storms that occur during the
  collection period should also be digitally
  recorded.

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DATA TRANSFORMATION

• Line graphs and pictures will perform data
  transformation.
• Communicate via email using Globe database to
  stimulate student led conversations regarding
  results.

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