home

We are a group of 28 7th graders at Smith Middle School in the Troy School District. Our teacher is Ms.McCormick. We are researching atmospheres. Each of our tables are doing a research question that we all voted for the best question. The question was *see preliminary research question*

**STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE**

= Preliminary Questions: =


 * How do clouds near the equator differ between Earth and Venus?** *top question*

How do clouds differ in different planets atmospheres differ in different plantes atmospheres?

FINAL QUESTION: How do clouds near the tropics differ between Earth and Venus?

= = =Step 2 - Initial Observations=

**1. MAIN RESEARCH QUESTION:**
 * see preliminary question.

**2. SOURCES TO VIEW ASTRONAUT PHOTOS:** Gateway to Astronaut Photography

**3. LIST OF SPECIFIC DATA TEAM WILL LOG FROM EACH ASTRONAUT PHOTO:** **4. HYPOTHESIS:** If there are clouds in different planets' atmospheres, then they will differ in shape and size.
 * **Identification Number**
 * **Date**
 * **Latitude and Longitude/location or country**
 * **Clouds?**
 * **Type**
 * **Camera type**
 * **Lens resolution**
 * **Other notes**
 * (All of the bulleted items should be made into a table)**

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 3 - Background Research **=

**1. IMPORTANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS:**

Cumulus

 * Means "heap" or "mass"
 * Indicates fair weather
 * Forms less than 2K from the ground
 * Can reach 18K off the ground

Stratus

 * Means "spread out"; appears in streaks in the sky
 * Thin layers close to the ground
 * Forms from warmer air rising from larger region

Cirrus

 * Means "wispy" or "feathery"
 * Always form above 6K off the ground
 * Made of ice crystals
 * Create suncoys (looks like a halo around the sun)

**2. EARTH SYSTEM INFORMATION:** The Earth system clouds are a part of is atmosphere. The atmosphere system includes dust storms, hurricanes, and clouds.

**3. FORMATION PROCESS:**

When moisture evaporates from the ground, it forms into moisture in the atmosphere.

**4. FEATURE DESCRIPTION OR CHARACTERISTICS:** Clouds come in many different shapes and forms. Although they are usually white in color and look

**5. ASTRONAUT IMAGES (2-3) THAT INCLUDE THE FEATURE YOU ARE STUDYING (links, ID#s, or images):** [|ISS016-E-27426.JPG] -- Picture of a thunderstorm cloud [|ISS022-E-52281.JPG] -- Picture of mesospheric clouds [|ISS020-E-9048.JPG] -- Picture of a volcanic ash cloud **6. GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS:** Anywhere where you can find clouds (anywhere around the world) is okay for data collecting.

**7. IF YOU WILL CONDUCT A PLANETARY COMPARISON, PLEASE EXPLAIN:** We will compare Earth to Venus.

**8. OTHER DETAILS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RESEARCH:**

-Image ID -Latitude/Longitude -other -citation -% of cloud cover -focal lens length
 * Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 4 - Experiment Design **=

**1. FINAL RESEARCH QUESTION:** How do clouds near the equator differ between Earth and Venus?

**2. HYPOTHESIS** **(Include a brief explanation of observations & other knowledge that support this hypothesis):** If we compare clouds near the equator on Earth and Venus, then we will find a difference.

** 3. IMAGE DATA COLLECTION: ** Make more rows for each picture you collect data from.
 * = Image ID/website/URL ||= Latitude/Longitude ||= Focal Lens Length ||= Color ||= Shape/Type ||= Size/Percent of Cloud Cover ||= Other ||= Citation ||

**4. OTHER DATA SETS:**

**5. MEASUREMENTS:**


 * Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**

= = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 5 - Collect and Compile Data **=

**1. MASTER DATA TABLE:**

website /URL || Latitude /Longitude || Focal Lens Length || Color || Shape /Type || Size/Percent of Cloud Cover || Other || Citation ||
 * ImageID/
 * ISS016-E-27426 || 13.5, -12 || 400mm || White/Gray || Oval/Funnel || 50% || N/A || N/A ||
 * ISS030-E-50560 || 18.5, -64.4 || 180mm || White || Dots/Cotton Balls || 25% || N/A || N/A ||
 * ISS018-E-33615 || 7.7, -66.1 || 400 mm || White, gray || Stratocumulus || 75% || near a city || N/A ||
 * STS075-731-32 || 1.4, 22.9 || N/A || White, Gray || Cumulonimbus || 50% || N/A || N/A ||
 * ISS022-E-52342 || 8.5, 17.9 || 70mm || White, Gray || Cirrus || 100% || near a desert || N/A ||
 * ISS030-E-9429 || 9.0, -80.0 || 70mm || White || Cumulus || 75% || Near water || N/A ||
 * ISS024-E-6070 || 1.0, -79.0 || 80mm || White || Cumulonimbus || 75% || N/A || N/A ||
 * ISS006-E-15618 || -5.9, 145.1 || 85mm || Gray || Cirrus || 25% || Riverbank || N/A ||
 * ISS014-E-10305 || -10.3,-139 || 180mm || White || Cumulus || 25% || Island,cuers island,fully || N/A ||
 * ISS006-E-13830 || 6.8,85 || 800mm || White || Cumulus || 10% || Atoll || N/A ||
 * STS109-711-6 || -15.0,126 || 50mm || Gray || Stratus || 25% || off the coast of aus || N/A ||
 * ISS014-E-12955 || 5.0,10.0 || N/A || White || Cimus || 25% || Hear comerroon mount || N/A ||
 * ISS024-E-5443 || -5.0,-48.0 || 80mm || White, Gray || Cimus || 75% || Bodes of Water are near || N/A ||
 * ISS012-E-10025 || 10.0,20.0 || 180mm || Gray || Cimus || 10% || Over a Desert, in it || N/A ||
 * STS-5092-712-67 || Center Point || 100mm || white || Fluffy || 75% || N/A || N/A ||
 * STS-5092-749-67 || 29.0,-118.0 || 250mm || Tan || Not Fluffy || 80% || N/A || N/A ||
 * STS117-E-6998 || Center Point || 180mm || Blue || Flat || 10% || N/A || N/A ||
 * STS4113-41-2347 || 23.55, 52.5 || 250mm || White/Brown/Gray || Thunderstorms || 60% || stratpcumulus || N/A ||
 * STS044-93-80 || 18.9, -140.1 || 250mm || White || Typhoon/Bowl || 100% || Bowl shaped eye || N/A ||
 * ISS009-E-20440 || 15.0, -49.0 || 35mm || White/Blue || Hurricane || 30% || Tail of a Hurricane || N/A ||
 * ISS022-E-35195 || 3.8, 8.7 || 800mm || White || Sphere || 10% || Only Two clouds ||< N/A ||
 * ISS009-E-20796 || 0,-70 || 180mm || White || Small ball like || 10% || Rivers under blue sky || N/A ||



**2. NEW DATA REQUEST INFO:**

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 6 - Display Data **=

**1. DATA TABLE(S): Under __each__ data table, list 1-3 observations.**

**2. GRAPHS: Under __each__ graph, list 1-3 observations.**

**3. MAPS: Under __each__ map, list 1-3 observations.**

**4. IMAGE ILLUSTRATIONS: Under __each__ image illustration, list 1-3 observations.**

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =** Step 7 - Analyze and Interpret Data **=

**1. RESEARCH QUESTION:**

**2. HYPOTHESIS:**

**3. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #1:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #2:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #3:**
 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * **__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * **ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

**DATA ANALYSIS #4:**


 * **RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * ** __INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION: **


 * ** ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION: **


 * Add additional data analysis information as needed.**


 * CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES POTENTIALLY AFFECTING YOUR RESEARCH **
 * 1. POTENTIAL ERRORS OR INACCURACIES: **


 * 2. POTENTIAL MISINTERPRETATIONS: **


 * 3. LIMITATIONS OF DATA: **


 * 4. OTHER: **

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 8 - Draw Conclusions **=

What did we learn? We learned that clouds vary everywhere. We learned that there is a greater proportion of cirrus clouds near the equator. We learned many larger clouds in the tropics are storm clouds. We learned that clouds vary at different latitudes.
 * 1. SUMMARIZE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: **

We were unable to tell if our hypothesis was proven or disproven. We could not get any pictures of Venus.
 * 2. SUMMARIZE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER YOUR HYPOTHESIS WAS REFUTED OR SUPPORTED? **

Does Venus also have fouler weather as it gets farther away from its center? How do clouds differ in different seasons? How do clouds differ within 10 degress of the equator? What is the relationship between type of cloud and the color? How do clouds differ above or below the 50% cloud cover mark? How do the sizes of clouds differ at different altitudes? TIm McCollum our mentor helped us throughout the whole project and really motivated us to do our best work we have done for the whole year. Also the EEAB project leader, Paige Graff, i personally give you a big thank and congraduate you on your great work putting together this project and wish you luck for the years to come.
 * 3. NEWLY SPARKED RESEARCH QUESTION(S): **
 * 4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: **


 * 5. REFLECTION OF RESEARCH: **
 * We learned about astronomical photography witch we think is a cool thing that we hope to work with in the furture. We also learned alot about clouds. We learned how to specify questions that we have and why it is importent to do so. We also learned how to identify specific types of clouds.**

= = = = = = = = = = =** Step 9 - Share Research **=

= GLOSSARY =

= BIBLIOGRAPHY = = =

Return to Expedition Earth and Beyond Team Workspace Main Page