Assignment task:
1. Go to: "NASA Global Climate Change" site located
2. Review all of the vital signs of planet Earth. Explore the related links, as well as other areas of this site.
3. For each of the seven main vital signs (i.e., Carbon Dioxide, Global Temperature, Methane, Ocean Warming, Ice Sheets, Sea Level, Arctic Sea Ice Extent, etc.) identify at least one NSCI 100 topic (basic chemistry and physics) that you feel can be connected to the vital sign in some manner. For example:
Carbon Dioxide: Carbon Dioxide (CO2). What does that mean? Perhaps discuss the bonding in CO2 (covalent);What chemical processes make CO2? What chemical processes consume CO2? Any of these can be pursued singularly.
Global Temperature: Temperature. What is temperature? Look it up. It is the average kinetic energy of particles. What does that mean? Or perhaps temperature scales? How many are there? Why?
Ice Sheets: Ice. That's what phase of water? What does phase change mean? What types are there? Or perhaps what is unusual about the solid form of water floating in the liquid form.
You may only use one of these examples in your submission. Come up with your own connections for the other items.
Connect to topics in your text or modules. Any scientific term found in your text or modules is eligible for use.
a. Identify the topic using the scientific term(s) and identify the page number in your textbook or module where this topic/concept/term(s) is found.
b. Conduct informational research on the topic. Do not rely solely on in-classroom resources. Search for and find multiple external, reliable, and relevant resources. How many? That depends upon the quality and depth of the resources. Balance quality and quantity. I recommend at least 5 external quality, reliable, and relevant resources. Summarize the results of this literature search and include references. Provide sufficient information (citation) for me to locate the sources. I am not concerned with format of the referencing for these assignments. I prefer you spend your effort on locating and using the relevant sources.
c. Discuss your understanding of the basic chemistry or physics of the topic. This discussion does not need to be within the context of the vital sign. Explain your understanding of the concept using examples and information that make sense to you and makes your understanding visible to the reader.
d. Now, discuss your understanding of how the topic/concepts/term(s) can be related to a vital sign.
e. Repeat this process for more connections to the vital signs, related links, or other areas on the initial site.
f. You should have at least six different chemistry and/or physics topics/concepts/term(s) for a complete assignment. You are welcome to double up on connections to certain vital signs OR connect to related links or other areas on the initial site. Although there are seven vital signs, you only need to address six topics.