Air Pollution
Engage
CCC-1. Asking questions (for science) and defining problems (for engineering) - Ask and refine questions that lead to descriptions and explanations of how the natural and designed world works and which can be empirically tested.
Phenomena - Air Pollution in the world
Where are the smoggiest cities in the world?
Explore
CCC-1. Patterns. Observed patterns of forms and events guide organization and classification, and they prompt questions about relationships and the factors that influence them.
SEP- 4. Analyzing and interpreting data - Use a range of tools—including tabulation, graphical interpretation, visualization, and statistical analysis—to identify the significant features and patterns in the data. Identify sources of error in the investigations and calculate the degree of certainty in the results.
Historic trends in Los Angeles air pollution
Download a copy of Los Angeles air pollution data.
What is the relationship between air pollution and number of cars registered?
What is the relationship between air pollution and year?
Geographic patterns in air pollution (Air Quality Index - AQI)
Review animated maps of AQI for the 1st day of each month in Los Angeles for last year.
Open the map in Purpleair, a crowd-sourcing air quality resource
What patterns to you see?
Local patterns in air pollution (particulates, ozone)
Review the map of Los Angeles air pollution
What patterns do you see in the data, and what questions do you have?
Seasonal patterns in air pollution
Select an Air Quality Management District (AQMD) reporting station in the Los Angeles basin
Enter your data in the air pollution spreadsheet.;
Input your data collaborative spreadsheet
Rank the months of the year from the lowest pollution (1) to the highest pollution (12).
Generate a graph of the number of health advisories per year and the number of first, second and third smog alerts per year in Los Angeles as a function of year.
What patterns do you see in the data, and what questions do you have?
Explain
SEP-2. Developing and using models - Use and construct models as helpful tools for representing ideas and explanations. These tools include diagrams, drawings, physical replicas, mathematical representations, analogies, and computer simulations.
Historic trends in Los Angeles air pollution
Develop a plausible CER (Claims-Evidence-Reasoning) model to explain historic trends in Los Angeles air pollution
Your model should include information from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and mention specific engineering advances.
Geographic patterns in air pollution
Develop a plausible model to explain geographic patterns you noted in Los Angeles air pollution
Your CER model should employ data from weather patterns and geographic data (select 3D view)
Local patterns in air pollution (particulates, ozone)
Develop a plausible model to explain local patterns you noted in Los Angeles air pollution
Your CER model should employ traffic pattern data.
Seasonal patterns in air pollution
Develop a plausible model to explain seasonal patterns you noted in Los Angeles air pollution
Your model should include climactic data and any other relevant factors
Extend / Elaborate
Diurnal patterns in air pollution
Review animated maps of AQI to find a smoggy day in LA.
Select an Air Quality Management District (AQMD) reporting station in the Los Angeles basin
Record the concentrations of ozone, hydrocarbons, and nitrogen oxides on an hour/hour basis.
Plot the ozone, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide concentrations as a function of hour.
What patterns do you see in the data, and what questions do you have?
Atmospheric Chemistry
Develop a model for the patterns seen in daily ozone, hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide fluctuations.
Your model should include information on atmospheric chemistry as well as information on traffic patterns and daily patterns in sunlight.
Investigate changes in atmospheric carbon dioxide.
Evaluate
Which Environmental Principles and Concepts were emphasized in this instructional sequence?
Explain how the following performance expectations were addressed by this lesson.
HS-ETS1-1: Analyze a major global challenge to specify qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants.
HS-ESS3-6. Use a computational representation to illustrate the relationships among Earth systems and how those relationships are being modified due to human activity.
HS-PS1-5 - Apply scientific principles and evidence to provide an explanation about the effects of changing the temperature or concentration of the reacting particles on the rate at which a reaction occurs.
Atmospheric Chemistry - For the teacher (in development)
History of air pollution in Los Angeles
What happened to the Pacific Electric Trolly/Train System. Watch Taken for a Ride
