pHocus on Rain Key Peninsula Middle School Peninsula High School Gig Harbor, WA

Abstract The purpose of this investigation is to determine if there is a correlation between weather front direction and pH of local precipitation samples. As a weather front passes over a highly populated area, atmospheric pollution will be picked up causing a more acidic precipitation. Students will individually collect precipitation at a defined site and test for pH. There will be 250 sites and data will be entered on a school district website. This data will be correlated with the path of the weather front.

Question and Hypothesis  Question: Does the direction of a weather front affect the pH of the precipitation on the Gig Harbor peninsula?  Hypothesis: If a weather front passes over a highly populated area, then the precipitation will have a lower pH because atmospheric pollution can produce acidic precipitation.

Significance The Gig Harbor peninsula has three major population centers in close proximity. There is concern that these population centers contribute to acid rain. By collecting data from a large geographical area, students can determine if the direction of the weather front correlates to a decreased pH in the precipitation.

Standards  State Benchmark 1.2.1: Analyze how the parts of a system interconnect and influence each other.  State Benchmark 1.3.3: Observe and describe that substances may react chemically to form new substances with different chemical properties.  State Benchmark 2.1.2: Generate a logical plan for a simple field investigation.

Materials/Methods  Materials per student: mL plastic cup 30 pH test strips Digital camera  Methods: 1. Students will define their site. 2.Students will place cups at their selected site. 3.When precipitation amount completely does not cover the bottom of the cup, the precipitation will be dumped. 4.Record the pH in lab journal. 5.Enter data on school district website. 6.When precipitation amounts cover the bottom of the cup, students will test for pH level.

Camera Use  Students will photograph surrounding areas. This information will be displayed in the classroom on a map of the Puget Sound area. This information will help identify potential ground sources of factors that contribute to acid rain.  Students will photograph their data collecting site paying particular attention to surrounding physical features.  Students will photograph clouds and construct a GIF. This data will demonstrate cloud direction.

Data Transformation  Students will construct an isoline map showing similar pH areas on the Gig Harbor peninsula.  Students will graph over time of the average pH levels on the peninsula.  Students will determine if there is a correlation between lower levels of pH and the weather front passing over populated areas.