Salt Tracer and Area-Velocity Water Discharge
Problem set on water discharge measurements done during an earlier class meeting. Could also be done as a lab.
Context
Audience: This activity has been done in an introductory, quantitative environmental science course as well as an advanced geomorphology course.
Skills and concepts that students must have mastered: They need to understand the meaning of "area under a curve" and should be comfortable with algebra and dimensional analysis. This activity focuses on conservation of mass, as well.
How the activity is situated in the course: This is a problem set based on field measurements done in an earlier class.
Goals
Content/concepts goals for this activity: calculating water discharge using two different techniques
Higher order thinking skills goals for this activity: analyzing field data, error analysis, complex plot interpretation
Other skills goals for this activity: operating field equipment such as velocity meters and electrical conductivity meters
observing stream conditions in situ
Description of the activity/assignment
Students spend a 50-minute class (or longer) measuring water discharge of a local stream. They use two different techniques: the traditional area-velocity method and a salt-tracer method. In the classroom, each student using Excel or Kaleidagraph to calculate discharge from field measurements. They summarize their results in an essay, and assess differences between the two techniques and potential sources of error.
Designed for a geomorphology course
Designed for an introductory geology course
Addresses student fear of quantitative aspect and/or inadequate quantitative skills
Determining whether students have met the goals
The students turn in plots, calculations, and their summary. There is no answer key because all field measurements will be somewhat different.
More information about assessment tools and techniques.Download teaching materials and tips
- Activity Description/Assignment (Microsoft Word 86kB May2 08)
Other Materials
Supporting references/URLs
