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MATTERS STEM MATTERS STEM iCRAG is the SFI Research Centre for Applied Geosciences hosted by University College Dublin IRISH CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN APPLIED GEOSCIENCES PROTECTING OUR PRECIOUS WATER PROTECTING OUR PRECIOUS WATER Science I Technology I Engineering I Mathematics In this month’s issue of STEM Matters, we visit iCRAG – the SFI Research Centre for Applied Geosciences hosted by University College Dublin – where researchers and scientists spend their time developing innovative science and technologies to better understand the Earth’s past, present, and future. A new mini-mag packed full of Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 1 22/09/2021 17:12Published by News Mag Media Ltd ©2021 Issue #2 October 2021 Untitled-1 1Untitled-1 127/09/2021 11:4227/09/2021 11:42Welcome to the iCRAG Research Centre How well do you know the water cycle? inside the mag PAGE 3: Water Cycle Warm -Up PAGE 4,5: Water Pollutions PAGE 6,7: Experiment Time PAGE 8: Puzzle Time ello, everyone! My name is Murray (that's me with the cap!) and I’m really pleased to welcome you to this issue of STEM Matters, produced by many of the researchers that I work with at iCRAG, the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences. I’m the director of iCRAG, which means that I get to oversee all the really interesting research that we do in the c entre, including all the fascinating work we do to safeguard Irish water, which is what this issue is all about. H Geoscience is the study of everything about the earth – from the rocks under our feet to the atmosphere we breathe. At iCRAG, we want to understand the Earth’s past, present and future, and continue to learn how people like you and me are connected to it. It’s our job to create solutions so our society can be sustainable into the future. iCRAG is based at University College Dublin (UCD), but our researchers can be found at institutions across Ireland. We also work with other research centres and universities across the world, as well as with the government and industry partners. In this issue, we want to share our research and knowledge on Earth’s water with you – looking at where it can be found and why we’re working to combat water pollution in Ireland. We hope you enjoy it, and remember – STEM Matters! Meet the iCRAG family! MMuurrrraayy did you know? Geoscience is sometimes called Earth Science. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 2 22/09/2021 15:42IRISH CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN APPLIED GEOSCIENCES Page 3 How well do you know the water cycle? Hi, there! My name is Hannah, and I am a PhD researcher in the Department of Geology at University College Cork. For as long as I can remember , I have been interested in the natural world and environmental issues. That’s why for my degree s, my Master’s and now my PhD, I have explored and continue to study the natural world, especially water and soil. I love to learn about both the natural and man-made changes that are happening all around us and what we can do to have a positive impact on the environment. Over the years I have realised how important water really is and how amazing the water cycle is. I am very passionate about caring for the environment and I try to make small contributions to Mother Nature in my daily life – reusing, recycling and making things myself are just some of the ways I do this. Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hannah Binner PhD Researcher University College Cork efore you find out more about iCRAG and the research our scientists do on water, let’s test how much you already know . B As we’ll be using lots of key words throughout this issue of STEM Matters, let’s get you warmed up by asking you to place the words and phrases in the boxes in their correct location in the water-cycle table below, using all three columns. As you can see from the table, the key parts of the water cycle are water storage, transport, evaporation, condensation and precipitation. We’ve just done one for you! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 3 22/09/2021 15:42Water is held in plant life Water is held in the sea Percolation and infiltration Evaporation Runoff Groundwater flow Snow over high ground Water released from melting snow Rain over the sea Water evaporating from surface waters Salt water (oceans) Atmosphere Plant uptake Fresh water (rivers, lakes and streams) Water is held as water vapour and clouds Water is held underground – this is called ground water Water is held in lakes, rivers and streams on the Earth's surface – this is called surface water Water is frozen into snow, ice and glaciers Surface water flow Snow/ice transport Evapotranspiration Sublimation C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Runoff Groundwater flow Water released from melting snow Transpiration Water flowing in rivers and streams Water flowing across the land Water flowing in underground rivers and streams Water dripping down through the ground into rocks beneath our feet Water evaporating from plant life Water returning to the atmosphere directly from snow and ice – it goes straight from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid in between Atmosphere Water that has evaporated condenses to become clouds Deposition Rain over land Transport Untitled-1 2Untitled-1 227/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Welcome to the iCRAG Research Centre How well do you know the water cycle? inside the mag PAGE 3: Water Cycle Warm -Up PAGE 4,5: Water Pollutions PAGE 6,7: Experiment Time PAGE 8: Puzzle Time ello, everyone! My name is Murray (that's me with the cap!) and I’m really pleased to welcome you to this issue of STEM Matters, produced by many of the researchers that I work with at iCRAG, the Irish Centre for Research in Applied Geosciences. I’m the director of iCRAG, which means that I get to oversee all the really interesting research that we do in the c entre, including all the fascinating work we do to safeguard Irish water, which is what this issue is all about. H Geoscience is the study of everything about the earth – from the rocks under our feet to the atmosphere we breathe. At iCRAG, we want to understand the Earth’s past, present and future, and continue to learn how people like you and me are connected to it. It’s our job to create solutions so our society can be sustainable into the future. iCRAG is based at University College Dublin (UCD), but our researchers can be found at institutions across Ireland. We also work with other research centres and universities across the world, as well as with the government and industry partners. In this issue, we want to share our research and knowledge on Earth’s water with you – looking at where it can be found and why we’re working to combat water pollution in Ireland. We hope you enjoy it, and remember – STEM Matters! Meet the iCRAG family! MMuurrrraayy did you know? Geoscience is sometimes called Earth Science. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 2 22/09/2021 15:42IRISH CENTRE FOR RESEARCH IN APPLIED GEOSCIENCES Page 3 How well do you know the water cycle? Hi, there! My name is Hannah, and I am a PhD researcher in the Department of Geology at University College Cork. For as long as I can remember , I have been interested in the natural world and environmental issues. That’s why for my degree s, my Master’s and now my PhD, I have explored and continue to study the natural world, especially water and soil. I love to learn about both the natural and man-made changes that are happening all around us and what we can do to have a positive impact on the environment. Over the years I have realised how important water really is and how amazing the water cycle is. I am very passionate about caring for the environment and I try to make small contributions to Mother Nature in my daily life – reusing, recycling and making things myself are just some of the ways I do this. Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hannah Binner PhD Researcher University College Cork efore you find out more about iCRAG and the research our scientists do on water, let’s test how much you already know . B As we’ll be using lots of key words throughout this issue of STEM Matters, let’s get you warmed up by asking you to place the words and phrases in the boxes in their correct location in the water-cycle table below, using all three columns. As you can see from the table, the key parts of the water cycle are water storage, transport, evaporation, condensation and precipitation. We’ve just done one for you! C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 3 22/09/2021 15:42Water is held in plant life Water is held in the sea Percolation and infiltration Evaporation Runoff Groundwater flow Snow over high ground Water released from melting snow Rain over the sea Water evaporating from surface waters Salt water (oceans) Atmosphere Plant uptake Fresh water (rivers, lakes and streams) Water is held as water vapour and clouds Water is held underground – this is called ground water Water is held in lakes, rivers and streams on the Earth's surface – this is called surface water Water is frozen into snow, ice and glaciers Surface water flow Snow/ice transport Evapotranspiration Sublimation C M Y CM MY CY CMY K Runoff Groundwater flow Water released from melting snow Transpiration Water flowing in rivers and streams Water flowing across the land Water flowing in underground rivers and streams Water dripping down through the ground into rocks beneath our feet Water evaporating from plant life Water returning to the atmosphere directly from snow and ice – it goes straight from a solid to a gas without becoming a liquid in between Atmosphere Water that has evaporated condenses to become clouds Deposition Rain over land Transport Untitled-1 3Untitled-1 327/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Meet the iCRAG Scientists A Page 4 Hi, my name is Luisa and I am a PhD Researcher and Civil Engineer. I am currently investigating the contamination of water that is stored underground (also known as groundwater) with bacteria that can make us sick. With my research I hope to understand how these microscopic organisms get into groundwater, so that we can avoid and prevent such contamination from happening in the first place. Luisa Andrade PhD Researcher University College Cork In Brazil (where I am from) as well as here in Ir eland, we are lucky to have a lot of water both above and below ground, but we need to make sure that all this water is as clean and safe as it can be. To achieve this, it is important that we understand how contamination occurs and and what we can do to stop it. Outside of work, I love reading and going on long hikes. Water Pollution WATER POLLUTION Inappropriate sewage disposal Oil spills This is one of the biggest causes of water contamination. Sewage is often discarded directly into rivers or the sea, but it can also reach water under the ground via percolation and infiltration. When sewage is present in water, bacteria use oxygen to break down the sewage. If there is too much sewage in the water, these bacteria can end up using some of the oxygen that fish depend on! To try and prevent this, researchers investigate ways to appropriately remove the chemicals and the microorganisms in the sewage before its disposal. Marine dumping This is the bad practice of dumping our rubbish into the oceans. Marine wildlife is strongly affected by this, and many creatures can die from becoming tangled in or eating these materials. Researchers have also found that very small pieces of plastic called microplastic – the most common material in these dumping activities – can end up back in humans via the food chain. Accidents during the extraction or transport of oil at sea can result in what are known as oil spills. Oil cannot dissolve in water. Instead, it forms a thick layer on the surface and beneath that can spread for hundreds of kilometres. This contaminant can suffocate fish, block light from reaching aquatic plants and end up getting caught in birds’ feathers, making them unable to fly. Researchers are working on ways to track and treat these spillages before they can seriously affect local ecosystem s. s you now know, water can be stored and transported in many different ways throughout the water cycle, and this is great! It means that there is water available for plants, animals, humans and natural processes in all kinds of different environments. However, it also means that there are a number of ways in which contaminants, such as harmful chemicals and microorganisms that can make us sick, can reach our water resources. Let’s take a look at some of the main causes of pollution within the water cycle, and how scientists have been working to stop contamination. Always put you litter/rubbish in designated bins and never throw it on the ground. 2. Whenever you can, try to walk or cycle to places instead of using the car – this will lower the chemical emissions rising into the atmosphere. 1. i Pesticides and fertilizers The pesticides and fertili sers in farming activities, when overused, can be transported via runoff to nearby surface waters (such as streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans). They can also infiltrate through the soil and get into groundwater. This introduces harmful bacteria and chemicals to water that can make people and animals very sick. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 4 22/09/2021 15:42Meet the iCRAG Scientists Page 5 In Brazil (where I am from) as well as here in Ireland, we are lucky to have a lot of water both above and below ground, but we need to make sure that all this water is as clean and safe as it can be. To achieve this, it is important that we understand and I am a PhD researcher in UCC. I am influence of groundwater on the performance of underground useful, such as supplying water for drinking, agriculture and industry. However, like an old Chinese says: Chao Wang Groundwater can be troublesome for underground structures or he into tunnels may cause tunnel maintenance problems or even endanger tunnel safety. Outside of my research work, I like hiking very much and have been to mountains up to 4,000 met s high where the world is truly under your feet. Air pollution Landfills Landfills are places where our non-recycled rubbish is dumped and buried. These giant dumps usually carry very bad smells because of the organic and chemical content that is in the waste. The water that comes from all refuse produces an even smellier liquid called leachate or ‘garbage juice’. If the landfill is not carefully constructed, this garbage juice can seep into groundwater or get transported into nearby lakes and rivers via runoff. This is very bad for the health of the fish and people that may end up drinking the water. Urban pollution Urban pollution can enter the water cycle via runoff into local rivers and lakes. This pollution can come from construction sites, factories, hospitals trash from people littering. Air pollution from factories, cars and even farming can also affect our water. Th happens because particles that are released these activities can react with the water that is in the atmosphere and produce acid rain. Acid rain can make lakes more acidic than they should be and this can end up killing marine life. Think of fun ways to reuse or recycle things you no longer need this can help reduce the amount of waste you produce and can be fun too! 3. Always put your litter/rubbish in designated bins and never throw it on the ground. 2. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 5 22/09/2021 15:42WATER POLLUTION Untitled-1 4Untitled-1 427/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Meet the iCRAG Scientists A Page 4 Hi, my name is Luisa and I am a PhD Researcher and Civil Engineer. I am currently investigating the contamination of water that is stored underground (also known as groundwater) with bacteria that can make us sick. With my research I hope to understand how these microscopic organisms get into groundwater, so that we can avoid and prevent such contamination from happening in the first place. Luisa Andrade PhD Researcher University College Cork In Brazil (where I am from) as well as here in Ir eland, we are lucky to have a lot of water both above and below ground, but we need to make sure that all this water is as clean and safe as it can be. To achieve this, it is important that we understand how contamination occurs and and what we can do to stop it. Outside of work, I love reading and going on long hikes. Water Pollution WATER POLLUTION Inappropriate sewage disposal Oil spills This is one of the biggest causes of water contamination. Sewage is often discarded directly into rivers or the sea, but it can also reach water under the ground via percolation and infiltration. When sewage is present in water, bacteria use oxygen to break down the sewage. If there is too much sewage in the water, these bacteria can end up using some of the oxygen that fish depend on! To try and prevent this, researchers investigate ways to appropriately remove the chemicals and the microorganisms in the sewage before its disposal. Marine dumping This is the bad practice of dumping our rubbish into the oceans. Marine wildlife is strongly affected by this, and many creatures can die from becoming tangled in or eating these materials. Researchers have also found that very small pieces of plastic called microplastic – the most common material in these dumping activities – can end up back in humans via the food chain. Accidents during the extraction or transport of oil at sea can result in what are known as oil spills. Oil cannot dissolve in water. Instead, it forms a thick layer on the surface and beneath that can spread for hundreds of kilometres. This contaminant can suffocate fish, block light from reaching aquatic plants and end up getting caught in birds’ feathers, making them unable to fly. Researchers are working on ways to track and treat these spillages before they can seriously affect local ecosystem s. s you now know, water can be stored and transported in many different ways throughout the water cycle, and this is great! It means that there is water available for plants, animals, humans and natural processes in all kinds of different environments. However, it also means that there are a number of ways in which contaminants, such as harmful chemicals and microorganisms that can make us sick, can reach our water resources. Let’s take a look at some of the main causes of pollution within the water cycle, and how scientists have been working to stop contamination. Always put you litter/rubbish in designated bins and never throw it on the ground. 2. Whenever you can, try to walk or cycle to places instead of using the car – this will lower the chemical emissions rising into the atmosphere. 1. i Pesticides and fertilizers The pesticides and fertili sers in farming activities, when overused, can be transported via runoff to nearby surface waters (such as streams, lakes, rivers, and oceans). They can also infiltrate through the soil and get into groundwater. This introduces harmful bacteria and chemicals to water that can make people and animals very sick. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 4 22/09/2021 15:42Meet the iCRAG Scientists Page 5 In Brazil (where I am from) as well as here in Ireland, we are lucky to have a lot of water both above and below ground, but we need to make sure that all this water is as clean and safe as it can be. To achieve this, it is important that we understand and I am a PhD researcher in UCC. I am influence of groundwater on the performance of underground useful, such as supplying water for drinking, agriculture and industry. However, like an old Chinese says: Chao Wang Groundwater can be troublesome for underground structures or he into tunnels may cause tunnel maintenance problems or even endanger tunnel safety. Outside of my research work, I like hiking very much and have been to mountains up to 4,000 met s high where the world is truly under your feet. Air pollution Landfills Landfills are places where our non-recycled rubbish is dumped and buried. These giant dumps usually carry very bad smells because of the organic and chemical content that is in the waste. The water that comes from all refuse produces an even smellier liquid called leachate or ‘garbage juice’. If the landfill is not carefully constructed, this garbage juice can seep into groundwater or get transported into nearby lakes and rivers via runoff. This is very bad for the health of the fish and people that may end up drinking the water. Urban pollution Urban pollution can enter the water cycle via runoff into local rivers and lakes. This pollution can come from construction sites, factories, hospitals trash from people littering. Air pollution from factories, cars and even farming can also affect our water. Th happens because particles that are released these activities can react with the water that is in the atmosphere and produce acid rain. Acid rain can make lakes more acidic than they should be and this can end up killing marine life. Think of fun ways to reuse or recycle things you no longer need this can help reduce the amount of waste you produce and can be fun too! 3. Always put your litter/rubbish in designated bins and never throw it on the ground. 2. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 5 22/09/2021 15:42WATER POLLUTION Untitled-1 5Untitled-1 527/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Page 6 EXPERIMENT TIME EXPERIMENT TIME Meet the iCRAG Scientists Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hi, my name is Alexis. I am a post-doctoral researcher at iCRAG, and I am from France. I am pretty sure that you are familiar with the problem of global warming, which is an effect of too much carbon going into the atmosphere. Did you know that scientists’ estimates of the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere are too low – many have forgotten the fact that unhealthy bogs release carbon. This is where I come in. In my research, I study peatlands using radar satellites. Dr. Alexis Hrysiewicz PhD Researcher University College Dublin I use a special method called radar interferometry to monitor the surface of bogs to find out about their health. Our new view from space should help us to correctly estimate the carbon released by bogs. This data will be able to help protect these important environments. In my spare time, when I am not looking at Earth from space, I use my telescopes to look at space from Earth! aving discussed the water cycle, join with us in this experiment to make your own … in a bag! H •A resealable plastic bag (sandwich or litre- size bags work well) •120 ml of water •Tape (to secure your bag to a window) •Permanent marker (for drawing your water cycle) 1 2 3 4 Seeing bogs breathe from space The Water Cycle … in a Bag! • Blue food colouring (just to make things look cooler) • A window (preferably one that receives lots of sunlight) 1. What do you see happening inside the bag as time passes? 2. Does it look foggy in the bag? 3. Do you notice any condensation? 4. Are the water droplets small or large? 5. What do you think is causing this? Bogs are watery areas of land that are home to many specially adapted plants and animals. When plants die in a bog, the water slows up the process of decay. Dead plants pile up over thousands of years and slowly turn into peat (turf), a soft dark- brown soil. Peat in a bog can be more than six times deeper than a swimming pool’s deep-end. Peat stores huge amounts of water and carbon. Scientists think that there is more carbon stored in the Earth’s bogs than in its rainforests. Materials needed People have turned lots of bog into farmland by digging trenches to drain the water away. Peat is also dug up and burned for heating houses and producing electricity. By damaging bogs in this way, water supplies are polluted, and carbon is released into the atmosphere. In bogs, the level of the ground surface is closely linked to the level of water held under the ground (groundwater). In a healthy bog, the ground surface remains at the same height or even rises over many years. Within a year, the ground also goes up in the rainier winter (when there’s more groundwater) and goes down in the drier summer (when there’s less groundwater). This is called “bog breathing”. In an unhealthy bog that is losing water, the ground surface goes down over many years and shows little sign of “breathing”. One way we can now measure the ups or downs of a bog surface is to use satellites. Place the bag on a flat surface with the resealable end at the top. Draw the water cycle on the bag with your marker. Include a sun, clouds, and the ocean, as shown in figure 1. Pour the water into the bag and add a few drops of food colouring. Seal your bag and hang it on a window using the tape. For best results, remember to place it on a window that has direct sunlight shining on it. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 6 22/09/2021 17:34Drawing the water cycle onto your bag Tape the bag securely to the window Figure 1 Page 7 EXPERIMENT TIME EXPERIMENT TIME Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hi, my name is Alexis. I am a post- doctoral researcher at iCRAG, and I am from France. I am pretty sure that you are familiar with the problem of global warming, which is an effect of too much carbon going into the atmosphere. Did you know that scientists’ estimates of the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere are too low – many have forgotten the fact that unhealthy bogs release carbon. This is where I come in. In my research, I study peatlands using radar satellites. I use a special method called radar interferometry to monitor the surface of bogs to find out about their health. Our new view from space should help us to correctly estimate the carbon released by bogs. This data will be able to help protect these important environments. In my spare time, when I am not looking at Earth from space, I use my telescopes to look at space from Earth! Erica Terese Krueger PhD Researcher Trinity College Dublin Hi, there! My name is Erica, and I am a PhD researcher in the Department of Geology at Trinity College Dublin. I am originally from Florida but have lived in Dublin for two years now. Have you ever seen a coral reef? You might think that coral reefs are made up of rocks, but they are actually a home to living organisms called polyps. Most people have seen colourful coral reefs on television, but did you know there are coral reefs at the very bottom of the ocean? My research is focused on these deep-sea coral reefs and how the changing ocean conditions may affect them. Although they are very strong, corals are sensitive to changes in temperature, salinity, water currents, and more. I study how different changes in the ocean may cause harm to the corals, and how we can help to protect them for the future. When I am not doing research, I like to travel, spend time outdoors, and go to – you guessed it – the beach ! Through our observations, we can observe the different stages of the water cycle. First, sunlight provides energy in the form of heat. This heat causes the water to turn into a gas called water vapo ur during evaporation. The water vapo ur rises into the atmosphere. As it rises, it cools down and forms a cloud. This is known as condensation. The cloud will gather more water, which becomes too heavy for the air to hold up, so gravity will pull that water to the ground. We know this step as precipitation. Rain, hail, sleet, and snow are all forms of precipitation. After the rain falls, it collects in the ground, lakes, rivers, ponds, oceans and other bodies of water. This step is called collection. These steps then continue to repeat, and this is the water cycle! Explanation My Observations 4 5 Seeing bogs breathe from space The Water Cycle … in a Bag! 1. What do you see happening inside the bag as time passes? 2. Does it look foggy in the bag? 3. Do you notice any condensation? 4. Are the water droplets small or large? 5. What do you think is causing this? People have turned lots of bog into farmland by digging trenches to drain the water away. Peat is also dug up and burned for heating houses and producing electricity. By damaging bogs in this way, water supplies are polluted, and carbon is released into the atmosphere. In bogs, the level of the ground surface is closely linked to the level of water held under the ground (groundwater). In a healthy bog, the ground surface remains at the same height or even rises over many years. Within a year, the ground also goes up in the rainier winter (when there’s more groundwater) and goes down in the drier summer (when there’s less groundwater). This is called 'bog breathing '. In an unhealthy bog that is losing water, the ground surface goes down over many years and shows little sign of 'breathing'. One way we can now measure the ups or downs of a bog surface is to use satellites. Some of the satellites flying around the Earth in space shoot invisible radio waves at the Earth’s surface. These waves bounce back from the Earth to the satellite in the same way as light waves from a torch bounce back from a wall to your eyes. The satellite can use the returning radio waves to ‘see’ how far away from it the bog surface is. This way of measuring the distance to things is called 'radar'. It is used by air traffic controllers to track aeroplanes in the sky, by ships to sail in the dark and by police to see if a car is going too fast. Using water wells in a bog, we can show that the ups and downs measured by the radar satellite are indeed the bog surface reacting to the changing groundwater level. In this way, we can keep watch on a bog’s health – a bit like a doctor keeping an eye on how a patient is breathing! Leave your water cycle for an hour. When you check on it, write down your observations. Now that your observations are recorded, leave the experiment in place for another hour. When you return, check on it and again write down your observations. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 7 22/09/2021 17:34Begin to observe any changes Untitled-1 6Untitled-1 627/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Page 6 EXPERIMENT TIME EXPERIMENT TIME Meet the iCRAG Scientists Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hi, my name is Alexis. I am a post-doctoral researcher at iCRAG, and I am from France. I am pretty sure that you are familiar with the problem of global warming, which is an effect of too much carbon going into the atmosphere. Did you know that scientists’ estimates of the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere are too low – many have forgotten the fact that unhealthy bogs release carbon. This is where I come in. In my research, I study peatlands using radar satellites. Dr. Alexis Hrysiewicz PhD Researcher University College Dublin I use a special method called radar interferometry to monitor the surface of bogs to find out about their health. Our new view from space should help us to correctly estimate the carbon released by bogs. This data will be able to help protect these important environments. In my spare time, when I am not looking at Earth from space, I use my telescopes to look at space from Earth! aving discussed the water cycle, join with us in this experiment to make your own … in a bag! H •A resealable plastic bag (sandwich or litre- size bags work well) •120 ml of water •Tape (to secure your bag to a window) •Permanent marker (for drawing your water cycle) 1 2 3 4 Seeing bogs breathe from space The Water Cycle … in a Bag! • Blue food colouring (just to make things look cooler) • A window (preferably one that receives lots of sunlight) 1. What do you see happening inside the bag as time passes? 2. Does it look foggy in the bag? 3. Do you notice any condensation? 4. Are the water droplets small or large? 5. What do you think is causing this? Bogs are watery areas of land that are home to many specially adapted plants and animals. When plants die in a bog, the water slows up the process of decay. Dead plants pile up over thousands of years and slowly turn into peat (turf), a soft dark- brown soil. Peat in a bog can be more than six times deeper than a swimming pool’s deep-end. Peat stores huge amounts of water and carbon. Scientists think that there is more carbon stored in the Earth’s bogs than in its rainforests. Materials needed People have turned lots of bog into farmland by digging trenches to drain the water away. Peat is also dug up and burned for heating houses and producing electricity. By damaging bogs in this way, water supplies are polluted, and carbon is released into the atmosphere. In bogs, the level of the ground surface is closely linked to the level of water held under the ground (groundwater). In a healthy bog, the ground surface remains at the same height or even rises over many years. Within a year, the ground also goes up in the rainier winter (when there’s more groundwater) and goes down in the drier summer (when there’s less groundwater). This is called “bog breathing”. In an unhealthy bog that is losing water, the ground surface goes down over many years and shows little sign of “breathing”. One way we can now measure the ups or downs of a bog surface is to use satellites. Place the bag on a flat surface with the resealable end at the top. Draw the water cycle on the bag with your marker. Include a sun, clouds, and the ocean, as shown in figure 1. Pour the water into the bag and add a few drops of food colouring. Seal your bag and hang it on a window using the tape. For best results, remember to place it on a window that has direct sunlight shining on it. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 6 22/09/2021 17:34Drawing the water cycle onto your bag Tape the bag securely to the window Figure 1 Page 7 EXPERIMENT TIME EXPERIMENT TIME Meet the iCRAG Scientists Hi, my name is Alexis. I am a post- doctoral researcher at iCRAG, and I am from France. I am pretty sure that you are familiar with the problem of global warming, which is an effect of too much carbon going into the atmosphere. Did you know that scientists’ estimates of the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere are too low – many have forgotten the fact that unhealthy bogs release carbon. This is where I come in. In my research, I study peatlands using radar satellites. I use a special method called radar interferometry to monitor the surface of bogs to find out about their health. Our new view from space should help us to correctly estimate the carbon released by bogs. This data will be able to help protect these important environments. In my spare time, when I am not looking at Earth from space, I use my telescopes to look at space from Earth! Erica Terese Krueger PhD Researcher Trinity College Dublin Hi, there! My name is Erica, and I am a PhD researcher in the Department of Geology at Trinity College Dublin. I am originally from Florida but have lived in Dublin for two years now. Have you ever seen a coral reef? You might think that coral reefs are made up of rocks, but they are actually a home to living organisms called polyps. Most people have seen colourful coral reefs on television, but did you know there are coral reefs at the very bottom of the ocean? My research is focused on these deep-sea coral reefs and how the changing ocean conditions may affect them. Although they are very strong, corals are sensitive to changes in temperature, salinity, water currents, and more. I study how different changes in the ocean may cause harm to the corals, and how we can help to protect them for the future. When I am not doing research, I like to travel, spend time outdoors, and go to – you guessed it – the beach ! Through our observations, we can observe the different stages of the water cycle. First, sunlight provides energy in the form of heat. This heat causes the water to turn into a gas called water vapo ur during evaporation. The water vapo ur rises into the atmosphere. As it rises, it cools down and forms a cloud. This is known as condensation. The cloud will gather more water, which becomes too heavy for the air to hold up, so gravity will pull that water to the ground. We know this step as precipitation. Rain, hail, sleet, and snow are all forms of precipitation. After the rain falls, it collects in the ground, lakes, rivers, ponds, oceans and other bodies of water. This step is called collection. These steps then continue to repeat, and this is the water cycle! Explanation My Observations 4 5 Seeing bogs breathe from space The Water Cycle … in a Bag! 1. What do you see happening inside the bag as time passes? 2. Does it look foggy in the bag? 3. Do you notice any condensation? 4. Are the water droplets small or large? 5. What do you think is causing this? People have turned lots of bog into farmland by digging trenches to drain the water away. Peat is also dug up and burned for heating houses and producing electricity. By damaging bogs in this way, water supplies are polluted, and carbon is released into the atmosphere. In bogs, the level of the ground surface is closely linked to the level of water held under the ground (groundwater). In a healthy bog, the ground surface remains at the same height or even rises over many years. Within a year, the ground also goes up in the rainier winter (when there’s more groundwater) and goes down in the drier summer (when there’s less groundwater). This is called 'bog breathing '. In an unhealthy bog that is losing water, the ground surface goes down over many years and shows little sign of 'breathing'. One way we can now measure the ups or downs of a bog surface is to use satellites. Some of the satellites flying around the Earth in space shoot invisible radio waves at the Earth’s surface. These waves bounce back from the Earth to the satellite in the same way as light waves from a torch bounce back from a wall to your eyes. The satellite can use the returning radio waves to ‘see’ how far away from it the bog surface is. This way of measuring the distance to things is called 'radar'. It is used by air traffic controllers to track aeroplanes in the sky, by ships to sail in the dark and by police to see if a car is going too fast. Using water wells in a bog, we can show that the ups and downs measured by the radar satellite are indeed the bog surface reacting to the changing groundwater level. In this way, we can keep watch on a bog’s health – a bit like a doctor keeping an eye on how a patient is breathing! Leave your water cycle for an hour. When you check on it, write down your observations. Now that your observations are recorded, leave the experiment in place for another hour. When you return, check on it and again write down your observations. C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 7 22/09/2021 17:34Begin to observe any changes Untitled-1 7Untitled-1 727/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43In next month’s issue of STEM Matters, we travel south to the world-leading VistaMilk Research Centre in Fermoy, Co. Cork Science I Technology I Engineering I Mathematics The iCRAG Back Page Word Search Deposition Snowmelt Surface Flow Evaporation River Discharge Before you finish this issue of STEM Matters, can you fill in the blanks from the list of word s below to complete the diagram of our wonderful water cycle? The Water Cycle recap Infiltration Precipitation Condensation Transportation Percolation Transpiration Atmosphere Bog Breathing Clouds Condensation Contamination Deposition Evaporation Experiments Geoscience Groundwater iCRAG Infiltration Oceans Percolation Plant Uptake Precipitation Radar Runoff Satellites Storage Sublimation Transpiration Transport C M Y CM MY CY CMY K STEM_OCT2.pdf 8 22/09/2021 15:42SCAN THE qr code to reveal the solution Let's see if you can spot the 23 words taken from this month's issue in the word search below. Untitled-1 8Untitled-1 827/09/2021 11:4327/09/2021 11:43Next >