Many of the problems facing environmental education stems from the sheer complexity of our environment.  Systems are so interconnected that a simple linear view is not enough to fully understand how small changes in one system can create very large changes in the whole environment.  STELLA, as a software package, is a mechanism for building a systemic understanding of our world.  In the following model, some data is real.  It was collected as a part of the French Creek Project.  Using that data and a collection of differential equations involving photosynthetic cycles, turbulence, respiration, and temperature, the model was constructed.  The French Creek Project data was a check to "fine tune" the model as close as possible to reality.  By changing some of the variables, such as temperature or turbulence, changes in dissolved oxygen levels are predicted.  The diagram portion of the model allows the student to see the connections between variables.  The graphing portion of the software allows the student to visually see the impact of  changing those variables.
    The model is in 3 parts:
(1) Diagram
(2) program
(3) graph analysis
 
 

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