ESI98 Project Plan

Topic:

El-Nino and Global Change

Faculty mentor:

Project Team

Description of research project:

This project will explore the ENSO phenomenon (El-Nino/Southern Oscillation) as an integral part of the global climate. We will investigate meteorological and oceanographic data for the ENSO events of the past twenty years, with specific emphasis on the sea surface imagery records. The teleconnections of this phenomenon around the world will be explored through readings and Web research. Opportunities for hypothesis building and testing will be an integral part of the exploration, using public domain data sets and simple data analysis software. Possible future scenarios will be developed by extrapolation of the trends discovered in our analyses.

Scientific Objective:

To understand the ENSO phenomenon and the global interconnection between climate and ocean surface temperature.

Educational Objective:

To review and practice the scientific method by engaging in a scientific research project. To develop delivery methods suitable for inclusion in a classroom curriculum ranging from middle school to high school level.

Outcomes:

Participants will refresh their knowledge and skill in the scientific method, and will be able to effectively teach this method to their students through activities and materials developed as part of the project. Participants will expand their understanding of the El-Nino phenomenon as a link in the global climate variability.

Resources needed:

Web-based resources as well as data sets will play a very important part in the development of the research project, supplemented by a list of readings available on reserve at the university library. The following web sites are recommended for pre-institute preparation:

Woodrow Wilson Leadership Program in Environmental Science

lpt@www.woodrow.org
The Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation

webmaster@woodrow.org
CN 5281, Princeton NJ 08543-5281

Tel:(609)452-7007

Fax:(609)452-0066