Conclusions

Conclusions:
My data did support my hypothesis that said that the water would change more slowly because it is a better insulator of warmth. As I took the data over the course of the semester it became clear that this hypothesis would be true. The graph really helped to visualize the difference between water and air and their capabilities to insulate heat. The line for water was much more flat while the line for air dropped at much more dramatic rates. These two things combined to make me decide that air temperatures drop at much faster rates than water.
Things I would Chage:
I would probably use a more accurate thermometer because the one that I had only had numbers down to 32 degrees fahrenheit, so I had to estimate if it was below that. I would also go on a more consistent pattern to measure the data (although that can be difficult with a busy school schedule). I would also try to be more consistent about what time of the day I went to visit my plot (also a little difficult to pull off).

Sunday, December 7, 2008

I visited my plot yesterday actually for the final time. I'm not going to lie, it was an emotional departure as I turned the wheel towards the exit of the woods and threw the thermometer in the water for the final time. Okay, that WAS a lie; BUT none the less it was interesting to visit the plot over the course of the semester (which seems to have slipped by very quickly) and note the changes and marvel over the power and majesty of our God. That's pretty cool. It was the coldest day yet with the air temperature at about 23 degrees while the water was about 32 degrees and was beginning to freeze. I did not see a lot of wildlife and didn't see any tracks as we were blessed with a foot of snow the day before. Even without the beauty of animals or plants available on this cold winter day, the snow seemed to illuminate the scene and offered a beauty of its own.

Today I visited my field study plot on a cold and windy winter day. There was snow falling and a very stiff wind that weren't exactly field-study ideal. The air temperature was about 30 degrees while the water temperature was around 34. This makes a difference of -4 degrees. It's also the lowest temperature that I have recorded for the air temperature. I did see some tracks today, which I think were turkey tracks. There were quite a few tracks similar to these. I didn't see a lot of life other than that however. The trees that were once covered with lush green leaves are now coated with a sheet of white snow. Welcome to winter!