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= ABOUT THE TEAM = **Charleston Middle School Core E** toc Welcome to our wiki. We are members of the 8th Grade Gold Team Core E science class at Charleston Middle School in Charleston, IL. Our school enrollment is approximately 420 students divided into four teams - two 7th grade teams and two 8th grade teams. Charleston is located about 200 miles south of Chicago in the rural heartland of Central Illinois. The community is proud of its Lincoln heritage, being the 1840's home of Thomas and Sarah Bush Lincoln, father and stepmother of our 16th president and also the location of one of the famous Lincoln - Douglas debates. Charleston is a campus community - home to Eastern Illinois University. Our teacher is Mr. Tim McCollum.

= STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE =

= ﻿Step 1 - Preliminary Question =

Photo Credit - The Gateway to Astronaut Photography


 * Preliminary Question - What significant geographical changes have appeared over time due to the shrinking of the Dead Sea?**

=** Step 2 - Initial Observations **=

Dead Sea ||
 * Image ID || Latitude || Longitude || Name of Feature || Country || Date Acquired || Focal Length || Observations ||
 * [|AS07-11-2010] || 31.5 || 35 || Dead Sea || Israel || 196810 || 80mm || Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11375] || 31.5 || 35.5 || Dead Sea || Israel || 20100810 || 180mm || The water is gray ||
 * [|ISS006-E-31948] || 33.7 || 36.8 || Dead Sea || Israel || 200301 || 180mm || The West side of the
 * [|ISS024-E-13688] || 31.2 || 35.5 || Dead Sea || Israel || 20100904 || 180mm || Dead Sea and some land ||
 * [|ISS006-E-30986] || 31.0 || 35.5 || Dead Sea || Jordan || 20030223 || 180mm || The Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11366] || 31.5 || 35.5 || Dead Sea || Israel || 20100810 || 180mm || Looking at a glint of sun off the salt ||
 * [|ISS004-E-12883] || 31.5 || 35.0 || Dead Sea Central Desert || Israel || 20020603 || 400mm || The Dead Sea ||

=** Step 3 - Background Research **=

 //Dead Sea // Core E science class has learned many interesting facts about the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea was formed around two million years ago by two crustal plates that spread apart. Half the Dead Sea is in Jordan, and the other half is in Israel. There is a separate area called the Evaporation Ponds. The sea is slowly shrinking, and scientists have predicted that in 2050 there will be little water left. Since the year 1960, the Dead Sea has shrunk. One of the main reasons that the sea is shrinking is because of evaporation and the rivers feeding the Dead Sea are shrinking as well. Nothing will ever be able to live in the sea because there is too much salt. Also, the big amounts of salt allow you to be able to float effortlessly. Many products are made from the salt in the Dead Sea. The salt treats acne, hives, dandruff, dry skin stress, muscle aches, and more. Something else interesting that one of the students learned is that the Jordan River feeds fresh water into the Dead Sea. From centuries ago one of the popular names for the Dead Sea was "The Stinky Sea." The Dead Sea is a very interesting topic to learn and study about.
 * Name of Website || Internet Address || Brief Summary ||
 * Why is the Dead Sea shrinking? || [] || It answers the question why the Dead Sea is shrinking! ||
 * The Real Sea-Dead Sea Pipeline & Canal || [] || It shows how the Dead Sea has changed in size over time ||
 * How was the Dead Sea formed? || [] || It shows the History, some features, geography and some interesting facts about the Dead Sea. ||
 * Extreme Science || [] || It shows everything about the Dead Sea. ||
 * Dead Sea Shrinking Prompts Concern || [] || Focus on shrinking of Dead Sea ||
 * Dead Sea || [] || Long-term study ||

=** Step 4 - Experiment Design **=


 * Refined question - What significant geographical changes have appeared over time due to the shrinking of the Dead Sea**?
 * The main source of image data for our study will be the [|Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth] web site.
 * We will also seek websites that include examples of surface measurement of changes in the size of the Dead Sea along with surface photographs.
 * We plan to observe a minimum of 30 astronaut images of the Dead Sea region


 * Hypothesis - Changes in the shape of the Dead Sea due to shrinkage can be observed from astronaut photographs taken over time.**

=** Step 5 - Collect and Compile Data **=


 * Image I.D. || Date || Focal Length || Lat. || Long. || Country || Image Angle || General Observations ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11351] || 20100810 || 400mm || 31.3 || 35.5 || Jordan || 34 degrees || The mouth of the dragon ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11366] || 20100810 || 180mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || 49 degrees || The Dead Sea and a little salt pans ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11373] || 20100810 || 180mm || 31.6 || 35.5 || Jordan || 32 degrees || The north end of the Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS024-E-13689] || 20100904 || 180mm || 31.3 || 35.5 || Jordan || n/a || Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS006-E-30986] || 20030223 || 180mm || 31.0 || 35.5 || Jordan || n/a || Dead Sea ||
 * [|STS107-E-5652] || 20030124 || 400mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || Highly Oblique || Wide view of the Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11375] || 20100810 || 180mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || n/a || Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS008-E-19415] || 20040325 || 400mm || 31.4 || 35.5 || Jordan || 38 degrees || Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS011-E-10552] || 20050714 || 180mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || 33 degrees || Reflecton of a cloud on the Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS014-E-16333] || 20070310 || 180mm || 31.0 || 35.5 || Jordan || 49 degrees || The Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS018-E-45653] || 20090404 || 180mm || 31.5 || 35.4 || Israel || 25 degrees || The Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS023-E-035601] || 20100508 || 800mm || 31.8 || 35.5 || Israel || 26 degrees || The Dead Sea ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11348] || 20100810 || 48mm || 31.1 || 33.5 || Jordan || 28 degrees || Eastern Dead Sea ||
 * [|STS042-85-31] || 19920125 || 250mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Israel || 35 degrees || Dead Sea and evaporation ponds ||
 * [|STS106-713-11] || 20000919 || 250mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Israel || 17 degrees || Dead Sea and surroundings ||
 * [|ISS006-E-30992] || 20030223 || 400mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || 38 degrees || Evaporation ponds and Dead Sea ||
 * [|AS07-11-2010] || 196810 || 80mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Jordan || Low Oblique || Dead Sea and surroundings ||
 * [|SL3-122-2621] || 1973 || 100mm || 32.0 || 35.5 || Jordan || Low Oblique || Dead Sea and surroundings ||
 * [|STS042-91-32] || 199201 || 250mm || 31.5 || 35.5 || Israel || Low Oblique || Dead Sea ||

=** Step 6 - Display Data **=

ponds are visible || outline is changing || is changing || southern end || the sea; peninsula widens || Image Credit - Google Earth
 * Dead Sea Chronological Astronaut Image Table**
 * Image I.D. || Date || Visible Changes Detected: Yes, No, Unsure || Specific Changes Observed ||
 * [|AS07-11-2010] || 196810 || Yes || No evaporation ponds seen ||
 * [|SL3-122-2621] || 1973 || No || Not useful; too far away from sea ||
 * [|STS042-91-32] || 199201 || Yes || Gap of land; evaporation
 * [|STS042-85-31] || 19920125 || Yes || Gap of land is getting larger;
 * [|STS106-713-11] || 20000919 || Yes || The sea seems shorter; costline
 * [|STS107-E-5652] || 20030124 || Unsure || Not useful; too close to ground ||
 * [|ISS006-E-30986] || 20030223 || Yes || Evaporation ponds are getting larger ||
 * [|ISS006-E-30992] || 20030223 || Yes || Separation between ends ||
 * [|ISS008-E-19415] || 20040325 || Unsure || Not useful; not whole sea ||
 * [|ISS011-E-10552] || 20050714 || Yes || Water shrank; outline changed ||
 * [|ISS014-E-16333] || 20070310 || Yes || Shrinking on sides ||
 * [|ISS018-E-45653] || 20090404 || Yes || Land peninsula widens; water shrinks in
 * [|ISS024-E-11348] || 20100810 || Unsure || Not useful; zoomed in on evaporation ponds ||
 * [|ISS023-E-035601] || 20100508 || Unsure || Not useful; mostly land ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11375] || 20100810 || Yes || East bank shrinks inward ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11373] || 20100810 || No || Not useful; can't compare (same day) ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11366] || 20100810 || No || Not useful; same day ||
 * [|ISS024-E-11351] || 20100810 || Unsure || Not useful; same day ||
 * [|ISS024-E-13689] || 20100904 || Yes || Evaporation ponds are getting closer to

=** Step 7 - Analyze and Interpret Data **= Our initial observations of the Dead Sea have involved astronaut photographs from 1968 to 2010.The images clearly depict the shrinking of the Dead Sea, over a forty-two year time period. We have noticed significant changes in the shape and form. Specific changes that are visible consist of shrinking, mainly in the southern and eastern shores, growth of evaporation ponds, and the growth of land surrounding the Dead Sea.There are also geographical features that have formed, due to the shrinking, over the course of time such as a land peninsula. The peninsula is located in the southern region, and has caused the water surrounding it to recede.

The chart below shows measurement in meters decreasing from 1960-2000. This proves that our hypothesis is correct in showing the Dead Sea has indeed been shrinking.

Source - http://exact-me.org/overview/p4144.htm

Older- 1992 http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/scripts/sseop/QuickView.pl?directory=ISD&ID=STS042-91-32 Source- Gateway to Astronaut Photography =** Step 8 - Draw Conclusions **= Preliminary Question- What significant geographical changes have appeared over time due to the shrinking of the Dead Sea? Hypothesis- Changes in the shape of the Dead Sea due to the shrinking can be observed from astronaut photographs taken over time. We agree with our hypothesis of "Changes in the shape of the Dead Sea due to the shrinking can be observed from astronaut photographs taken over time," because clearly from astronaut photography, a change in the shape of the Dead Sea can be detected.

=** Step 9 - Share Research **=

[|Core E EEAB Presentation.pptx]

** GLOSSARY **
Buoyant - Tending to float in a fluid.

Barometric Pressure - also known as atmospheric pressure is the pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere at any given point

Crustal Plates - Large block or tabular section of the lithosphere that reacts to tectonic plates as a unit and moves as such.

Density - Compactness; closely set or crowded condition.

Hyper-saline - Containing or resembling common table salt.

Salt - A crystaline compound, sodium chloride, NaCI, occurring as a mineral, a constituent of sea-water and used for seasoning food; a reservative.

Yam Ha-Melah - Another name for Dead Sea.

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