Document Type
Report
Department/Program
Virginia Institute of Marine Science
Publication Date
2020
Series
VA Sea 2020 Lesson Plans
Abstract
Grades: 9-12 Subjects: Chemistry | Environmental Science | Oceanography
In this interactive estuary-focused activity, students will examine stable and radioactive isotope data which provide information about the source and age of environmental samples such as plant and soil matter. Students will calculate average isotope ratios from five reference land types (forest, wetland, agriculture, industry, aquatic) and an unknown site within an estuary. Students will graph their calculated ratios and determine the land type that most impacts their estuary based on reference-to-unknown comparisons.
DOI
doi: 10.25773/f8rb-6z53
Keywords
Secondary Education, Lesson Plans, chemistry, isotopes, estuarine characteristics
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.
Funding
The 2019/2020 VA SEA project was made possible through funding from the National Estuarine Research Reserve System Margaret Davidson Fellowship Program which supports graduate students in partnership with research reserves where fieldwork, research, and community engagement come together. VA SEA is currently supported by the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Virginia Sea Grant, and the Virginia Institute of Marine Science Marine Advisory Program.
Recommended Citation
Detweiler, D. (2020) Isotopes in the Estuary: Conception and Application of Stable and Radioactive Carbon. VA Sea 2020 Lesson Plans. Virginia Institute of Marine Science, William & Mary. doi: 10.25773/f8rb-6z53
Powerpoint
Included in
Environmental Chemistry Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons
