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=**╔╗╔╗╔╗ ── ╔╗ ────────────── ╔╗ ───────────── ╔╗╔╗╔╗╔╗ ── ╔╗**= =**║║║║║║ ── ║║ ───────────── ╔╝╚╗ ──────────── ║║║║║║║║ ── ║║**= =**║║║║║╠══╣║╔══╦══╦╗╔╦══╗╚╗╔╬══╗╔══╦╗╔╦═╗║║║║║╠╣║╔╦╣║**= =**║╚╝╚╝║║═╣║║╔═╣╔╗║╚╝║║═╣ ─ ║║║╔╗║║╔╗║║║║╔╝║╚╝╚╝╠╣╚╝╬╬╝**= =**╚╗╔╗╔╣║═╣╚╣╚═╣╚╝║║║║║═╣ ─ ║╚╣╚╝║║╚╝║╚╝║║ ─ ╚╗╔╗╔╣║╔╗╣╠╗**= =** ─ ╚╝╚╝╚══╩═╩══╩══╩╩╩╩══╝ ─ ╚═╩══╝╚══╩══╩╝ ── ╚╝╚╝╚╩╝╚╩╩╝**= =** We are a group of 25 seventh graders that attend Smith Middle School in Troy, Michigan. We have been working hard on this project for about five months. We began this project by just a simple question, and now its a big idea! We started this project early December, and there have been gaps in between of non working and working days. Our school district consists of twelve elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Our district was fortunate enough to be able to participate in the NASA Downlink. Some of our students had the privilege to ask astronauts in the space station about the life away from Earth, along with more questions on extraterrestrial topics. Colonel Gregory Johnson, the last commander of the Endeavor mission visited our school and showed us pictures and videos about his life in space. This event inspired many more students to become involved in astronomy. Hopefully, are questions about clouds will be answered! Thanks for visiting! **=

__**STEPS IN THE PROCESS OF SCIENCE**__

=Step 1 = =**Preliminary Question(s)** =
 * what is the difference between dry river beds and deltas?
 * what types and sizes of clouds are found near water
 * can you tell the difference between clouds and ice bergs from space
 * can you tell the difference between a river and a river bed

=Step 2 - Initial Observations =

**1. RESEARCH QUESTION:**
What types of clouds are found near oceans?

**2. SOURCES TO VIEW ASTRONAUT PHOTOS: **
http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/

**3. LIST OF SPECIFIC DATA TEAM WILL LOG FROM EACH ASTRONAUT PHOTO: **

 * Latitude/ longitude
 * percentage of cloud cover
 * Ocean
 * type of cloud
 * lens length

**4. HYPOTHESIS: **
**If the body of water is larger then it results in larger clouds**

=Step 3 - Background Research = **1. IMPORTANT TERMS AND DEFINITIONS: (Source for definitions: Wikipedia)** **atmosphere:** __envelope of gases that surrounds earth.__ **hydrosphere:** d__escribes the combined mass of water found on, under, and over the surface of a planet.__ **cameras:** __a device that records and stores images. These images may be still photographs or moving images such as videos or movies.__ **lenses:** __designed for use on a camera__ **date:** __a day on a calendar.__ **latitude**:__ a geographic coordinate that specifies the north-south position of a point on the Earth's surface. Lines of constant latitude, or __ __ parallels, __ __run east–west as circles parallel to the equator.__ **quantitative:** __ observations are made with instruments such as rulers, balances, graduated cylinders, beakers, and thermometers. These results are measurable. __ ** qualitative: ** <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #000000; font-size: 90%; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">__ observations use your senses to observe the results. (Sight, smell, touch, taste and hear.) __ <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 2. EARTH SYSTEM INFORMATION: ** atmosphere,hydrosphere, water is a liquid which evaporates into a gas, then condenses, and then forms into a cloud <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**4. FEATURE DESCRIPTION OR CHARACTERISTICS:** white, occasionally see through, curvy, sometimes blotchy, <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 5. ASTRONAUT IMAGES (2-3) THAT INCLUDE THE FEATURE YOU ARE STUDYING (links, ID#s, or images): ** (1) STS062-154-100-1
 * longitude:** __a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface.__
 * image identification number:** __how to identify a picture using numbers__
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3. FORMATION PROCESS: **

(2) STS056-151-217 (3) ISS016-E-15483

(4) STS069-710-7
<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">**6. GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS:** any country near an ocean <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 7. IF YOU WILL CONDUCT A PLANETARY COMPARISON, PLEASE EXPLAIN: ** Mars, because scientists may find life on mars also because there are clouds on mars. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 8. OTHER DETAILS IMPORTANT FOR YOUR RESEARCH: **

=<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 4 - Experiment Design =

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">1. FINAL RESEARCH QUESTION:
What types of clouds form near oceans? If the body of water is larger then it results in larger clouds <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">(http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/) Longitude: 48.0 || Gulf Of Aiden/ Indian Ocean || 30 (26-50) || Cirrocumulus || GatewayToAstronautPhotography || Longitude:57.5 || - || 25 (11-25) || Cirrus || GatewayToAstronautPhotography || Longitude: 58.0 || Indian Ocean || 15 (11-25) || Cirrocumulus Altocumulus || GatewayToAstronautPhotography || - -
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2. HYPOTHESIS (Include a brief explanation of observations & other knowledge that support this hypothesis): **
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3. IMAGE DATA COLLECTION: **
 * **ImageID#** || **Lens Length** || **Latitude/longitude** || **Name of ocean** || **% of cloud cover** || **Type of cloud** || **Citiation** ||
 * (1) STS062-154-100-1 || 250mm || Latitude:11.5 Longitude:47.5 || Indian Ocean || 10 (0-10) || Cirrocumulus || GatewayToAstronautPhotography ||
 * (2) STS056-151-217 || 90mm || Latitude:12.5
 * (3) ISS016-E-15483 || 180mm || Latitude: 25.5,
 * (4) STS069-710-7 || 100mm || Latitude: 25.0
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">4. OTHER DATA SETS: **
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">5. MEASUREMENTS: **
 * Keep track of your sources in your bibliography.**

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 5 - Collect and Compile Data = <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**1. MASTER DATA TABLE:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**2. NEW DATA REQUEST INFO:** <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">-

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 6 - Display Data =
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1. DATA TABLE(S): Under __each__ data table, list 1-3 observations. **


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">2. GRAPHS: Under __each__ graph, list 1-3 observations. **


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">3. MAPS: Under __each__ map, list 1-3 observations. **


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">4. IMAGE ILLUSTRATIONS: Under __each__ image illustration, list 1-3 observations. **

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 7 - Analyze and Interpret Data = **<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">1 <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">. RESEARCH QUESTION: **

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**2. HYPOTHESIS:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**3. ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION OF DATA:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**DATA ANALYSIS #1:**
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**DATA ANALYSIS #2:**
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**DATA ANALYSIS #3:**
 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**__INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION:**

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 120%;">**DATA ANALYSIS #4:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">**RESTATE A SPECIFIC DATA DISPLAY __OBSERVATION__ FROM STEP 6:**


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** __INTERPRETATION__ OF WHAT THAT OBSERVATION MEANS WITH RESPECT TO YOUR QUESTION: **


 * <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR INTERPRETATION: **

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** CONSIDERATION OF ISSUES POTENTIALLY AFFECTING YOUR RESEARCH ** <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 1. POTENTIAL ERRORS OR INACCURACIES: **

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 2. POTENTIAL MISINTERPRETATIONS: **

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 3. LIMITATIONS OF DATA: **

<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 4. OTHER: **

=<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 8 - Draw Conclusions = <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 1. SUMMARIZE CONCLUSIONS ABOUT THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION: ** Our question was what types of clouds form near oceans? To summerize it all up, we found out that Cirriocumulus clouds, and altocumulus clouds are found near oceans. <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 2. SUMMARIZE INFORMATION ABOUT WHETHER YOUR HYPOTHESIS WAS REFUTED OR SUPPORTED? ** Our hypothesis was disproven because, small clouds are found near oceans, not larger ones <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 3. NEWLY SPARKED RESEARCH QUESTION(S): ** - <span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">** 4. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: ** Our mentor, Tim McCollum, who took time from his busy schedule to give us feedback on our ideas. we are very grateful for his help and questions to us! (Thank you so much Mr. McCollum!) Our EEAB project leader, Paige Graff, who gave us additonal help along the way. (Thanks for everything you have done Mrs. Graff!) and lastly, our wonderful teacher, Ms. McCormick, who taught us alot this year, and helped us make our EEAB project a whole lot better. Thanks for everything you've done for us!

<span style="color: #808080; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Step 9 - Share Research =<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">GLOSSARY =

=<span style="color: #ffdd00; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">BIBLIOGRAPHY =

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