Planning_Document_Final_Draft

docx

School

Southern New Hampshire University *

*We aren’t endorsed by this school

Course

PSY222

Subject

Electrical Engineering

Date

Oct 30, 2023

Type

docx

Pages

Uploaded by JudgeHornetPerson815

1 Planning Document Final Draft Ashley Thibodeau Southern New Hampshire University SCI-200: Applied Natural Sciences Holly Toomer August 2, 2023

2 Planning Document Final Draft My issue: The issue I chose pertains to ocean dead zones, their root causes, and how to reduce them. The focus is solely on the seasonal dead zone within the Gulf of Mexico, which persists from spring until the end of summer. The significance of this issue is how it affects the animal and plants in the area. Many animals must relocate due to low oxygen levels. Unfortunately, some die. Additionally, plant life is affected, making it challenging to thrive. Ocean dead zones could lead to the extinction of particular marine life, causing a chain reaction in the entire ecosystem of the Gulf of Mexico. My question: How did humans impact one of the world's largest dead zones in the Gulf of Mexico, and what could be done to diminish the effects? My science resources: 1. My first source is "Larger-than-average dead zone forecast for Gulf of Mexico in summer 2020." I chose this source because it is relevant and credible to my topic. It has been reviewed and published, which makes it an academic source. I chose this source first because of the chronological timeline. It is relevant because the source was published in 2020, although other sources I have collected are more recent. It contains information pertinent to the issue. 2. My second source is "Happening Now: Dead Zone in the Gulf 2021." This source is more up-to-date than my first source and contains information about the effects of ocean dead zones and the contributions that lead to ocean dead zones. This source is from Ocean Today, part of the National Ocean and Atmospheric Administration.

3 3. My third source is "Dead Zones in the Gulf of Mexico." This source focuses on the specific area I chose to research and gives information about what dead zones are. It is more of an empirical source since it includes maps showing how and where dead zones are. My audience and message: My target audience is environmentalists interested in learning about ocean dead zones, a significant environmental issue that can significantly impact marine ecosystems. These are low- oxygen or hypoxic areas in oceans and lakes that can cause harm to marine life. The oxygen levels drop so low that few organisms can survive in such conditions. According to a Science Alert article, the number of dead zones has almost quadrupled since the 1950s, and scientists have discovered that they have been occurring regularly over the last millions of years. Dead zones happen more frequently in significant warming events. Environmentalists can explore the causes and effects of dead zones and find ways to prevent or mitigate their impact. Human activities are responsible for excess nutrients being washed into the ocean, making dead zones more prevalent near inhabited coastlines. Understanding the eutrophication process is vital to understanding how and why dead zones develop. Identify principles: The release of fertilizer, manure, and other waste materials into the ocean can lead to oxygen depletion in certain areas. In the scientific discipline of ecology, a subfield of biology, researchers explore the complex interactions between living organisms and their surrounding environment. Explain principles:

Your preview ends here

Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version

Access to all documents
Unlimited textbook solutions
24/7 expert homework help

4 Ecology is a branch within biology; Ecology is essential to the research because it studies the relationship between living things and the environment around them. This is vital to this issue because so many organisms are affected when dead zones are created. My experimental question and hypothesis: What can be done to decrease nutrient pollution in the Mississippi River watershed that leads into the Gulf of Mexico and has caused one of the world's largest dead zones? Adjustments can be made to daily habits to approach the problem of the dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. One option is to decrease fertilizer use and apply it at different times to prevent excess nutrients from seeping into waterways. It is also crucial to prevent animal waste from entering these waterways, which will help maintain their cleanliness and safety. By taking these simple actions, the harmful effects of the dead zone can be reduced, and a healthy, thriving environment can be developed. My explanation: During their research cruises, scientists engage in field experiments to closely monitor the various water conditions in their study area. To conduct their research, the scientists collect useful samples of algae and sediment from the dead zone and subsequently measure significant rates such as nutrient changes, which are essential for a deeper understanding of the dynamics of the ecosystem under study.

5 References Scott, M. (July 2020). Larger-than-average dead zone forecast for Gulf of Mexico in summer 2020. Climate.gov https://www.climate.gov/news-features/event-tracker/larger-average- dead-zone-forecast-gulf-mexico-summer-2020 Happening Now: Dead Zone in the Gulf 2021. (n.d.). https://oceantoday.noaa.gov/deadzonegulf- 2021/ Sally Ride EarthKAM Dead Zones in The Gulf of Mexico. (n.d.). https://www.earthkam.org/ek- images/investigating_images/gulfmexico