Santa Fe Indian School (114)

The Santa Fe Indian School team (#114) is from Santa Fe. This year they've submitted a project titled Modeling Erosion in Santa Clara Canyon.

Proposal
http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/get_proposal1112.php?team_id=114

Modeling Erosion in Santa Clara Canyon

Team: 114

School: Santa Fe Indian School

Area of Science: Geology

Proposal: With the fire around Santa Clara Canyon destroying the natural environment, we decided that we want to study water erosion in the canyon. This will involve three steps.

First, we will create a physical model with a water erosion tank. Water will be allowed to flow across sand in a tank. More or less straight meanders may be created depending on the angle at with the tank is set and how much time water is permitted to flow. Measurement data on angles in the meanders, length of time for flows and volume of flows will be collected.

Next, we will create a computer based model of the sand erosion that is based on the data from the water erosion tank. The computer model will use the StarLogo and Netlogo programs. In this part we are going to modify the existing erosion models which are currently being used by the Project GUTS program. We then plan to use Netlogo to actually recreate a model of Santa Clara Canyon using a topographical map. This will involve inserting the topographical map into Netlogo in order to create the terrain necessary to view Santa Clara Canyon’s erosion.

Finally, we will go to Santa Clara Pueblo and make contact with people working in erosion control for Santa Clara Canyon following the Las Conchas forest fire last summer. The goal is to apply the computer model to a real situation and assist in planning erosion control. We hope this will be useful to those people working there.

Team Members: Kein Ami John Cammarata Dakota Cournoyer

Sponsoring Teacher: Robert Dryja

Interim Report
http://mode.lanl.k12.nm.us/get_interim1112.php?team_id=114

Modeling Erosion in Santa Clara Canyon

Team: 114

School: Santa Fe Indian School

Area of Science: Geology

Definition of the problem
Complex erosion patterns occur in canyons and valleys after forest fires. The Las Conchas fire that occurred in the summer of 2011 burnt into the Santa Clara Canyon over several days, removing the vegetation and exposing the ground to rain erosion. The first monsoon rain occurred a few days after the Las Conchas fire came to an end. The immediate result was up to five feet of mud and rock being washed onto the roadway where fishing ponds were maintained. This erosion is having a profound impact on what is a historically and ecologically important part of the Santa Clara Pueblo.

The team is building a “sand box” tray that can have its angle of elevation carefully changed. Water then will be allowed to flow across the sand. Differing kinds of erosion patterns (meanders) then are expected to develop in the sand. These patterns will be measured. Typical patterns are expected to be defined by repeatedly running water across the sand for specific angles, volume of water, and the length of time that the water is run. The experimental data from repeated runs then will be used in a computational model.

Plan for solving the problem computationally
Two Net Logo computer models presently are available for use. One of these models will be modified in the following ways. (1) The actual experimental data from the sand box will be used to define formulas that then inserted into a Net Logo model. The resulting erosion dynamics then will reflect actual real world erosion rather than the interesting but arbitrary formulas presently used in the models. (2) Actual map information for selected areas of the Santa Clara canyon then will be incorporated into the Net Logo model.

Progress you have made up to this time
The sand box has been constructed and will be ready for use when a water pump and recycling chamber are attached. One of the school’s laboratories has a water supply and sinks that will be used for the actual testing. Several days of data gathering are expected to start in January.

Expected results
The Netlogo computer model will be modified to reflect experimental erosion data that is applied to actual geologic formations. Site visits to the Santa Clara canyon are planned for the spring. A presentation to concerned members of the Santa Clara Pueblo also is planned since the computer may assist in planning erosion control for the canyon.

Citations:
The team will be conducting a literature review, particularly to identify other computer models and variables that are significant in relation to erosion.

Team Members: Johnny Cammarata Dakota Cournoyer Kein Ami

Sponsoring Teacher: Robert Dryja

Interim Comments
Hello,

Great job on picking a topic. Understanding the affects of erosion in these fire damaged areas is very important. I really like that you plan on using empirical evidence to support your computational model. I have a few questions to help jog your mind. If you've already thought of the answers that's great. If you haven't that's ok too but you might want to spend a few minutes to ponder it.

Formulas

In your interim report say that you plan of using the data from the sandbox experiments to define formulas. Do you already have formulas in mind? Are you going to adjust some variables in an established formula or are you looking to derive a new formula? Also, how might the environment of the sandbox differ from the actual canyons you plan on modeling?

Literature Review

Do you have any literature that you are planning on looking at? Do you need any help finding publications on the topic?

Data

Do you have the topo data for the Santa Clara canyons? How about precipitation data? Are you currently working with a mentor and if not do you need one?

Reminder

Remember that you have face to face evaluations coming up. Your next milestone is a |face to face evaluation in February.

The judges will use these rubrics to evaluate your projects. Use them as checklists for what you need to communicate to the judges.


 * Expo Judges Rubric
 * Finalist Judges Rubric

I hope your sandbox experiments went well. This is a great project and I look forward to seeing your results.

John Donahue, UNM Grad Student