Abstract    

This is a report on a collaborative research project conducted during the spring of 2007. We are a team of four students who represent the Earth System Science classes at the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (Washington, DC) and Earth Science classes at Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis, Indiana).

Our project focused on answering the following questions:

1) Is there a difference in tree phenology with regard to spring budding in our two schools?
2) What environmental factor is (or factors are) controlling the timing of budburst in our areas?

We collected data using GLOBE's Green Up protocol. The students in Indiana used the GLOBE protocols for recording precipitation, minimum temperatures, maximum temperatures, and humidity at a GLOBE weather station. The students in Washington, DC obtained temperature, humidity and precipitation data from a Davis Advantage Pro automatic weather station. At both schools we studied Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) and Crab Apple (Pyrus coronaria) trees. To complete our research project, we used the Internet and videoconferencing to discuss data, compare results, determine conclusions, and write a final report.

Our hypothesis is that the tree buds in Washington, DC will burst before Indiana’s, because we think there is more water in the air closer to the ocean, and that water controls the timing of budburst. Indiana might be dryer than DC, and since we think water controls the timing of budburst, their buds will burst later. At the end of our project, we noted differences in precipitation, and temperature in our two different geographic locations. We found interesting patterns in the data as the spring season progressed, indicating biological responses of the trees to changes in the environment. We students agree that the trees’ responses could be indicators in times of climate changes and so it is important to understand them.