CW3E Tables at the Ecologik Program Summer Science Experience
August 13, 2018
CW3E’s Anna Wilson hosted an interactive table display at the annual Ecologik Project Summer Science Experience hosted by the National Park Service at Cabrillo National Monument in San Diego, CA on August 3rd, 2018. Overall, the Ecologik Project (a collaboration between Cabrillo National Monument and the San Diego Central Library) is designed to connect the next generation of park stewards to the natural resources and science of Cabrillo National Monument, and provide the tools and context to empower the 21st century of environmental stewards in meaningful and relevant ways. The Summer Science Experience provides the opportunity for underrepresented young girls (ages 9-16) to explore careers in the natural and technical sciences. The last main day of the Summer Science Experience featured a cross section of female scientists from many disciplines, including neuroscience, biology, ecology, meteorology, and more, presenting an interactive slice of one aspect of their work to rotating small groups of program attendees.
The CW3E table showcased the Center’s research on atmospheric rivers (ARs) and their role in water resources and hydrology, including both providing beneficial water supply, and causing hazards such as floods and droughts. Attendees learned about the term “Atmospheric River” by viewing satellite animations of the associated clouds and precipitation during an AR event and referencing the narrow river-like transport of water vapor from the tropics using SSMI visualizations. The CW3E table featured a number of state-of-the-art observing tools, such as a rain gauge, soil moisture and temperature sensors, a radiosonde, and a dropsonde. Attendees were able to directly interact with CW3E scientist, Dr. Wilson, and with various types of instrumentation, gain an understanding of ARs and their impact on daily life, and learn about what research in atmospheric science, hydrology, and environmental engineering is like.
Ecologik Summer Science Experience attendees learning about how rain gauges work to measure precipitation brought by atmospheric rivers.