Chattahoochee Climate Resources

 Hello Reader,

For today’s post I will be providing links to different websites and databases providing information regarding the climate surrounding the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. This list will likely expand every so often as I come across additional resources.

1.  https://w2.weather.gov/climate/index.php?wfo=ffc
• Provides a climate report for different locations in Georgia
•  Includes information regarding temperature, precipitation, sunset and sunrise, humidity, sky cover, wind, etc.
2.  The Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Program study: (usgs.gov)
• Provides a brief description of the climate factors surrounding the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint (ACF) River Basin
• Discusses how latitude and altitude effects climate
• ***data is old (1995)
3.   https://www.nps.gov/chat/planyourvisit/weather.htm
• Provides information on the average temperatures and precipitation levels surrounding the Chattahoochee River National Park
4. https://www.nps.gov/rlc/ogbfrec/chatclimatechange.htm
• Discusses climate change in Chattahoochee
5.  https://waterdata.usgs.gov/usa/nwis/uv?02336000
• Provides current information regarding the water quality of the Chattahoochee River

Thanks!

Fran

My Google MyMaps Experience

 Hello Reader,

In today’s post I will be discussing my experience using Google MyMaps. I have never used this program (or any other mapping tools or softwares), but it seemed relatively straightforward. It was easy to search for the general locations of areas you might want to map, and then you can put pins on specific places or important features. It was then also easy to label these pins and add pictures straight from Google Images.

For my particular map, which I wanted to depict the Chattahoochee River (since it is my area of study this semester), it was a bit of a tedious process because the only way I could figure out how to highlight the river in its entirety was to use the line drawing tool and trace the river by hand. Because of this, it is not perfect and there is a lot of line segments since the river is obviously not just a straight line, but I think the map serves its purpose.

In addition to outlining the river, I put pins on many of the significant bodies of water it feeds into, because I will likely be researching these habitats as well. Since the river is pretty big, I will likely add other landmarks and features that impact it once I further my research and learn about there importance. I will probably also add more about the different bodies of water I have already pinned. As of now, I just have their names and a picture I pulled from Google.

To summarize, I think Google MyMaps is a useful tool, and I am glad to have been made aware of it. I would love to play around more with it in the future, as well as add more to my own map once I have more information.

Thanks!

Fran

Here is a link to my map as well as a screenshot: 

https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1tnEUwKUkqe94fSrekYaRp0iHd70828oS&usp=sharing

Ecology Basics Slides

 Hello Reader,

Today's entry is some ecology-related facts I have compiled into one resource. I will likely add onto this in the next few weeks and beyond.

Here is the link to the presentation:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/e/2PACX-1vQAU97j3vrV4SvKlXiVyjAOIvNWs6UDehRJcxoFnbaPgaQxIYLQu2R01R3JC3jFV98sFo8bo40MSI1P/pub?start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000

Thanks!

Fran

The Chattahoochee River

Hello Reader,

As mentioned in my last post, the area of study I would like to focus on this semester is the Chattahoochee River in Georgia. 

I am choosing a body of water because I am very interested in freshwater ecosystems and also enjoy spending time by the water, whether fishing or kayaking or simply enjoying the view. I am choosing the Chattahoochee River specifically because I will be moving to Atlanta in July, and so this will give me a chance to get familiar with a landmark before my arrival. Additionally, since I plan to spend time around that area because I’ve heard it’s a beautiful area for both relaxation and recreation, it will give me the opportunity to actually go out and make observations which I’m really excited about doing. Additionally, since freshwater field work and study is something I’m genuinely interested in, perhaps as I research the river I will also find volunteer and/or job opportunities associated with it, which would be spectacular.

Additionally, I’m planning on taking a Watershed Stewardship course (I believe next semester), and so I’m hoping my research into this Chattahoochee River will jumpstart my understandings of some of what will be covered in that course.

Link for more info: Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

(Link: https://th.bing.com/th/id/R64c12a257e8a7394b69dc55d36529157?rik=rmHKTDQIO2AXrg&riu=http%3a%2f%2fblog.adaptershack.com%2fwp-content%2fuploads%2f2015%2f03%2f290px-Apalachicola_watershed1.png&ehk=Ql1AdX67Ul94Qu8goFussMW3DjKo2bRDqq6YqC30tMk%3d&risl=&pid=ImgRaw)

Thanks for reading!

Fran 

What is Biodiversity?

Hello Reader,

My name is Fran Darnall and I created this blog to discuss different things I learn about Georgia's Chattahoochee River, an area I am going to be researching this semester.

Before we dive into that though, I will define biodiversity, since it is such a crucial piece of any environment.

Biodiversity refers to the variety and abundance of flora and fauna in a given biographical region. In other words, it encompasses all living things in an ecosystem, from animals and plants to fungi and bacteria. 

With this definition in mind, I will now discuss my thoughts on the importance of biodiversity at the local, regional, national, and international levels. Essentially, as someone with relatively little experience studying biodiversity thus far, but an understanding of it's importance, I would argue that biodiversity is important at every level. This is because no matter how big or small the ecosystem is in question, there are still numerous examples of wildlife, some of which with very unique needs, that are dependent on the specific biodiversity of particular areas. Maintaining healthy biodiversity also decreases the likelihood that the extinction or removal or one species will cause the downfall of another. 

With all that in mind, I will most certainly be discussing the biodiversity of the Chattahoochee River in posts to come, as well as numerous other important aspects of it. 

Thank you! 

Fran