HELP!!

[baijux3]

Dear Helper.

My project question I am planing to do is, How does weather (Rain, Snow, Temperatures, etc.) affect the decomposition of landfills?
Is this question testable? I'm am really obsessed with doing this or any other project related to Landfills.
If this isn't testable can you please give me some other questions related to landfills.

Thanks.

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

The effect of weather on landfills sounds like an exciting project to me, and from what I saw on a quick google search on the “effect of weather on landfills” you should have no problem findling lots of information on the subject. In fact you may need to narrow down the question to something more specific to do the topic justice. In fact you may find that this is a subject of intense interest to people in the area where you live, as waste disposal is an increasing problem in many areas.

I think the idea of measuring gas emissions as a function of weather (temperature and atmospheric pressure) is testable. Likewise, the measurement of the amount and contamination levels of leachate from landfills as a function of precipitation should be testable.

Here is a very incomplete mini survey of what I found:

http://books.google.com/books?id=vKW-Im ... #PPT356,M1

http://www.odh.ohio.gov/ASSETS/95EF6FEF ... illGas.pdf

http://www.acereport.org/landfillgas2.html

http://www.springerlink.com/content/p22l2202164k1708/

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTU ... ntreau.pdf

http://www.ct.gov/dph/lib/dph/environme ... ndfill.pdf

http://www.gw.govt.nz/council-reports/p ... Report.pdf

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/html/appe.html

Do not forget to check out the Science Buddies Project Ideas on Environmental Science:

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... Q6MTMxNjc0

In short I think your idea would make a fantastic science fair project, and could even develop into a great career direction. Go for it!!!!

Best Wishes,

Barrett Tomlinson

[baijux3]

Hey!

thanks for the suggestion.
Would I have to go a landfill to do this investigation? or can I make a sample landfill, in like a shoe box or something?
and how would i measure gas emission?

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

I suspect you could do a great project either by observing a real landfill or by making a model landfill.
Here are some Science Buddies project idea guides you might be interested in:
https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... o&from=TSW

https://www.sciencebuddies.org/science- ... o&from=TSW

If you want to go the model landfill route, then here are some ideas for it:

http://www.uas.alaska.edu/attac/ampdf/activity26.pdf

http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/org/caer/ce/ ... ndfill.pdf

http://www.wakegov.com/NR/rdonlyres/EC6 ... lmodel.pdf


Here is information on using a computer to model landfill gas emissions:

http://support.lakes-environmental.com/ ... ndfill.pdf

And here is an Environmental Protection Agency website that may have useful information related to above link:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/catc/

And more EPA information on gas emissions:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/html/ch4a.html

This project is also a great opportunity to work with local environmental groups or a local landfill operator to learn about a real landfill’s design and operation, and what challenges they have in keeping local neighbors happy and the regulatory agencies satisfied. If you could find a mentor in one of these it might open a world of opportunites to go more deeply into this subject.

This is potentially an extremely good project. You should be able to develop it as far as you have the time, interest, and energy to put into it.

Best wishes,

Barrett Tomlinson

[barretttomlinson]

Hi,

I realized my last post did not provide much of an answer to your question about gas collection and analysis. I just found a rather good resource for those questions:

http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HAC/landfill/html/appb.html

Here is a summary description of a landfill gas collection project:

http://www.nstengineers.com/Landfill_Gas.htm

And a slide presentation of the design and operation of a landfill:

http://www.methanetomarkets.org/events/ ... 7-riat.pdf

Here is a site that discusses uses for landfill gas:

http://www.energyjustice.net/lfg/

And a slide presentation with pictures of landfills and their operation:

http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTU ... ection.pdf

Here is a description of a power generation project from landfill gases that has been recently advertised on television:

http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=123597

I hope this answers your questions and gives you a good idea how important your proposed project can be,

Best wishes for a really interesting and fun project!

Barrett Tomlinson

[Rolandisimo]

I say go for the experimental 'shoebox' landfill. That way you can vary the 'weather'. Bury them in some realistic way and then cover some with a tarp (and/or semi-permeable cloth) so they don't get as much water. Use the same set of material in each box, include something you know will decompose quickly (e.g. banana peel) as well as some you are not sure of (e.g. newspaper). Try to do at least 3 of each water-treatment, 6 if possible.
good luck!
Roland

ps, anything you learn about real landfills could help you set the parameters in your shoebox experiment.

[baijux3]

Hey!

i did some research on how to collect the data(quantitative) for the project, and couldn't find anything. How would i measure the decaying rate of certain products?
or how could i find how much gas is emitted from the landfill or a model landfill? Is there an instrument that measures gas? Please help!
thanks in advance!