A tool for investigating the dynamic and complex systems of the global environment.
Basic GAPS is a computer model for students that can simulate the cycle of water between the atmosphere, soil, and plant. Students can easily obtain the required soil, vegetation, phenology, and climate data from sources such as the GLOBE program data archive and input the information through guided menus. As the model simulation runs, the flow of water and other environmental processes are displayed so that students can observe how different parts of the system change and are affected by each other. A major goal of the Basic GAPS model is to teach students that the Earth's environments are the result of dynamic interactions among many processes and many components including the water cycle. Basic GAPS enables students to study the interplay among these processes in a quantitative way. They can examine linkages within a particular biome, such as the sensitivity of soil moisture to seasonal changes in the overlying vegetation or the amount of evaporation and transpiration under certain types of soil or land use. Using Basic GAPS, students can also make up different scenarios (such as increasing the temperature, changing the pattern of precipitation, or modifying the soil type or vegetation type) to make predictions about how the ecosystem may respond. In this way, students, just like scientists, can pose and address questions regarding the impact of global change on the environment.
"The experience that I will remember the most is how I learned
the project so well that I felt very confident when presenting it to
my fellow globe students ... We had enjoyed playing with your model
that actually made data fun to enter and graph. You also gave us the
freedom to use our own ideas as to how to present our project. Under
your guidance everyone was able to contribute and really take pride
in the work they had accomplished. The modeling program is very user
friendly and thank you again for all your hard work."
-Sarah Radcliffe, Graduate, Dutchess Academy Of Environmental Studies
in Poughkeepsie, NY
