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San Diego Phenomena

Phenomena in Science Education

Phenomena are the natural and man-made observable events that provide context for the work of scientists and engineers. Recent science standards changed the focus from learning about science to figuring out science. Phenomena are a powerful way to engage students and empower them to wonder and investigate.

Sometimes, we look too hard for the phenomenal events and miss the every-day occurrences that are just as intriguing. The list below is a constant work in progress and will be updated as new submissions are received and new occurrences are observed in and around San Diego County.

Submit a Phenomenon

Did you observe something that made you stop and wonder? Share your phenomena and any supporting material like photographs, videos or additional resources.

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Automatic garage doors stop working

Image: Orange County Home Garage Doors

Some San Diego residents came home to the frustration of an improperly functioning garage door opener. Even worse, some residents were startled to find their garage door wide open after being away all day. In some neighborhoods, and at sporadic times, garage doors seemingly grew a mind of their own by either not opening or opening at random intervals. 

How do we send signals without wires? What are the benefits of these wireless signals? The drawbacks? Why does a garage door opener only open one door and not the next?

Resources:

Garage door openers stop working in Rancho San Diego

YouTube: Hunting RFI - IEEE

Radio Frequency Interference - ARRL

How to Fight RFI with Your Gadgets

NGSS & Grade

MS.PS4.C: Information Technologies and Instrumentation

 Rocket trails move sideways through the sky

Image: James Rowten

Rockets on launchpads point straight up towards their destination in space. Yet, rocket launches from Vandenburg Airforce Base in Southern California leave sideways rocket trails in the sky over San Diego. Why do rockets appear to move sideways when space is straight up? 

Resources:

Smithsonian Institute: Why do rockets curve when they go into space instead of going straight up?

Additional Imagery:

Cygnus launch atop an Atlas V rocket

NGSS Connections

5-PS2-1, PS2.B: Types of Interactions

MS-PS2-4, PS2.B: Types of Interactions

 

 

 

 Calcium buildup around faucets and hoses

Image: Jason Mizerek, Fleet Science Center

San Diego imports most of its water. That water travels hundreds of miles through rock and soil, which causes a build-up of minerals. These minerals increase the "hardness" of the water, compared to "soft" water that has fewer or no minerals. Calcium, one of the minerals found in San Diego water, can leave white stains around faucets and hoses. 

Resources

City of San Diego

San Diego Water Quality Reports 
Distinct features are visible at night from space

San Diego-area at night from space. Image: NASA

Astronauts in the International Space Station snap photographs of Earth from a height of 220 miles above the ground. At night, distinct features appear.

In this photograph, west is on top, north is on the right. San Diego Bay is in the center of the photograph. 

  • What natural features can you find? Why do you say that?
  • What human-made features can you find? Why do you say that?
  • Where can you find human activity that is influenced by natural features? 

 

What can we learn about the human impact on Earth from so far away? 

Resources:

NASA: China's Wall Less Great from Space

NGSS Connections:

5-ESS3-1, ESS3.C: Human Impacts on Earth Systems

 

 May and June receive fewer sunny days.

Image: UCSD

May Gray. June Gloom. There's data and science to support the time of the year that sees a higher amount of cloud cover near coastal areas in southern California. 

 

Resources:

California-Nevada Climate Applications Program

UCSB Geography

KPBS

 The ocean glows blue at night

Image: Erik Jepsen

In May 2018, ocean waves lit up aqua blue at night. The cause was a red tide, or algal bloom, off the coast of San Diego. The ocean waves agitated dinoflagellates in the water, causing a bioluminescent display at the surface. 

According to Scripps, the last bioluminescent phenomena was in 2013 and the observable occurrence can last a few days to an entire month. 

Resources:

Scripps Institution of Oceanography

University of California Museum of Paleontology

YouTube: Bioluminescent Waves
Large balls of ice can fall from the sky

Image: World of Phenomena

Ice is not normally associated with San Diego, but on the morning of February 27, 2018, areas including Carlsbad, Escondido, Ramona and El Cajon experienced a passing hailstorm. Hail starts as rain droplets that freeze at high altitudes. With the right conditions, these frozen rain droplets combine with other droplets and grow larger until the hail gets heavy enough to drop from the storm cloud. 

How does hail stay suspended in the air? Is hail always the same size? Why or why not? 

Resources:

Hail Storm Reports: Union-Tribune, 2/2018

World of Phenomena: Hailstorms

YouTube: eHowEducation - Hail

NASA Education: How does hail form? 

Pages

Additional Phenomena Lists and Resources:

 

 

 

 

A toys for tots red train logo above blue text on a light blue plaid background. A red triangle juts out from the right side and has a picture of a young hispanic girl wearing christmas antlers and holding a brown paper present wrapped in green ribbon.
Birthday Parties at the Fleet
An illustration of blue snow and a blue sky with white falling snow. A white polar bear sits and looks down at a penguin that is offering it a present. A pile of presents is behind the penguin.