Recent Rain and Water Storage Levels

If you have been wondering how the recent downpour has affected our water storage levels, have a look at these water management websites.

Melbourne Water URL: http://www.melbournewater.com.au/default.asp

If you are interested in learning about Melbourne’s Water Supply Network have a look here. The URL is http://www.melbournewater.com.au/content/water_storages/water_supply/water_supply_network.asp

It is an interactive map that shows you the major reserviors, major catchment areas and the service reservoirs.

Goulburn-Murray Water’s website here or URL: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/ shows you the state of the 70% of Melbourne’s stored water that they manage.

Have a look at the graph of the storage level of the Hume Dam that went from 35.71% in July to 98.69% in November. Check out the other Storage Level tables here at URL: http://www.g-mwater.com.au/water-resources/storage-levels.

It really is amazing to see the difference.

Remember we are still on Stage 2 restrictions and the storage levels of our dams is 50.3% so continue to be wise with water

Have you ever wondered how a leaf gets the water it needs?

Leaf lace

Originally uploaded by CameliaTWU

If you have ever wondered how a leaf gets it’s water, then have a look at this You Tube clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6f2BiFiXiM&feature=fvsr.

Sir David Attenborough explains how water gets from the roots in the soil, right up to the leaves on the very top of a tall sycamore tree.

Xylem

Water somethimes has to travel a long way and travels up long thin tubes inside a plant called xylem.

According to The National Science Teachers Association (US) Elementary Science Classroom site located at:
http://www3.nsta.org/main/news/stories/science_and_children.php?news_story_ID=49197

Water Attracts

Water moves up the xylem through a process called capillary action. Capillary action allows water to be pulled through the thin tubes because the molecules of the water are attracted to the molecules that make up the tube. The water molecules at the top are pulled up the tube and the water molecules below them are pulled along because of their attraction to the water molecules above them.

This webpage also describes a cool experiment where you can see this process happen.

Check it out!!!

Is there water on the moon?

Thanks to Pics 4 Learning for the photo

Well, that is what the LCROSS mission is trying to find out!

LCROSS stands for Lunar CRater Observation and Sensing Satellite

On October 9th 2009 NASA was hoping to find out by crashing a rocket into the moon. By doing this, they are aiming to create an impact crater that forces water and ice vapour above the lunar surface for analysis.

Exciting Stuff!

For more information, have a look at the NASA LCROSS site at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LCROSS/overview/index.html

NASA also set up a site for amateur observers at: http://lcross.arc.nasa.gov/index.htm

At the amatuer site you can watch a movie about the mission and even the Download the song “Water on the Moon” written by LCROSS Deputy Project Manager John Marmie! Performed by John Marmie and Jeff Petro.

Check it out!