RoboRubiks Research Project
This year's challenge had us find a climate problem in our area, contact an expert about the problem, find another place in the world with a similar problem, and come up with a creative presentation to the judges.
Links
- Jerry Stenger - Virginia Farm Bureau Videos
The Problem
We contacted Jerry Stenger, who is a climatologist at UVA, and he said that one of the largest problems our area suffers from is flash floods. We also chose to research drought. These two extremes are both problems our area has. In 1985 a very large flash flood caused $520,000,000 of property damage, and 10 lives were lost (Source: The Roanoke Times Nov. 1985). Currently, we are in one of the worst droughts the Roanoke Valley has experienced.
Our Solution
Our solution, simply put, is to save water from floods
for use in times
of drought. The way we would do this would be to create walls
in flood planes to divert water to underground tanks. These
tanks would hold the water until a time of drought, and then it
would send the stored water to the city to be used as drinking
water.
Our reason to use underground tanks is that
it would save the area
above ground for other uses. The current method used by the
Western Virginia Water Authority has uses above ground reservoirs,
which makes a large portion of land unusable.
Our Research
In addition to contacting Jerry Stenger to learn what the greatest climate problem in our area, we went to the Spring Hollow Reservoir to learn more about water storage, filtration, and current storage techniques. We presented our findings to Jeff Booth, Superintendent of the Western Virginia Water Authority. He said that our solution was viable. We were taken to the reservoir, and he told us that the water level is at a record low - 43 feet below full. The Spring Hollow Reservoir hasn't been able to turn a pump on since May to fill the reservoir.
Climate Connections
We found two places that might be able to use our solution.
- Colorado
- Already has water diverting systems in place, might want to use our system as well
- Tanzania
- Has two seasons, wet and dry
- Might be able to use our system to lessen the effects of having half a year of rain, and the other half drought.
Experts Contacted
- Jerry Stenger - Climatologist at UVA
- Jeff Booth - Superintendent of the Western Virginia Water Authority