Understanding GLOBE Understanding GLOBE Student DataStudent Data

GLOBE students studyGLOBE students studythe environment of our planetthe environment of our planet

Studying the global environment seems like an enormous task.

How can students participate in such an endeavor?

Students begin by studying their own local environment – looking at the air, the land, the soil, and the water.

Those components represent the Earth systems.

Hydrology

Atmosphere

Land Cover

Soil

Raw Data

GraphsMaps

Students can then visualize data in several different ways.

Data can be displayed as individual data in a map (for instance, this map displays the maximum air temperature

in Europe on March 3, 2000).

The data can be placed on an x,y scatter plot, showing the relationship between air temperature and latitude.

Data can also be displayed as contours (for instance, this mapdisplays the maximum air temperature in Eastern U.S. on March 28, 1999).

Scientists often ask, “Are the data reasonable?”

Look at the colors near Chicago and New York City. Where do these colors lie on the temperature scale? Are these temperatures reasonable in late March?

When we display the data in an x,y plot we can see that theremay be a couple of errors. 55 C at 40 Latitude and 30 C at 42

Latitude don’t seem like reasonable values for late March. What might have happened to cause these errors?

Student data can be compared to Environmental Models

Maximum Temperaturepredicted for this date

by the NOAA EnvironmentalModeling Center

Maximum Temperaturepredicted for this date

by the NOAA EnvironmentalModeling Center

Maximum Temperaturerecorded at GLOBE sites for the preceding 24 hours

Maximum Temperaturerecorded at GLOBE sites for the preceding 24 hours

North America Europe

Data can also be displayed in graphs. This is the mean air temperature for a school in Pennsylvania, USA.

Math extension: how is mean temperature calculated?

Data from multiple schools can be displayed in the same graph.This is the mean air temperature for the school in Pennsylvania, USA

combined with the mean air temperature for a school in Australia. Can you see how air temperature, and perhaps seasons, differ

between Northern and Southern hemispheres?

Data from up to six schools can be displayed in the same graph.This is the mean air temperature for the school in Pennsylvania, USA and

the school in Australia combined with the mean air temperature fora school in Benin. Now, air temperature and seasonal fluctuations can

be seen for Northern and Southern hemispheres as well as near Equatorial.

Data sets are created on demand.

This allows students to get a closer look at a particular year or years.

Data can be displayed in stacked graphs for easier observation.

Graphs of data can also be used as a toolto explain relationships in the natural world.

What environmental data might be represented here?

Whatever data are displayed,they seem to be inversely proportional….

What if you knew that the red line

represented Surface Water (SW) Temperature?

Henry's Law

The value of the Henry's law constant is found to be temperature dependent. The value generally

increases with increasing temperature. As a consequence, the solubility of gases generally

decreases with increasing temperature.

The decrease in solubility of gases with increasing temperature is an example of the operation of

Le Chatelier’s principle.

Henry’s Law states that as temperature increasesthe solubility of a gas decreases. Dissolved Oxygen fits both

Henry’s law and the pattern of the graph.

Student data can display what Henry’s Law states. Notice that as the red line (Water Temperature) increases

the green line (Dissolved Oxygen) decreases.

Data from other parts of the world show the same relationship.

What is the relationship

between precipitation and soil moisture?

Soil moisture values drop during dry periods

and rise again with the introduction of rainfall.

Soil characterization data show Structure; Color; Presence of Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potassium; Consistence; Presence of Roots, Rocks and Carbonates; as well as the distribution

of particle sizes (percent of sand, silt and clay)

Soil characterization Visualizations

Students can then look beyond GLOBE measurements

and begin asking questions about their local environment.

Temperature

Precipitation

Cases of Malaria

Students at this school in Beningraphed cases of malaria with temperature and precipitation.

Students can present their GLOBE research

at Student Research Conferences

Sibenik, Croatia June 29 - July 4, 2003

Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA June 25 - 28, 2000

Helsinki, Finland June 30 - July 4, 1998

GLOBE Student Learning Expedition: Croatia 2003GLOBE Student Learning Expedition: Croatia 2003

• Participants included nearly• 400 students and teachers from

24 countries.• Each country presented their

winning research results.• Two field campaigns included

(inland park and island).• Field campaign data was

presented by students and scientists.

• Cultural and leadership values extended.

Participating countries: Argentina, Bahrain, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech

Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary,

Iceland, Japan, Lebanon, Norway, Poland, Qatar, Spain,

Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, UK and USA.

June 28 – July 5 in Šibenik, Croatia

Students can publish their research on the GLOBE Website

GLOBE has trained over 29,000 GLOBE Teachersrepresenting more than 16,000 GLOBE Schools worldwide.

Students have entered over 13 million Measurements to date.

GLOBE data collected by student scientists around the world

are helping us learn more about our global environment.

Use your mouse to go to our Home Page: www.globe.gov

EDUCATION AND SCIENCE: Student investigations and school collaborations, access to the online Teacher’s Guide.

GLOBE DATA: Access to student-collected data, mapping and graphing tools.

GLOBE PARTNERS: Access to country/regional coordinator and school information.

LIBRARY: Access to student, teacher and partner resources.

INFO & HELP: Learn about GLOBE and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

The GLOBE Web site

Poland

ItalyGreece

Netherlands

Switzerland

New Zealand

Japan

Latvia

GLOBE EuropeGermany Hungary

NorwayThailand

India

Lithuania

United Kingdom

The GLOBE Web site… around the World

EstoniaCzech Republic FinlandDenmarkCroatia