Relative Humidity Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure relative humidity using both a sling psychrometer and a digital hygrometer. Intended outcomes are that students learn to quantify humidity and that there is a limit to the amount of water vapor that the air can hold. Students gain insight into why rain drops and snow flakes form and why there is precipitation. Supporting background materials for both student and teacher are included.
Discovery Area Post-Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to use a land cover type map to make environmentally sound decisions.
Soil Temperature Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure near-surface soil temperatures. Students measure soil temperatures at 5 cm and 10 cm depths using a soil thermometer. Students will be able to perform a soil thermometer calibration, carry out soil temperature measurements accurately and precisely and record and report soil temperature data. Students will be able to relate soil temperature measurements to the physical and chemical properties of soil.
Soil Particle Density Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the soil particle density of each horizon in a soil profile. Students weigh a sample of dry, sieved soil from a horizon, mix it with distilled water and then boil the mixture to remove any air. The mixture cools for a day and then students add water until the volume of the mixture is 100 mL. Students measure the temperature and mass of the final mixture and use the Soil Particle Density Data Sheet to calculate the soil particle density. Three samples sh
Electrical Conductivity Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the conductivity of water at a freshwater hydrology site. Students calibrate and take electrical conductivity measurements using an electrical conductivity meter. Students estimate the total dissolved solids from the electrical conductivity measurements.
Manual Land Cover Mapping Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to produce a land cover type map from hard copies of Landsat satellite images.
WeatherHawk Weather Station Protocol
This resource provides instructions on how to log atmosphere data using a WeatherHawk weather station. A weather station is setup to measure and record atmospheric measurements at 15-minute intervals and can be transferred to the GLOBE program via email. Students can view data for their school that are continuous and show variations within a day. The data collected includes wind speed and direction and pressure thereby supporting a more complete study of meteorology using GLOBE. Students pursue
GLOBE Cave Protocol Field Guide: Comparing Surface and Subterranean Environments
The GLOBE Cave Protocol Field Guide utilizes existing GLOBE protocols to explore an extreme environment. Caves provide an opportunity to utilize GLOBE protocols to investigate underground environments and compare them to surface environments. Outside the cave, students record elevation, MUC, latitude and longitude, air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure. Inside the cave, students record air temperature, relative humidity and air pressure as well as observe and describe cave features
Computer-aided Land Cover Mapping Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to produce a land cover type map from the digital file of a Landsat satellite image using MultiSpec software.
Davis Weather Station Protocol
This resource provides instructions on how to log atmosphere data using a Davis weather station. A weather station is setup to measure and record atmospheric measurements at 15-minute intervals and can be transferred to the GLOBE program via email. Students can view data for their school that are continuous and show variations within a day. The data collected includes wind speed and direction and pressure thereby supporting a more complete study of meteorology using GLOBE. Students pursue a more
Biometry Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure and classify the plant life at a Land Cover Site to help determine the MUC classification.
Optional Soil Infiltration Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to determine the rate at which water soaks into the ground. Students place two cans into the soil and add water to them to a depth of at least 5 cm. Students measure and record the time it takes the water level to drop a fixed 2 - 4 cm distance. Students repeat the measurement to determine how easily water moves vertically through the soil.
Fire Fuel Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to measure the different types of fuels for fires.
Soil Fertility Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the amounts of nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium in each horizon in a soil profile. Using a NPK test kit, students mix a dry, sieved soil sample into a solution and chemically extract the N, P, and K as nitrate, phosphate, and potassium. The N, P, and K amounts in the sample are determined by comparing the solution to a color chart. Students describe the N, P, K amounts as high, medium, low, or none. These measurements are conducted three times for ea
Maximum, Minimum, and Current Temperature Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure air (and optionally soil) temperature within one hour of solar noon and the maximum and minimum air temperatures for the previous 24 hours. Intended outcomes are that students will learn to read minimum, maximum, and current temperatures using a U-shaped thermometer, understand diurnal and annual temperature variations, and recognize factors that influence atmospheric temperatures. Supporting background materials for both student and teacher are include
Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperatures Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to record daily measurements of maximum, minimum, and current air and soil temperatures at a common site. One temperature probe is placed inside the instrument shelter while another is installed at a 10 cm depth in the soil. A digital thermometer is used to measure current temperatures as well as daily minimum and maximum temperatures. The daily minimum and maximum temperatures are stored by the instrument for a period of six days and need to be read and recorded
Surface Ozone Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure ozone concentrations at ground level. Students deploy a strip of paper that changes color in the presence of ozone. They use an ozone reader to determine the amount of ozone in ppb as indicated by the color change of the paper strip. Intended outcomes are that students will learn to measure the concentrations of ground-level ozone in the atmosphere and to observe changes in the concentrations over time. Supporting background materials for both student a
Nitrate Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the nitrate-nitrogen of water. Students will use a nitrate kit to measure the nitrate-nitrogen in the water at their hydrology site. The exact procedure depends on the instructions in the nitrate kit used.
Salinity Titration Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the salinity of the water using a salinity titration kit. Students will measure the salinity of saltwater using a salinity titration kit.
Phenological Gardens Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to observe the flowering and leaf stages of selected garden plants throughout the year. After a phenological garden is planted, students observe the growth of leaves and blooming of flowers on the plants. These plants were selected because each plant blooms at a different time in the year.
