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.
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
pH Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the pH of water. Students use either a pH meter or pH paper to measure the pH. If using the pH meter, the meter needs to be calibrated with buffer solutions that have pH values of 4, 7, and 10.
Optional Barometric Pressure Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure air pressure. Students record atmospheric pressure using a barometer or altimeter. Intended outcomes are that students gain an understanding that barometric or altimeter pressure varies and its increase or decrease indicates an upcoming change in the weather. Students also learn that the air has weight. Supporting background materials for both student and teacher are included.
Salinity Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the salinity of the water at your hydrology site. Students use a hydrometer to measure the specific gravity of the water sample, and use a thermometer to measure the temperature. With these two values, students will use tables to determine the salinity.
Water Transparency Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to determine the transparency of water. Students measure water transparency at their undisturbed study site using a transparency tube or Secchi disk.
Surface Temperature Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure surface temperature with a handheld Infrared Thermometer (IRT). The instrument is pointed at the ground to take surface temperature readings. Intended outcomes are that students will learn to use an infrared thermometer, and understand how different surfaces radiate energy. Supporting background materials for both student and teacher are included.
Water Temperature Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to measure the temperature of a water sample. Students use an alcohol-filled thermometer or meter to measure the temperature of water. The meter requires calibration before use; the accuracy of the thermometer needs to be checked before use.
Water Vapor Protocol
The purpose of this activity is to measure the total precipitable water vapor (column water vapor) in the atmosphere above an observer's site. Students point a GLOBE/GIFTS water vapor instrument at the sun and record the voltage readings from a digital voltmeter. They observe sky conditions near the Sun and perform the Cloud Protocols. Intended outcomes are that students understand the concept that the atmosphere prevents some of the sun's light from reaching Earth's surface, how water vapor mea
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
Land Cover Change Detection Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to investigate changes in the major land cover types of Study Sites by examining Landsat satellite images acquired years apart.
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.
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.
Discovery Area Post-Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to use a land cover type map to make environmentally sound decisions.
Fire Fuel Protocol
The purpose of the resource is to measure the different types of fuels for fires.
Soil Characterization Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to characterize the physical and chemical properties for each horizon in a soil profile. Students identify the horizons of a soil profile at a soil characterization site, then measure and record the top and bottom depth for each horizon. For each horizon, students describe the structure, color, consistence, texture, and abundance of roots, rocks, and carbonates. Samples are collected and prepared for additional laboratory analysis.
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.
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
Davis Soil Moisture and Temperature Station Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to log soil data using a Davis soil moisture and temperature station. Soil moisture and temperature sensors are installed at multiple depths and a station is set up to measure and record measurements at 15 minute intervals. These measurements are transferred to your school\s computer and then submitted to GLOBE via email data entry. Gravimetric soil moisture measurements must be taken to develop calibration curves for the soil moisture sensors.
Automated Soil and Air Temperature Monitoring Protocol
The purpose of this resource is to continuously measure soil and air temperature at one site. Students install four temperature probes; three are placed in the soil at three different depths and one is placed in an instrument shelter. Students use a data logger to record readings from the probes every 15 minutes. Students transfer the data to their school computers for analysis and submission to the GLOBE database.
