GLOBE Equipment - Biosphere
GLOBE Instrument Specifications
All GLOBE instrument specifications described below represent the minimum specifications necessary to collect scientifically valid data. GLOBE schools may use instruments that meet or exceed these specifications. For example, the GLOBE specifications for pH paper call for a range of 2 to 9 pH units. A pH paper with a range of 1 to 14 exceeds specifications and may be used by GLOBE schools.
Instrument Specifications: Tape Measure
Instrument Specifications: Tape Measure
Instrument Specifications: Clinometer
Instrument Specifications: Densiometer
Instrument Specifications: Local Plant Identification Guide
Instrument Specifications: Camera
Land CoverBiometry - All Skill Levels
Instrument Specifications: Tape Measure
50 m tape, graduated one side, marked in 2 mm or smaller units.
Instrument Specifications: Tape Measure
The tape measure described in Layout of a Land Cover Site can be used for this measurement. Smaller metric tape measures can also be used for this measurement.
Instrument Specifications: Tape Measure
The tape measure described in Layout of a Land Cover Site can be used for this measurement.
Instrument Specifications: Clinometer
The clinometer as described in the Biosphere Investigation can be made by students. See Investigation Instruments: Clinometer for instructions. Alternative clinometers may consist of a moveable dial within a metal case and lens viewer. For the moveable dial version, the scale must be graduated from 0-90˚ in 1˚ units.
Instrument Specifications: Densiometer
The densiometer as described in the Biosphere Investigation can be made by students. See Investigation Instruments: Densiometer for instructions.
Instrument Specifications: None
Instrument Specifications: Balance
This balance must have the capacity to weigh 300 grams with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 gram. It can be either mechanical or electronic. It is assumed that a balance is available locally, for example in a high school science laboratory.
Instrument Specifications: Drying Oven (plants)
This oven must be capable of holding samples at 50-70 C for up to two days and must be ventilated to allow moisture to escape. The interior dimensions of the oven must be at least 25 cm x 30 cm x 25 cm. It is assumed that an oven is available locally, for example in a high school science laboratory. The oven should be designed for drying biological samples or food and should not be a conventional cooking oven, which could present a fire hazard in this application.
Instrument Specifications: Dichotomous Keys
Acquire dichotomous keys for tree identification locally.
Phenology
Green-Down – All Skill Levels
Instrument Specifications: Plant Color Guide
A guide made of weather-resistant paper that contains reference color chips based on the Munsell System of Color Notation. The following colors should be displayed: 5G 8/4, 5G 7/4, 5G 6/2, 5G 4/2, 5GY 3/2, 5GY 4/8, 2.5Y 8/6, 2.5Y 8/12, 5YR 7/12, 5GY 7/12, 5GY 6/10, 5GY 5/10, 2.5Y 6/6, 5Y 8/4, 7.5YR 8/4, 7.5YR 6/4, 7.5YR 5/4, 7.5YR 3/4, 5R 3/4, 2.5R 4/2, 2.5R 4/4, 2.5R 4/6, 2.5R 4/8, 2.5R 4/12. Each color chip must be positioned near a cutout that allows color comparison between plant leaves and the reference chips.
Instrument Specifications: Local Plant Identification Guide
Local Plant Identification Guides for tree identification are not available from a central supplier; they need to be acquired locally.
Instrument Specifications: Camera
A digital camera or a camera with color film. Mobile phone cameras can also be used.
Green-Up – All Skill Levels
Instrument Specifications: Dichotomous Keys
Acquire dichotomous keys for tree identification locally.
Instrument Specifications: Camera
A digital camera or a camera with color film. Mobile phone cameras can also be used.