Student Research Reports
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Solar Panel Impact on Soil Temperature and Moisture
Organization(s):Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Kei Fry and Alex Marino
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Educator(s):Laura Kubiak
Contributors:Laura Kubiak, Ted Richardson, Tim Best, Kristian Ward, Sara Mierzwiak (UT Mentor, GLOBE Mission Earth), and Kevin Czajkowski (UT Mentor, GLOBE Mission Earth)
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report, Mission Earth Report
Protocols:Surface Temperature, Soil Moisture - Gravimetric, Soil Temperature
Presentation Poster:
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:01/31/2024
When beginning the research, it was theorized that solar panels would greatly change the area below them with increasing moisture content and lower temperatures due to the shade. Over a few months, measurements with an infrared thermometer, a soil thermometer, and collected soil with cans created results which showed their effects were quite small. As a result, it was found solar panels have little negative impacts and should be encouraged even more. “We also found the PV panel had some beneficial effects on plant species composition, diversity patterns, and soil properties” (Shang et al. p. 2805).