GLOBE eTraining

Biosphere

This overview of the GLOBE Biosphere protocols explains how to define study sites for biometry, carbon cycle, and greening measurements. After completing it, you will be prepared to learn any Biosphere protocols.
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

biometry-canopy

Review the Biometry – Canopy Cover and Ground Cover field guide to learn how to take canopy cover and ground cover measurements at your GLOBE land cover sample site. Find a step-by-step introduction for how to measure canopy cover using a densiometer, measure ground cover, and prepare the data for upload to GLOBE. Additional training:
Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

biometry-biomass

Review the Biometry – Graminoid Biomass field guide to learn how to determine the graminoid (grass-like plant) biomass at your GLOBE land cover sample site. Find a step-by-step introduction of the protocol method and learn how to conduct sampling procedures in the field, complete measurement procedures in the lab, and upload your data to GLOBE. Additional training: 
Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

biometry-height

In identifying the land cover of your sample site, you may need to measure the height of the site’s vegetation. Review the Biometry – Graminoid, Tree, and Shrub Height field guide to learn how to measure the average height of the vegetation. For low-lying vegetation, such as grasses, and medium height vegetation, such as shrubs, you will take a random sample of plants, measure them, and calculate the average plant height. Additional training:
Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

biometry-tree

Review the Biometry – Tree Circumference field guide to learn how to measure a tree circumference at your GLOBE land cover sample site. You should take your tree circumference measurements on the same five trees you selected for tree height. Additional training:
Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

carbon-non-standard

Review the NON-STANDARD Herbaceous Field Guide, NON-STANDARD Shrub & Sapling Field Guide, NON-STANDARD Site Set-Up Field Guide, NON-STANDARD Tree Circumference Field Guide, and the NON-STANDARD Tree Mapping Field Guide to learn how to set up a non-standard carbon cycle site to take carbon and plant growth measurements using the GLOBE Carbon Cycle protocols. Determine which vegetation types you will measure, perform field measurements to assess carbon storage and plant growth, and upload data to the GLOBE database. Additional training:

Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

carbon-standard

Review the STANDARD Herbaceous Field Guide, STANDARD Shrub & Sapling Field Guide, STANDARD Site Set-Up Field Guide, STANDARD Tree Circumference Field Guide, and the STANDARD Tree Mapping Field Guide to learn how to set up a standard carbon cycle site to take carbon and plant growth measurements using the GLOBE Carbon Cycle protocols. A standard site is an area of at least 225 m2 (15 x 15 m) of contiguous vegetation (such as forest, grassland, and shrubland). Review learning activities and research questions that you can address using the Carbon Cycle protocols, learn about the selection of a standard GLOBE carbon cycle site, and find a step-by-step introduction of the Standard Tree, Shrub/Sapling, and Herbaceous protocols. Learn how to determine which vegetation types you will measure, perform field measurements to assess carbon storage and plant growth, upload data to the GLOBE database, and understand resources available to help you analyze and interpret your data. NOTE: If your site has human interference (such as a school yard or park), please complete the Carbon Cycle – Non-Standard Site protocol. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

grass-down

As part of phenology we study the seasonal and climatic changes in the environment. Review the Green Up–Green Down – Grass Green Down field guide to learn about observing the green-down phase for grasses, which marks the end of the growing season and the beginning of dormancy for the grasses. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

grass-up

As part of phenology we study the seasonal and climatic changes in the environment. Review the Green Up–Green Down – Grass Green Up field guide to learn about observing the green-up phase for grasses, which begins as the dormancy of the grass is broken by changes in environmental conditions such as more hours of daylight and an increase in air temperatures. Additional training:

Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

tree-down

As part of phenology we study the seasonal and climatic changes in the environment. Review the Green Up–Green Down – Tree and Shrub Green Down field guide to learn about observing the green-down phase for trees and shrubs, which begins as the hours of daylight and temperatures begin to decrease. Additional training:

Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

tree-up

Phenology is the study of the effect of seasonal and climatic changes in the environment. Review the Green Up–Green Down – Tree and Shrub Green Up field guide to learn about observing the green-up phase for trees and shrubs, which is often seen as the buds of trees and shrubs opening, caused by changes in environmental conditions such as an increase in hours of daylight and air temperatures. Additional training:

Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

land-cover

Review the Land Cover Classification field guide to learn how to classify land cover using the Modified UNESCO Classification (MUC) system. This system can be used to classify land cover around the globe, allowing you to identify the land cover classification of your study site. Additional training:

Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

phenological

Review the Phenological Gardens field guide to learn how to plant a garden and observe the flowering and leaf development stages of specified plants throughout the year.