GLOBE eTraining

Pedosphere

This overview of the GLOBE Pedosphere protocols explains how to define soil study sites for both soil moisture and temperature and for soil characterization. After completing the Introduction, you will be prepared to learn any Soil Measurement protocols.
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

frost-tube

Review the Frost Tube field guide to learn how to construct and install a frost tube. Review the steps for using the frost tube device to determine how deep the soil freezes (known as the “frost depth”) during the cold months. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

bulk-density

Review the Soil Bulk Density field guide to learn how to collect soil samples from the field using a container with a known volume. Then, build on soil analysis procedures from the Soil Moisture (Gravimetric) and Soil Characterization protocols to determine the mass and volume of dry soil as well as the mass and volume of rocks. Use these values to calculate "soil bulk density," which is a measure of how tightly packed the soil is. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

soil-characterization

Review the Soil Characterization field guide to find step-by-step instructions on how to characterize soil by its structure, color, consistency, texture, and abundance of roots, rocks, and carbonates. Learn how to select, expose, and define a Soil Characterization protocol study site, and then review how field samples of soil are collected and characterized. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment
Supporting Material:

soil-fertility

Review the Soil Characterization Site Exposure - Auger Method field guide and Soil Fertility protocol Lab Guide to learn how to use a GLOBE Soil Fertility Kit to prepare samples and determine whether nitrate, phosphate, and potassium are absent from a soil sample or present in low, medium or high concentrations.

soil-infiltration

Review the Soil Infiltration field guide to learn how to build your own soil infiltrometer using metal rings and determine the rate at which water soaks into the ground as a function of time. Build on your knowledge of gravimetric soil moisture collection (in this instance, “gravimetric” means determining the amount of moisture in the soil by weight) and analysis techniques to determine the soil water content of the saturated soil. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

gravimetric

Review the Soil Moisture (Gravimetric) field guide to learn how to collect soil samples from the field, and then determine the soil water content by calculating the difference between the wet sample mass and the dry sample mass. You will be able to relate soil moisture measurement to the physical and chemical properties of the soil. In this instance, “gravimetric” means determining the amount of moisture in the soil by weight. 

GLOBE offers two different eTraining options for Soil Moisture:

Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

smap

Take your soil moisture investigation techniques to the next level! Review the Soil Moisture – (SMAP) Block Pattern field guide  to build on your knowledge of gravimetric soil moisture and bulk density procedures to also account for volumetric soil moisture content. Plan your investigation based on when NASA’s Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP) satellite will overfly your soil investigation site. Additional training:
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment

particle-density

Review the Soil Characterization Site Exposure - Auger Method field guide and Soil Particle Density lab guide to learn how to measure the volume of a known mass of dry soil particles and calculate the density of the particle portion only of a soil sample.

size-distribution

Review the Soil Characterization Site Exposure - Auger Method field guide and Soil Particle Size Distribution lab guide to learn how to suspend a known mass of dry soil in water and measure the specific gravity of the suspension after sand and then silt has settled out of the suspension to determine the amount of each soil particle size group in the sample.

soil-ph

Review the Soil Characterization Site Exposure - Auger Method field guide and Soil pH protocol lab guide to learn how to prepare a one-to-one mixture of dry soil and distilled water and then measure the pH of the liquid left after most of the soil has settled to the bottom of the mixture.

soil-temperature

Review the Soil Temperature field guide to learn how to collect soil temperature measurements in the field using a calibrated soil thermometer.

GLOBE offers two different eTraining options for Soil Temperature:

Data Collection eTraining (New!)
Protocol eTraining
Protocol Self-Assessment