GLOBE News
Help NASA Study Clouds During the PACE Clouds Challenge
Are you up for a challenge? We challenge volunteers across the world to photograph the sky at the exact moment the PACE satellite flies over your location. GLOBE Clouds observations from the ground will help NASA better understand how to interpret data from innovative new technology flying on PACE. Join the PACE Clouds Challenge by submitting cloud observations through GLOBE Clouds between 15 September and 15 October 2026.
PACE—short for Plankton, Aerosol, Cloud, ocean Ecosystem—is a NASA satellite that provides a hyperspectral view of Earth every 1–2 days. (Hyperspectral means that it captures images across hundreds of narrow, continuous light wavelengths instead of just standard red, green, and blue.) In addition to studying ocean life and particles in the atmosphere, PACE is giving scientists a new way to examine clouds and aerosols and better understand cloud cover, cloud type, and how clouds interact with the atmosphere.
NASA scientist Dr. Andy Sayer is using PACE data to study how well the satellite can identify clouds, especially near cloud edges and in broken-cloud conditions. That is where volunteer observations become especially valuable: photos and cloud cover observations collected from the ground help researchers better understand whether the PACE satellite can provide data on total cloud cover in an area by distinguishing what is a cloud (and what’s not) and determining the exact edges of clouds.
“We want to be able to identify whether or not each pixel in a satellite image is a cloud or not, because if it's cloudy we want to determine the properties of that cloud, and if it's not cloudy we want to determine the properties of the atmosphere and surface underneath the cloud.” —Dr. Andy Sayer, NASA PACE Satellite
Anyone can participate, whether you are brand new to GLOBE or have been contributing for years. A typical GLOBE Clouds observation takes about 5 minutes to complete and includes photos of the sky in multiple directions, including straight up. During the challenge, participants are asked to submit observations within the critical 5-minute window of a PACE overpass.
When an observation matches a satellite overpass, participants receive an email showing how their observation compares with satellite data, including imagery of the observation location. Volunteers who submit observations within 5-minutes of a PACE overpass and complete that observation with all six photos will also receive a certificate of recognition. Additional badges will be awarded to those who set a streak collecting daily PACE observations.
Join the PACE Clouds Challenge as a start to a new partnership with NASA’s PACE mission. Every observation—both now and beyond the challenge— helps NASA refine the satellite’s cloud detection technologies.
Upcoming Events Related to the Challenge
Intro Webinar: Meet the PACE Mission and Learn About the Challenge
On 27 August at 12 pm ET (16:00 UTC), Drs. Andy Sayer and Carina Poulin from the PACE mission will join Marilé Colón Robles from the GLOBE Clouds team to introduce the PACE satellite and the new Clouds Challenge. The session will explain the mission, the purpose of the challenge, and how GLOBE Observer data will support PACE research. Register for the webinar.
Volunteer Training Webinar
Join the volunteer training webinar on 9 September at 3:00 pm ET (19:00 UTC) to prepare for the challenge. Participants will learn how to estimate cloud cover, submit observations within the PACE overpass window using the GLOBE Observer app, and review the matched satellite imagery NASA sends back to users. The training will also explain how these observations directly support Dr. Sayer’s research on cloud edges and overall cloud cover. Register for the webinar.
Spanish-Language Volunteer Training Webinar
A Spanish version of the volunteer training webinar will take place on 11 September 11 at 3:00 pm ET (19:00 UTC).
Participa en el seminario web de formación para voluntarios el 9 de septiembre a las 3:00 pm ET (19:00 UTC) para prepararte para el reto. Los participantes aprenderán a estimar la cobertura nubosa, a enviar observaciones dentro de la ventana de sobrevuelo de PACE mediante la aplicación GLOBE Observer y a revisar las imágenes de satélite correspondientes que la NASA envía a los usuarios. En la formación también se explicará cómo estas observaciones contribuyen directamente a la investigación del Dr. Sayer sobre los bordes de las nubes y la cobertura nubosa general. Regístrate en el seminario web.
Get Ready to Join
If you are interested in contributing to real NASA research, the PACE Clouds Challenge is an easy and meaningful way to get involved. Mark your calendar for 15 September–15 October, join one of the upcoming webinars, and get ready to share your cloud photos with NASA.
News origin: GLOBE Implementation Office