GLOBE News
What is the Science of ENSO? Read the Latest GLOBE ENSO Blog
Have you read the latest GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign blog, “The Science of ENSO!” written by Brian Campbell, NASA Senior Earth Science Education Specialist?
El Niño and La Niña are the warm and cool phases of a recurring climate pattern across the tropical Pacific—the El Niño-Southern Oscillation, or “ENSO” for short. The pattern can shift back and forth irregularly every two to seven years, and each phase triggers predictable disruptions of temperature, precipitation, and winds. These changes disrupt the large-scale air movements in the tropics, triggering a cascade of global side effects.
Considering the importance of this issue, the GLOBE ENSO campaign is designed to engage students in determining where and how much El Niño affects local places and to put students in contact with their local environment. During the current phase of this campaign (Phase II), students will use at least two of the GLOBE protocols of precipitation, air temperature, surface temperature, soil temperature, SMAP soil moisture and biometry - canopy and ground cover to observe changes from climate averages and correlate temperature and precipitation measurements with observations of phenology changes. Local analyses will be compared across the participating schools and examined in the broader spatial context afforded by satellite observations.
You are also invited to join the ENSO (El Niño Southern Oscillation) Data Entry Challenge. The goal of the challenge, which began on 22 April and runs through 22 July, is to involve students in the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign. Join GLOBE in contributing to our understanding of the science of ENSO. All data for the ENSO Campaign will be reported to the GLOBE Data Entry portal as usual; however, the ENSO campaign page will provide an additional venue for analysis and collaboration.
Throughout the GLOBE ENSO Student Research Campaign, regular guest blogs from scientists and teachers are being posted. In addition, there is information on the science of ENSO, how to participate in the campaign, analysis tools, numerous resources, and engaging discussion opportunities on the webpage. Keep checking back to discover what’s new with Phase II of the campaign!
type: globe-newsNews origin: GLOBE Implementation Office