SnowGLOBE with University of Wisconsin-Madison (Michael Notaro)
As part of a SeaGrant project, Michael Notaro (University of Wisconsin-Madison) developed a new SnowGLOBE initiative. This 22-minute video explains the SnowGLOBE project.
Michael is recruiting schools and nature centers to work with their students in collecting snowfall-related measurements and photography. Equipment will be provided free of charge for participants. Michael is also available to give presentations or lead class activities. Please contact Michael if you wish to participate.
To upload snowflake photos
Michael Notaro created a Google Form for educators and students to upload their photos of snowflakes. Contact Michael if you want to add your data and photos; he will give you access to the form and instructions. The following information is requested via the form (you do not need to provide information for every field):
Upload snow crystal photo
Location name
Date
Time
Longest dimension (mm) in 10th of mm
Crystal type
January to February 2023
The GLOBE U.S. Coordination Office invited GLOBE educators and students to participate in Mission SnowGLOBE in January and February 2023. We worked in partnership with the NASA Investigation of Microphysics and Precipitation for Atlantic Coast-Threatening Snowstorms (IMPACTS) field campaign to collect measurements during snow events and upload the data to the GLOBE website. Anyone was welcome to participate, although we specifically asked for data from these areas: southern Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and southern Wisconsin. Storms over North Carolina and Virginia were also monitored by the IMPACTS team.
We asked participants to collect data using the protocols:
Prior to the start of the mission in January, you will need to:
Become familiar with the protocols: scroll down the Atmosphere Protocol eTraining page to find the “Precipitation - Snow” eTraining and “Clouds” eTraining
Define your study site(s)
Gather the equipment, including making a snowboard (a list of equipment needed can be found below)
The expectation is that you and your students would collect data when alerted through the SnowGLOBE Community for a snow event. You will be given 48 hours' notice of a snow event. The IMPACTS team will provide webinars for students to meet the mission pilots, and have offered to mentor students participating in the U.S. GLOBE Regional Student Research Symposia or the International Virtual Science Symposium using data from this project.
Webinar Recordings
Mission SnowGLOBE Informational Webinar: Learn how to participate and what data you will collect.
Interested in connecting with the IMPACTS scientists? Get in touch with Brenna Biggs (b.biggs@baeri.org), the NASA Airborne Science Program Communications Lead
If you are interested in connecting with the mission scientists, please get in touch with Brenna Biggs, the NASA Airborne Science Program Communication Lead (b.biggs@baeri.org).
Literacy Connections
It's Snowing by Gail Gibbons
The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter's Wonder by Mark Cassino
Snowflake Bentley by Jacqueline Briggs Martin
Curious About Snow by Gina Shaw
Snowflakes in Photographs by W.A. Bentley
The Secret Life of a Snowflake by Kenneth Libbrecht
The U.S. GLOBE Regional Student Research Symposia (SRS) take place across the country each spring. Check out the SRS webpage to learn more and see locations for 2023. These events are open to 5th-12th grade students and there is travel funding available for qualifying teams.
