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Discover how the GLOBE community is engaging in all things GLOBE through the community blog posts below.

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Hello! My name is Margaret Gregory. I am a science writer for the USDA Forest Service. I found my way into the Forest Service through the Resource Assistant Program ; before that, I taught physical science and chemistry at a public high school for three years. Even though I taught the physical sciences, my heart lies in the biological sciences—I minored in biology in my undergrad program. Photosynthesis forms the cornerstone of biology; if plants couldn’t create energy from sunlight, our world wouldn’t exist.          ​​​​​​​This lesson plan ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS SCIENTIST SKILLS   Investigation Areas: BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: LAND COVER/BIOLOGY P4: A BEGINNING LOOK AT PHOTOSYNTHESIS   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS


​​​​Teachers of Kindergarten to Grade 2 can use stories and observations of nature outside your door to help students understand how the systems of Earth (atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and pedosphere) are connected. Start by reading the Elementary GLOBE story “ All About Earth: Our World on Stage ” to get an overview of some of the connections between the components of the Earth. The story follows a classroom of students as they prepare a play to learn how Earth’s processes are interconnected and how living creatures interact with those processes. [One 30- to 45-minute class ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE GENERAL SCIENCE EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS   Investigation Areas: EARTH AS A SYSTEM BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM IN A BOTTLE WE'RE ALL CONNECTED: EARTH SYSTEM INTERACTIONS EARTH SYSTEM PLAY   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS


                                           My involvement in the Stem Enhancement in Earth Science (SEES) program started sometime around early spring 2021. The involvement was preceded by a strong recommendation from Dr. Kevin Czajkowski, PI, GLOBE Mission Earth, The University of Toledo. Indeed, to me as a member of the GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN), my participation in SEES became an opportunity to invoke the GISN mandate which includes to mentor and inspiring ...


Posted in: Curriculum: ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENCE AND MATH TECHNOLOGY STEM   Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION   Field Campaigns: WATERSHEDS SMAP SURFACE TEMPERATURE GPM   GLOBE Science Topics: EARTH AS A SYSTEM   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE PEDOSPHERE (SOIL) BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: EARTH AS A SYSTEM   Primary Audience: PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS


During the SEES internship, I got the opportunity to do data collection fieldwork. This required me to go around my neighborhood and take pictures of specific points that had been calculated using a Python notebook. Some of these points were in parts of my neighborhood that I’d never been to, despite being in my fourteenth year of living there. I even saw a pack of wild javelinas in a particularly remote spot! The task definitely took longer than I expected, but it felt good to know that I had contributed data that would actually help NASA scientists.  I also got to brainstorm my ...


Posted in: Investigation Areas: EARTH AS A SYSTEM MOSQUITOES   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS   Student Research Reports: INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM REPORT MISSION MOSQUITO REPORT


Did you know that clouds can both warm and cool our planet? Keeping an eye on clouds helps NASA study our climate. You can notice some of these changes by just looking at the clouds.  Here are some examples you might have already noticed: Do all clouds cast shadows? Low thick clouds tend to cast the most shadows. The shadows show you how the cloud is blocking the light from the sun from reaching the ground. This is similar to you placing your hand in front of your eyes when it is too sunny. Your hand is blocking the light from reaching your eyes. This is the same as the ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH AS A SYSTEM SCIENTIST SKILLS   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


  Stratus clouds are one of the three main types of clouds. Remember that there are many types of clouds that fall into three main categories: cumulus, stratus, and cirrus. Using  hand-motions , we would stretch out our hands as far out as we could to mimic a stratus cloud. There are stratus-type clouds at all three basic altitude levels. These are: stratus clouds (low level), altostratus clouds (mid level), and cirrostratus clouds (high level). When stratus-type clouds are present, your skies will most likely be overcast or the cloud cover is 90% or more. Note, there is a ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


Have you heard there is a new clouds project? It is called NASA GLOBE CLOUD GAZE. It is a merger of GLOBE Clouds and The Zooniverse online citizen science platform. A one-week pacing guide is now available! Sky photographs are one of the most requested portions of a GLOBE Clouds observation. This is because there is so much you can do with them. Photographs give scientists the opportunity to be right there with you. Details within a photograph can be used to compare with satellite data, confirm dust or haze observations, and give insight to unique cloud types like ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA INCLUDED GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE   News Topics: NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


  Did you know that NASA's Earth-observing satellites gather data that is being used by people all over the world to help respond to a variety of challenges? The 2022 GLOBE International Virtual Science Symposium  is focusing on "Engineering Solutions for a Changing Climate". In this blog, I will share some information about the ways that Faisal Hossain, a Civil and Environmental Engineering Professor at the University of Washington, is using engineering and solving environmental issues through engineering solutions.  Faisal Hossain grew up in Bangladesh where he ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH TECHNOLOGY STEM   Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION   Field Campaigns: SEASONS AND BIOMES WATERSHEDS SMAP GPM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA INCLUDED GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS MEETINGS/CONFERENCES   GLOBE Working Groups: EDUCATION WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM PEDOSPHERE (SOIL) BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE EARTH AS A SYSTEM HYDROLOGY LAND COVER/BIOLOGY SOIL   News Topics: COMPETITIONS SCRC RESEARCH VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS   Student Research Reports: STANDARD RESEARCH REPORT INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM REPORT U.S. STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIA (SRS) MISSION EARTH REPORT MISSION MOSQUITO REPORT   Teacher's Guide: STANDARDS REQUIREMENTS GRADE LEVELS INVESTIGATION AREA DOCUMENTS


Please join us on July 22 @ 6EDT/3PDT! GLOBE Partner, Los Angeles Public Library, is hosting this family-friendly webinar for ages 8 and up on the upcoming Mosquito Habitat Photo Challenge. The webinar is open to all-share with family, friends, and networks. Register at: bit.ly/july22mosquito For more information about the challenge: https://observer.globe.gov/mosquito-challenge Or watch this short (5min) video: https://youtu.be/1nmAdLdxzLE


Posted in: News Topics: CALENDAR NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS


  Red-vented Bulbul's Nesting Cycle    Introduction: "Birds are a miracle because they show us that there is a finer, simpler state of being that we can strive for" And the red-vented bulbul ( Pycnonotus cafer ) demonstrated this reality by nesting inside our house. She used to observe each of us, attaining an understanding of our lifestyles, and then trust us as she was concerned about predators such as cats in the neighbourhood posing a threat to her nest.  In the beginning, she was just roaming around the house looking for a safer place, and ...


Posted in: Curriculum: EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENCE AND MATH   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE GENERAL SCIENCE EARTH AS A SYSTEM SCIENTIST SKILLS   GLOBE Working Groups: SCIENCE WORKING GROUP EDUCATION WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: EARTH AS A SYSTEM BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: EARTH AS A SYSTEM   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


Chmury.


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH   GLOBE Science Topics: CLIMATE   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE   News Topics: COMPETITIONS   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS


ALIA, along with the Australian Space Agency and The Office of the Chief Scientist, and with help from Science Time From Space, is very excited to be able to bring an additional science and educational component to NSS 2021 – a science experiment from the International Space Station! The experiment is designed to shed some light on the important issue of climate change. The science concept shown will be that changing the surface of Earth results in changes to sun/earth/space heat balance. When we change the surface of the Earth from trees, oceans and dirt to concrete, bare fields and ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE   Primary Audience: SCIENTISTS STUDENTS


Every time you take a cloud observation, the NASA GLOBE Clouds team matches your observation to satellite data.  Why do we do this? Your view of clouds is from a different perspective than what is observed from a satellite. Satellites look down at clouds and see the top. When you make your observation, you are looking up towards the sky and seeing the bottom of the clouds. When there is a match, scientists then have a top-down view of clouds from a satellite and a bottom-up view from your spot. When you mix these two views together, you have a more complete picture of the sky. ...


Posted in: Curriculum: EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA INCLUDED GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM   News Topics: REGIONS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


The NASA GLOBE Clouds team highlights cloud observers Hilde Fålun Strøm (Norway) and Sunniva Sorby (Canada), who created Hearts In The Ice to call attention to all the rapid changes occurring in the polar regions due to the changing climate. These citizen scientists made history last year by being the first women to overwinter solo in the high Arctic. They spent 12 consecutive months without running water or electricity at a remote trappers cabin called “Bamsebu” in Svalbard, Norway. While they were there, they made numerous GLOBE cloud observations as ...


Posted in: Curriculum: LANGUAGE CULTURE AND ARTS STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA INCLUDED GENERAL SCIENCE EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS   GLOBE Working Groups: SCIENCE WORKING GROUP EDUCATION WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM   News Topics: COMMUNITY LETTERS NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


The NASA GLOBE Clouds team is continuously working with scientists around the world finding ways that cloud observations from citizen scientists impact the most. As we find new ways of using the data, we want to remind you how important each part of your cloud report is to the scientific community. All cloud observations can help with big questions such as the link between clouds and climate.  Dr. Patrick Taylor is an atmospheric scientist at NASA Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. In the Clouds and Earth’s Climate video , Patrick discusses how he studies clouds to ...


Posted in: Curriculum: ASSESSMENT AND EVALUATION EDUCATION RESEARCH SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS   GLOBE Working Groups: SCIENCE WORKING GROUP EDUCATION WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE   News Topics: COMMUNITY LETTERS NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS   Student Research Reports: STANDARD RESEARCH REPORT   Teacher's Guide: INVESTIGATION AREA DOCUMENTS


Carbon is needed for the growth of our tree, it has a positive effect on leaves, stems and roots


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH   Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION   Field Campaigns: CARBON CYCLE SURFACE TEMPERATURE   GLOBE Science Topics: GLOBE PROTOCOLS   GLOBE Working Groups: EDUCATION WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE   News Topics: MEETINGS VIDEO CALENDAR TRAINING NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: STUDENTS TEACHERS   Student Research Reports: STANDARD RESEARCH REPORT   Teacher's Guide: LANGUAGES INVESTIGATION AREA DOCUMENTS


Each cloud observation submitted using the GLOBE Observer app or through The GLOBE Program is compared to data from multiple satellites. A satellite match is when satellite data is identified that corresponds to a cloud observation. For orbiting satellites the observation must be within 15 minutes before or after a satellite’s overpass. Geostationary satellites, like the GOES satellites, are always observing the same location. If you are in the United States, you are likely  to get a satellite match to a GOES satellite. These satellites are sending data every 15 minutes. As long ...


Posted in: Curriculum: SCIENCE AND MATH STEM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE GENERAL SCIENCE GLOBE PROTOCOLS EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM   News Topics: COMMUNITY LETTERS NEWS BRIEFS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS


In May 2020, citizen scientist  Carmen Mandel  met two major milestones: she marked her one-year anniversary of being a GLOBE Observer and she single-handedly expanded the  Clouds satellite match  data by 36%. Carmen uses GLOBE Observer to record clouds 2-3 times daily every time she gets a notification that a NASA satellite is overhead. She sends her data to GLOBE, but then she records her observation in her own clouds journal. When she receives an email from NASA Langley Research Center matching her observation to satellite data, she adds that to her journal as ...


Posted in: GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE DATA INCLUDED EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE GENERAL SCIENCE   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE CLOUDS   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS


Have you ever wondered what happens after you press submit on your International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS) report? The GLOBE Implementation Office (GIO) Education team gets to work! Ok, that might be a little misleading because work on the IVSS already started back in August when we started planning for the 2021 IVSS. And while learning about planning webinars and recruiting judges might be something you are interested in; this is not what this blog post will cover. This is the “story” of what happens after teachers upload their students’ projects and press the big blue ...


Posted in: News Topics: VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS   Student Research Reports: INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM REPORT


Ever wonder what it might be like to work for NASA? This year at the American Geophysical Union (AGU) Annual Meeting (kind of like a huge IVSS as it is virtual this year), NASA shared a wealth of resources to help anyone interested in working with or for NASA to "find their place"! Take a look at this site and explore the myriad of amazing opportunities and programs that exist for a wide variety of different audiences. These programs range from research and learning opportunities to  being engaged by being a part of The GLOBE Program! So check out the " Find Your Place " ...


Posted in: Curriculum: EDUCATION RESEARCH LANGUAGE CULTURE AND ARTS SCIENCE AND MATH TECHNOLOGY STEM   Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND INCLUSION   Field Campaigns: FLEXE SCRC SCUBANAUTS SEASONS AND BIOMES WATERSHEDS CARBON CYCLE GGIC SCRC - PHASE 1 SCRC - PHASE 2 SMAP EL NIÑO SURFACE TEMPERATURE GPM   GLOBE Science Topics: BACKYARD SCIENCE CLIMATE CLIMATE CHANGE DATA INCLUDED GENERAL SCIENCE GENERAL SCIENCE @ES EARTH AS A SYSTEM EARTH SYSTEM SCIENCE SCIENTIST SKILLS MEETINGS/CONFERENCES   GLOBE Working Groups: EVALUATION WORKING GROUP SCIENCE WORKING GROUP EDUCATION WORKING GROUP TECHNOLOGY WORKING GROUP DEI WORKING GROUP   Investigation Areas: ATMOSPHERE HYDROSPHERE EARTH AS A SYSTEM PEDOSPHERE (SOIL) BIOSPHERE   Learning Activities: ATMOSPHERE AND CLIMATE EARTH AS A SYSTEM HYDROLOGY LAND COVER/BIOLOGY SOIL   News Topics: MEETINGS SCRC RESEARCH TRAINING VIRTUAL SCIENCE FAIR   Primary Audience: ALUMNI COUNTRY COORDINATORS PARTNERS SCIENTISTS STUDENTS TEACHERS TRAINERS   Student Research Reports: STANDARD RESEARCH REPORT INTERNATIONAL VIRTUAL SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM REPORT U.S. STUDENT RESEARCH SYMPOSIA (SRS) MISSION EARTH REPORT MISSION MOSQUITO REPORT   Teacher's Guide: GRADE LEVELS INVESTIGATION AREA DOCUMENTS