Blog - Dorian Wood Janney

Did you know that NASA satellite data is being used to predict,monitor, and respond to vector-borne and water-related disease around the world? Imagine the value of using both GLOBE ground-based data; such as precipitation, vegetation, soil moisture, surface temperature, and humidity; to help us better understand disease! As you think about what you might like to research for the...

A new study using NASA's Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) mission data entitled "Water vapor and soil moisture can predict afternoon rainfall" was recently published in the Geophysical Research Letters journal.  Many of us who use GLOBE protocols have wondered if we could use our data to help us answer some of the most challenging questions related to weather. This study might give...

Did you know that the mosquito is the world's most dangerous animal? What could be a better topic for students to research than this common insect that can cause so much damage?  We are looking for teachers and students who are interested in using the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper as a part of their IVSS science project investigation. You do not need to have active mosquitoes to do...

Water is essential to life as we know it. Too much or too little water can mean the difference between life and death. While we live on a "water planet" and almost three-quarters of our planet is covered with water, less than 2.5% of that water is actually freshwater. You can read more about Earth's freshwater resources in this article, "Precious Freshness", and watch the video "Show Me the...

  Patchara Pongmanawut, a GLOBE teacher at the Princess Chulabhorn Science High School in the Trang Province in Thailand, has been doing fantastic work with her students.  These students have been at the top of the Mosquito Habitat Mapper Honor Roll for the past month, and show no sign of slowing down!     "In Thailand, there are many mosquito-borne diseases such...

Right now I am sitting in my home office, watching the trees bend as the wind howls. My automated weather station in my front yard has an anemometer that is simply going nuts, and the wind vane is wildly careening back and forth as the winds pushes in from all directions. We have had wind gusts that exceeded 40 mph and now my weather station is reporting sustained winds at 25 mph.  The...

It is pretty neat when you can get two for the price of one- as most teachers can attest to with regard to trying to get everything into their curriculum. Did you know that this year, the FIRST LEGO League's challenge is focused on water. And what could be better, as that water is also the theme of this year's ENSO Student Research Campaign!  The LEGO Challenge Project states: "People use...