jessica taylor nasa langley research center [email protected]
TRANSCRIPT
Investigating Temperaturewith GLOBE Protocols and
Instruments
Jessica Taylor
NASA Langley Research Center
GLOBEGlobal Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment
Began 1995111 Countries54,000 Teachers24,000 Schools1.5 M Students22 M Measurements
www.globe.gov
Temperature ProtocolsSee Current Air Temperature Protocolhttp://www.globe.gov/documents/348614/348678/
maxmin.pdfConsiderations
InstrumentationAvailability of Instrument(s)/Weather Shelter/LocationScientific discovery
What do you want to know? So, what type of data do you need to collect?
Instrumentation Options
Measurement Impacts
Predict Impacts
Intro to Instrument Shelter InvestigationPurpose: Discover what environmental variables
(physical or placement) can influence temperature measurement In the classroom:Each student investigation team receives two
thermometers for comparisonCheck thermometers against each other with same
variablesThen place thermometers in comparison settings,
recording temperature every 5 minutes until temperature has stabilized
Physical CharacteristicsMajor characteristics that may influence temperature
inside:The color of the shelter; The slits in the sides of the shelter; The materials of which the shelter is made.
Placement of ShelterWhy should the shelter be located away from
buildings and trees? Why should it be placed over a natural surface, such
as grass? Why should it be placed 1.5 meters above the
ground? Why should the shelter be oriented with the door
facing north in the northern hemisphere and south in the southern hemisphere?
Why is the thermometer not supposed to touch the shelter?
Student Shelter InvestigationWhat to investigate and howEach team should choose or is assigned a property to
explorePhysical Property Examples
Paint one shelter white and one black; Make one shelter with slits and one without (paint both
white); If you are using ready-made boxes, then use white
paper to construct a shelter of similar shape and size to the cardboard one. Paint the cardboard shelter white.
Use a tin can and a box of the same size and shape.
Student Shelter Investigations (cont)Placement Examples:
Effect of shelter heightEffect of the thermometer touching the shelter wall Effect of ground surfaceEffect of proximity to buildings/treesEffect of directions of shelter
Instrument Shelter Set-UpLocate away from
obstaclesShelter should face away
from the equatorGround cover should be
grassyTemperature sensor
should be 1.5 m above the ground
After set-up, complete the site definition
Temperature with Instrument ShelterInstruments
Digital Mulit-Day Max/MinU-Tube ThermometerHOBO Data Logger
BenefitsInstruments already outAlready equilibrated to outsideMore data
Temperature without Instrument Shelter
InstrumentsCalibration ThermometerSling-psychrometer
ConsiderationsTakes 3-5 min to equilibrateMinimize ‘influences’ when reading T
Record every 3 min Avoid Direct Sun Consider Ground cover
Transporting instrumentationCalibration
CalibrationSubmerge calibration thermometer in
an ice-water bath for 10-15 minutes, stir occasionallyCalibration thermometer should
read between -0.5° C and +0.5° C
Temperature TestTaking accurate temperature readings
Do not breathe on, touch, stand too close or expose the thermometer to direct sunlight when using it.
Read thermometer at eye levelRead temperature from base of indicatorsRecord current temperatureRecord maximum and minimum temperaturesRecord date and time (UTC) If no measurement for previous day, record only
current temperatureReset maximum and minimum temperature markers
Inquiry ContextWhich season has the
highest temperature? Lowest temperature? Why?
How does the soil temperature range compare with the air temperature range?
What are the latitudes and elevations of other GLOBE schools with atmosphere temperature data similar to yours?
Related GLOBE Learning ActivitiesStudying the Instrument ShelterBuilding a ThermometerAvailable online at:
http://www.globe.gov/web/atmosphere-climate/learning-activities