The University of Toledo

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Engaging K-12 Students in Science GLOBE Surface
Temperature Protocol
Kevin Czajkowski, Timothy Ault, Teresa Benko,
Alison Spongberg, Mark Templin, Takelia Bragg and
Jackie Kane

• The University of Toledo

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• Outline
• GLOBE/SATELLITES Background
• Validation of Snow Remote Sensing
• Surface Temperature Protocol
• Iowa Project, Are untilled fields or
  conservation tilled fields warmer?
• Examples of Student Inquiry-based Projects

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Our Team
Dr. Kevin Czajkowski Remote Sensing/Atm. Science
Terri Benko Outreach Coordinator
Janet Struble Education Coordinator
Dr. Alison Spongberg Soil Scientist
Dr. Mark Templin Science Education
Timothy Ault Research Tech
Jackie Kane In-service Teacher
Takelia Bragg Student Tech
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• Over 12,000 Schools Worldwide
• Over 20,000 Teachers Trained
• 103 Countries
• Earth Science Education Program
• Sponsored by NASA and NSF
• Science and Education Program
• Students, teachers and researchers work together
  to solve current environmental problems
• Inquiry-based Learning

GLOBE Cloud Data 3/27/2003
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Why Study Snow? To Monitor Climate Changes

• Changes in snow cover will change the amount of
  sunlight absorbed and the amount reflected back
  to space affecting the temperature

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Can you see the snow through the clouds?
Feb. 4, 2002
MODIS Visible Band
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MODIS Data vs. Student Data
Student Observations
MODIS Data
Clouds 2,161 Student Snow Observations Not Used

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School Observation Sites Classified as Water by
the MODIS Snow Product
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MODIS Designated Clouds vs. Student Observations
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MODIS Designated Clear vs. Student Observations
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What We Did
A Students Investigation
Visual Approach - Satellite Image Analysis
By Ms. Julia Gehring and Ms. Jackie Kane,
Advisor St. Ursula Academy
(Toledo, OH)

• Took 35 MODIS satellite images from the
  University of Toledos server http//www.remotesen
  sing.utoledo.edu/education/student_obs/index.html
  Looked for irregularities in classification.
• Tested using GLOBE student data and National
  Weather Service data.

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February 1, 2002

• Narrow strip of snow running SW to NE
• Archived weather data showed temperatures of
  previous week above freezing
• Student data reported no snow
• Rating

MODIS Snow Product
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Why do We Measure Surface Temperature?

• To help us understand the influences on the rate
  of heat exchange between the Earths surface and
  the atmosphere. This impacts the weather and
  climate and can help us understand Global Warming
  and the urban heat island effect.

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Surface Temperature Data Collection

• Students report Ts measurements, wet/dry surface
  conditions, universal time, and snow depth (up to
  9 samples), and cloud conditions (cover, type,
  contrails).
• Each study site includes location,coverage type
  data (grass, asphalt, bare soil, etc.), and study
  site size (e.g. 302m2 to ideally 902m2 area).
• We asked students to observe a grassy area
  and a parking lot.
• Sites are Geo-coded by latitude and longitude
  coordinates
• We use Raytek ST20 Infrared Thermometer
  (IRTs), i.e. non-contact thermometer, to
  measure Ts.

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Surface Temperature is at the Heart of the
Energy Budget
Incoming sunlight heats the surface
Evapotranspiration cools the surface
Sensible heat rises from the ground
Emitted energy cools the surface to space
Surface Temperature
Heat goes into the ground
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Urban Heat Island EffectValidate Satellite
Algorithms
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Surface Temperature Measurement Techniques by
Scientists
Hand-held IRT
Tower Mounted IRT
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Central Catholic Students Taking Surface
Temperature Observations
Mike Hedley submitted an article to the NSTA
Science Teacher, published May 2004
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Thermal Shock

• During our summer 2003 workshop, teachers noticed
  that the IRTs did not match 5 C difference
  noticed.
• The IRT reads incorrectly if going from inside to
  outside if the temperature was much different.

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In a Walk-in Refrigerator
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Are 9 Observations the Right Number for Students
to Take?

• Surface temperature varies significantly across
  the landscape even within inches.
• Need average temperature of the observation site.
• The observations cannot take too long or be too
  cumbersome because teachers will not be willing
  to have their students participate.

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Total average of all 36 observations 26.4 C
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Who has participated thus far?
Number of Observations
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Partnerships with other GLOBE partners is
important for us to meet our goals.
Number of Observations
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Surface Temperature Observations Taken Through
December 2005
Focus on Field Campaigns
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Looking at School DataMonroe High School,
Monroe, Michigan
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Diurnal Surface Temperature Observations Monroe
High School, Monroe, Michigan
November 3, 2004
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Quality Assurance Data Entry Problems

• 16 of the observations had the incorrect UTC
  (Universal Time Coordinated).
• One teacher didnt read the protocol and used a
  current temperature thermometer laid on the
  ground.
• Surface Temperature was entered in F instead of
  C.
• Snow depth was entered in inches or cm instead of
  mm.
• Drifting of snow not accounted for.

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Surface Temperature Investigation of Untilled and
Conservation-Tilled Farm Fields

• Kevin P. Czajkowski, Timothy Ault, Terri Benko,
  Takelia Bragg
• The University of Toledo

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Which is warmer?
Untilled (No-Till) Field
Conservation-Tilled Field
The ground is broken up, but some plant debris
remains.
The plant debris from last years harvest
remains in the field.
or
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How Did We Determine Which is Hotter?

1. Determined Untilled Versus Conservation Tilled
   Fields Using Landsat 7 Satellite Image.
2. Used Student GLOBE Surface Temperature
   Observations to Correct the Satellite Estimated
   Ground Temperature for Atmospheric Effects.
3. Calculated Average Surface Temperature from the
   Satellite for the Untilled and Conservation
   Tilled Fields.

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Validation (Making sure we have the right field)
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Classification Results
Black Not a field (urban, water, road, etc.)
Gray Prairie or forest
Green No-Till Field
Brown Conservation-Tilled Field
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Thermal Infrared Satellite Image April 4, 2005
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Surface Temperature Spring 2005 Field Campaign

• GLOBE Schools in Iowa Measured Surface
  Temperature Using Infrared Thermometers
• Orchard Hill Elementary School
• Central Middle School
• Immaculate Conception
• Hoover Middle School
• Kittrell Elementary School
• St. Edwards School
• Orange Elementary School

Thank You
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GLOBE Iowa Student Observations
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Hoover Middle School Sites
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Surface Temperature with the Landsat7 Thermal
Image
L723.3C GLOBE29.2C
L722.7C GLOBE30.3C
L723.8C GLOBE30.8C
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Before
Results of Atmospheric Correction
After
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Which is warmer?
Untilled (No-Till) Field
Conservation-Tilled Field
or
32.3º C
29.2º C
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Inquiry-based Student Project PresentationCompar
ison of Surface Temperature Between Two Schools
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My Sons Science Fair ProjectThe Temperature of
Clothes
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Thank You!