NSF and IPY'07'08

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IPY GLOBE Seasons and Biomes March 2007 Workshop
Fairbanks, Alaska, USA

Dr. Elena Sparrow1, Dr. Jessica Robin2, Dr.
Leslie Gordon3, Dr. Elissa Levine4, Ms. Kim
Morris1, Dr. Martin Jeffries5, Ms. Martha
Kopplin1 and Dr. David Verbyla1, Dr. Rebecca
Boger 1 University of Alaska Fairbanks 2Science
Systems Applications, Inc./NASA-GSFC 3 Gordon
Consulting, Neskowin, Oregon 4 NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center 5 National Science
Foundation 6 GLOBE Program Office
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The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit
the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an
international science and education program that
brings together scientists, educators, K-12
teachers and students in studying the Earth as a
System
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Inquiry and Science Processes
Inquiry Process and Science Process
Ask Question Hypothesis Methodology Data
Collection Data Reporting Analysis Conclusions
Report Results and Peer Review
K-12 Teachers and Students
Research Scientists
Generation of Knowledge
Learning Science
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Earth System Science Projects

• Seasons and Biomes
• Investigating Carbon Cycle through Terrestrial
  Ecosystems (ICCTE)
• Student Analysis of Data Driving Learning about
  the Environment (SADDLE)
• From Local to Extreme Environments (FLEXE)

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Investigating Carbon Cycle through Terrestrial
Ecosystems (ICCTE)
Principal Investigators Dr. Scott. Ollinger, Dr.
Rob Braswell, Dr. Mary Martin Dr Annette
Schloss and Ms. Sarah Silverberg at the Univ. of
New Hampshire and Dr. Jana Albrechtova Charles
Univ., Prague, CZ Students conduct field-
remote-sensing-based ecological research simple
ecosystem modeling to learn about global carbon
cycle climate relationships.
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Student Analysis of Data Driving Learning about
the Environment (SADDLE)
Principal Investigators Dr. Daniel Edelson, Dr.
Kemi Jona Northwestern Univ Dr. David Maidment
Univ. of Texas-Austin Students learn about
watershed science human impacts on them by
conducting open-ended investigations data
analysis in their local watersheds by
interacting with real-time archived CUAHSI data

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From Local to Extreme Environments (FLEXE)
Principal Investigators Ms. Liz. Goehring, Dr.
Bill Carlsen, Dr. Charles Fisher, Dr. Catherine
Williams Pennsylvania State Univ Dr. Donna
Blackman, Mr. Eric Simms Scripps Institute of
Oceanography Mr. Matt Smit Univ. of
Florida Students learn about marine ecosystems
habitability factors controlling life in
extreme environments through investigation of
their local environments comparison with the
ocean realm

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SEASONS AND BIOMES
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What is Seasons and Biomes?

• Seasons and Biomes is an inquiry- and project-
  based initiative that monitors seasons,
  specifically their interannual variability to
  increase K-12 students understanding of the
  Earth system.
• The project connects GLOBE students, teachers,
  and communities with educators and scientists
  from three Integrated Earth Systems Science
  Programs (IESSP)
• International Arctic Research Center (IARC)
• NASA Terra Satellite
• NASA Landsat Data Continuity Mission (LDCM)

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IARC

• IARC was established to promote international
  Arctic climate change research
• Currently, 50 researchers from more than 20
  institutions around the world are participating
  in IARC projects
• IARC is located at the University of Alaska
  Fairbanks
• IARC is an active participant in the
  International Polar Year (2007-2009)

 
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LDCM

• The Landsat program is the longest running set of
  satellites specifically for acquiring imagery of
  the Earth from space
• This data archive provides multiple applications
  for land classification and monitoring land cover
  changes, seasons and urban growth
• The LCDM is the successor to Landsat 7 and is a
  collaboration between USGS and NASA
• A main LDCM objective is to make all Landsat data
  accessible to the general public

 
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TERRA

• Terra is a multinational, multidisciplinary
  mission between NASA and the aerospace agencies
  of Canada and Japan
• The mission objective is to improve understanding
  of the movement of carbon and energy through
  Earths climate system
• There are five instruments aboard Terra and
  MSTGLC will utilize data from the MODIS
  instrument

 
http//www.iarc.uaf.edu/
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Seasons and Biomes Objectives

• Engage K-12 students in Earth system science
  research to learn science process skills and
  inquiry
• Provide teacher professional development in Earth
  system science and inquiry
• Provide increased connectivity of K-12 teachers
  and students with scientists
• Increase understanding of technology used in
  Earth system science
• Build diverse Earth system science learning
  communities locally that connect globally

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How can studying seasonal change help students
better understand Earth as a system?

• Seasons connect all five spheres of the Earth
  system - atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere,
  hydrosphere and lithosphere.
• Interactions between these five spheres affect
  the timing and duration of seasons.
• By monitoring seasons, students will increase
  their understanding of how interactions within
  the Earth system affect their local seasons and
  how these variations affect their communities as
  well as regional and global environments.

 
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Photos courtesy of GLOBE Bahrain, Ghana, and USA
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What is a Global Learning Community (GLC) ?

• A global learning community is a network of GLOBE
  schools organized by biomes.
• Biomes include
• Tundra, Taiga, Deciduous Forest, Tropical Forest,
  Grasslands, Savannah, Shrubland, Desert,
  Agricultural and Urban
• The project will target two GLCs each year and
  will focus on Tundra and Taiga biomes initially
  to correspond with International Polar Year (IPY)
  2007-2009.

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What will students do ?
Photos courtesy of the GLOBE, Alaska GLOBE and
ALISON
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What about satellite data?

• Landsat and MODIS satellite data will be used to
  teach students
• what biomes are
• how they are classified
• how to identify their regions biome
• how they may be used in student inquiries
• In turn, the students field measurements
  collected during their field campaigns will
  validate the satellite data.

 
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How is Seasons and Biomes relevant to the broader
community?

• This project will contribute to Earth system
  science measurements and validations of remotely
  sensed data needed for
• - better understanding of carbon and
• water cycling
• - regional climate impact assessments
• - prevention and management of
• diseases
• Various cultures utilize seasons as calendars for
  their work activities

 
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Join the Seasons and Biomes Team