GreenDown Protocol

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Green-Down Protocol
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Goals for the Training Session

• Provide an inquiry context for the data
  collection and science content
• Provide accurate science content
• Review procedures for data collection
• Review data entry and analysis
• Discuss classroom implementation ideas
• Collect feedback from participants

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Inquiry Context

• How long does green-down take for a given
  species?
• How does the green-down differ between different
  species?
• How does green-down relate to air temperature?
• Does green-down differ from year to year for the
  same tree/shrub?

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Local Inquiry Example
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Why do GLOBE scientists research green-down?

• To calculate growing season length and monitor
  interannual changes in growing season duration
• To determine how environmental conditions such as
  air and soil temperature, soil moisture, and day
  length affect plant growth
• To monitor the nature and extent of climate
  change and its effects on plants and animals
• To help interpret satellite observations of
  greenness

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Science Content What is green-down?
Green-down marks the end of the growing season
for many plants. A color change is generally
associated with green-down of leaves. The color
will vary by species.
July 1987
November 1987
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Instruments Green-Down

• GPS Receiver
• Local Tree/Shrub Identification Guide
• GLOBE Plant Color Guide
• Compass
• Meter stick or tape measure (for grass study
  site)
• Camera
• Flagging Tape Marker

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The Measurements

• Green-Down Study Site Definition
• GPS location
• Tree/shrub species or grass genus
• Study Site pictures
• Green-Down Protocol
• For tree or shrub date, leaf condition and leaf
  color on four leaves of the same branch
• For grass date, shoot condition and shoot color
  on the four tallest shoots

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Collecting Data Field\Lab Guides Data Sheets

• Field\Lab Guides
• Tree and Shrub Green-Up and Green-Down Site
  Selection Field Guide or Grass Green-Up and
  Green-Down Site Selection Field Guide
• GPS Protocol Field Guide
• Tree and Shrub Green-Down Field Guide or Grass
  Green-Down Field Guide
• Data Sheets
• Green-Up and Green-Down Site Definition Sheet
• GPS Investigation Data Sheet
• Tree, Shrub and Grass Green-Down Data Sheet

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Collecting Data Green-Up and Green-Down Study
Site

• Site Selection
• At least 2 weeks before budburst
• Convenient location
• Native trees/shrubs or grasses that are not
  watered or fertilized are preferred

• Tree and Shrub or Grass Selection
• Identify dominant tree and shrub species or grass
  genus
• For Tree and Shrub
• Select one dominant, native, deciduous tree/shrub
• Select and flag a healthy, good-sized branch on
  the equator-facing side
• For Grass
• Select a one-meter square area dominated by grass
  plants

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Collecting Data Protocol

• First Time
• Photograph your site
• For Tree or Shrub
• Locate and mark leaf at end of selected branch
• Locate and mark three other closest leaves
• For Grass
• Locate the four longest green grass shoots.
• Mark the base of each grass shoot.
• Every Visit
• Determine dominant color for each leaf or grass
  shoot
• Or report either
• Snow Covered or Fallen

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Enter Data on the GLOBE Web Site Green-Up and
Green-Down Study Site Definition
Step 1 Select Define a Green-Up/Green-Down
Study Site from the Phenology data entry
menu Step 2 Enter the Study Site
information Step 3 Click Send Data button Step
4 Confirm data entries on verification page
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Enter Data on the GLOBE Web SiteGreen-Down
Protocol
Step 1 Confirm that a Green-Down Study Site has
been defined Step 2 Select Green-Down from the
Phenology data entry menu Step 3 Select your
Study Site, enter the date and growing season
cycle Step 4 Enter data for the status and color
of the leaves from each line of the data sheet,
one at a time Step 5 Confirm data entries on
verification page
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Looking at the Data
Leaf 1
Comparison of Green-Down Data of Two Species
Worthen C of E Primary School, Shropshire,
United Kingdom
Leaf 2
How does the green-down differ between species?
Leaf 3
Leaf 4
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Classroom Implementation

• Inquiry
• Curriculum/Standards Alignment
• Assessment
• Classroom Management

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Getting Started

• The GLOBE Web site has information
• http//www.globe.gov
• GLOBE Help Desk or your Country Coordinator can
  support you as you get started.
• Get your students involved doing real science!