# Presentation: 881317

## Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol

## 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

**Notes:**
These are the goals for the Digital Multi-Day Min/Max/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol training session.

## Inquiry Context

- Which 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?

**Notes:**
Photo shows the average temperatures in Celsius for 1987. These data are from the National Center for Environmental Prediction/National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCEP/NCAR) reanalysis project and were derived from measurements and model simulations.   This photo is also displayed on the GLOBE Earth System Science poster.

## Local Inquiry Example

**Notes:**
Students can generate local inquiry questions to create a context for data collection to answer the question. Local inquiry topics can be connected or scaled to provide a local to global perspective on environmental research.
Please generate a local example that teachers and students can relate to.
Examples: 
Is your local environment affected more by average temperatures or temperature extremes?
What soil temperatures signal a new growing season in your area, as evidenced by new grass, weed growth and germination, or budburst?
How do temperature changes over a day relate to cloudiness? Rainfall?
What time of day is the warmest temperature? The coolest temperature?

## Why do GLOBE scientists research Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature?

- To provide a denser network of observations than is available using only official weather stations for investigating localized variations
- To augment data needed for regional forecasts and climate records in areas of the world where there are few official weather stations
- To compare with model data, or to use as input to run a model

**Notes:**
Student-collected measurements in the Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocols are helpful to scientists in the following ways.
To provide a denser network of observations than is available using only official weather stations for investigating localized variations (e.g. urban heat islands, microclimates)
To augment data needed for regional forecasts and climate records in areas of the world where there are few official weather stations
Scientists are specifically interested in using soil temperature and current temperature to compare with model data, or to use as input to run a model.

## Science Content

**Notes:**
Globally-averaged temperature over the last 140 years. Care was taken to include ocean data and exclude stations influenced by urbanization. The scientific consensus is that the overall warming trend is due to an increase in green house gases (gases that interact with solar radiation). Green house gases absorb short-wave radiation (solar radiation) and re-radiate it up and down, leading to a net warming near the surface.  Greenhouse gases have three molecules or more.  Examples are water vapor, carbon dioxide, ozone, methane, CFCs.  The warming is primarily caused by the last four, although there is some evidence that water vapor is increasing in response to the warming.

The variations are also related to aerosols (volcanic eruptions lead to global cooling of the order of a few tenths of a degree Celsius), variation in solar output, and changes in land use.  

## Instruments: Digital Multi-day Max / Min Thermometer

- Two sensors:
- One measures air temperature
- One measures soil temperature at a depth of 10cm
- Stores six days of max/min temperatures
- Must be reset to around the time of local solar noon _**one time**_ when it is first set up
- The exact time it is reset is known as the *Time of Reset*

## The Measurements

- Digital Thermometer Calibration
- Current temperature for air and soil
- Daily maximum and minimum temperatures for air and soil

**Notes:**
The digital thermometer should be calibrated initially (at least 24 hours before data collectiong), every six months and when the battery is changed.

## Collecting Data: Field/Lab Guides & Data Sheets

**Field/Lab Guides:**
- Thermometer Calibration Lab Guide
- DM-D M/M Thermometer Sensor Calibration Field Guide
- DM-D M/M Thermometer Installation Field Guide
- DM-D M/M Thermometer Reset Field Guide
- DM-D M/M Temperature Protocol Field Guide
- DM-D M/M Current Temperature Protocol Field Guide
- DM-D M/M Current Soil Sensor Error Check Lab/Field Guide
- Changing the Battery in the DM-D M/M Thermometer Field Guide
**Data Sheets:**
- DM-D M/M Thermometer Calibration and Reset Data Sheet
- DM-D M/M Thermometer Data Sheet

**Notes:**
Digital Multi-Day Max/Min (DM-D M/M)

Field/Lab Guides: All Field Guides are located in the Atmosphere section of the Teacher’s Guide.  The respective chapter and pages numbers are included below:
-Thermometer Calibration Lab Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 5)
-DM-D M/M Thermometer Sensor Calibration Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 6)
-DM-D M/M Thermometer Installation Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 7)
-DM-D M/M Thermometer Reset Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 8)
-DM-D M/M Temperature Protocol Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 9)
-DM-D M/M Current Temperature Protocol Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 10)
-DM-D M/M Current Soil Sensor Error Check Lab/Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 11)
-Changing the Battery in the DM-D M/M Thermometer Field Guide (Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature Protocol – 12)

Data sheets: The data sheets are located in the Appendix of the Atmosphere section of the print Teacher’s Guide or they can be downloaded from the Teacher’s Guide link on the GLOBE Web site at any time.
-DM-D M/M Thermometer Calibration and Reset Data Sheet (Appendix – 18,19)
-DM-D M/M Thermometer Data Sheet (Appendix – 20)

## Collecting Data: Calibration

- Submerge calibration thermometer in an ice-water bath for 10-15 minutes, stir occasionally
- Calibration thermometer should read between -0.5° C and +0.5° C
- Hang calibration thermometer in instrument shelter
- Read five sets of readings
- Record and report data
- 	to GLOBE Web site

**Notes:**
**At this point, take out the Calibration Lab Guide and Data Sheet and have the participants practice calibration
Compare the readings from the digital max/min thermometer to the readings from a calibration thermometer and report the data to GLOBE.

Read the calibration thermometer:
If it reads between -0.5° C and +0.5° C, the thermometer is fine.
If the thermometer reads greater than +0.5° C, check to make sure that there is more ice than water in your ice-water bath.
If the thermometer reads less than -0.5° C, check to make sure that there is no salt in your ice-water bath.
If the thermometer still doesn’t read between –0.5C amd +0.5C , replace the thermometer.

Hang a calibration thermometer in the instrument shelter with the max/min thermometer
Read five sets of readings from all thermometers (calibration, air, soil)
Fill out the calibration table on the Digital Max/Min Thermometer Calibration and Reset Data Sheet
When students report data to GLOBE, the temperature offset will be calculated and applied to data that you have entered.
The digital thermometer should be calibrated initially (at least 24 hours before data collectiong), every six months and when the battery is changed.

## Collecting Data: Protocol

**Min**

- For both air and soil temperatures:
- Press ON button to read current temperature
- Press the Max/Min button _twice_ to read maximum/minimum temperature of first day (D.1)
- Continue to press Max/Min Button _once_ to read temperatures of other days (D.2-D.6)

**AIR**

**SOIL**

**Notes:**
Note: When the Max or Min button is pressed once, it will read the highest or lowest temperature that has occurred since the last Time of Reset, and it is not for a full 24-hour period.  It should not be recorded.

**At this point give the participants the field guides and data collection sheets, go outside, and let them practice the measurements. 

## Enter Data on the GLOBE Web Site

- Step 1: Confirm that the atmospheric 	  	      	    study site definition is completed
- Step 2: Select “Digital Thermometer 		    	    Calibration and Reset” from the 	 	  	    atmosphere data entry menu
- Step 3: Enter date/UT time/select site/
- Step 4: Enter calibration data
- Step 5: Confirm data entries on verification 	   	    page

**Notes:**
**At this point, direct the participants to the GLOBE training data entry site and have them enter the data from their data collection sheets. Note: You will need to have a site definition already established or complete the Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up training and define an atmosphere study site prior to entering the Digital Max/Min Thermometer Calibration and Reset data.  

Note: Calibration and reset times must be a minimum of 24 hours in advance of the data collection time for the max/min temperatures in order to be available for data entry. This is only done once prior to entering the temperature data.

## Enter Data on the GLOBE Web Site

- Step 1: Confirm that the atmospheric 	  	      	    study site definition is completed
- Step 2: Select “Digital Thermometer 	 	 	    Measurements” from the atmosphere 	  	    data entry menu
- Step 3: Enter date/UT time/select site/probes
- Step 4: Enter air and soil temperature data
- Step 5: Confirm data entries on verification 	   	    page

**Notes:**
**Redirect the participants back to the GLOBE training data entry site and have them enter the data from their data collection sheets. Note: You will need to have a site definition already established or complete the Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up training and define an atmosphere study site prior to entering the Digital Multi-Day Max/Min/Current Air and Soil Temperature data.
Be sure calibration data has been entered.

## Looking at the Data

**Notes:**
***Data Analysis suggested and explained by Matt Rogers (rogers@atmos.colostate.edu) ***
Here I’ve compared GLOBE observations from two schools – one in Wisconsin and one in New Hampshire.  The relevant analysis is that while both schools have similar temperatures during the spring months, it’s generally colder in Wisconsin during the winter (specifically in December and January) than it is in New Hampshire, despite the two schools having roughly the same latitude.  This would lead to discussion of how the ocean can moderate temperature in colder months.  If school data ran through the summer, you’d see that it’s probably warmer in Wisconsin during July than in New Hampshire, again, because of the oceanic influence.  

Refer to the “Looking at Data” section in the Teacher’s Guide of the similar protocol for a data analysis activity (Maximum, Minimum and Current Temperature Protocol - 13) .

## Classroom Implementation

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

**Notes:**
Have participants break into groups and discuss one or more of the above bullet items, as time allows.

## Getting Started

- The GLOBE Web site has information
- _[http://www.globe.gov](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!