# Presentation: 619496

## Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up

## Instrument Construction

- Instrument Shelter
- Purchased or constructed
- Must meet specifications

**Notes:**
Specifications include being painted white and kept clean. The directions for constructing an instrument shelter and maintaining it are in the GLOBE Teacher’s Guide.

Photo shows GLOBE Trainers at an instrument shelter in Fort Collins, Colorado (September 2004).  

Detailed instructions can be found in the Teacher’s Guide (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up – 1-3).

## Instrument Shelter Set-Up

- Locate away from obstacles
- Shelter should face away from the equator
- Temperature sensor should be 1.5 m above the ground
- After set-up, complete the site definition

**Notes:**
An Atmosphere Study Site may or may not include an instrument shelter.  If you do not plan to collect data with an instrument shelter, select a site in an open area with a wide view of the sky in all directions. If a less than optimal site is selected, include information in the metadata to explain the site. Additional site selection information is available in the Teacher’s Guide in the Atmosphere Investigation (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up – 8-10).
Note: Scientists will vary the height of sensors according to ground cover in certain cases. For example, the temperature over a cornfield would be measured approximately 1.5 meters above the top of the corn.

## The Rain Gauge

- Where should the rain gauge be installed?

**YES**

**NO**

**YES**

**Notes:**
Where should the rain gauge be installed?
In open area
May be mounted to instrument shelter post but separate post close to ground is best
Funnel must be above the top of the instrument shelter
Top of post should be beveled away from rain gauge
Maintenance:
1. Ensure that your rain gauge is level by putting a carpenter’s level across the top of the funnel of the gauge in two directions (perpendicular to each other).
2. Check the rain gauge daily to make sure that it is free of debris (windblown leaves, twigs, papers, etc.)
3. Clean the rain gauge approximately once a month with water and a bottle brush (or equivalent). Never use soap or detergent when cleaning.
4. Bring the rain gauge indoors when the temperature falls below freezing.  This will prevent the measuring tube from cracking due to ice.  You can leave the overflow tube outside without the smaller measuring tube.  This is helpful if you are in a transitional season where temperatures range from below freezing to above freezing, and both rain and snow are possible during a 24-hour measurement period.

## The Snow Board

- 40cm x 40cm plywood
- Painted white
- Flag board for location after snowfall
- Place board flush with existing snow level

**Notes:**
There is little maintenance needed for the snowboard.  The main things are to ensure that it is cleared off after each measurement, and to check the board occasionally to make sure it has not warped.

-plywood is best, but other light woods can be used.  It just needs to be light enough so that it does not sink into the snowpack
-Detailed instructions of constructing the snow board are located in the Teacher’s Guide (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up-4).

## Surface Ozone Monitoring Station

- Constructed with materials from hardware store
- Must be on separate post 1.4 m above ground

**Notes:**
Detailed instructions on constructing the Surface Ozone Monitoring Station are included in the Teacher’s Guide (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up-5).  The materials needed can be purchased at a local hardware store.

-The plastic disk cannot be placed on the instrument shelter.  It should be on a separate post at least 4 meters from the rain gauge.  
-It should be placed near the instrument shelter to enable students to easily collect the supporting measurements.
-The chain for the ozone test strip should be long enough that the strip hangs in open air below the plastic disk and short enough so that the wind cannot make the strip swing out from under the plastic disk.
-For younger students, the pole may be shorter so that it is at a convenient level.

## Constructing a Wind Direction Instrument

**Notes:**
Detailed instructions on constructing the Wind Direction Instrument are included in the Teacher’s Guide (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up-6).  

## Atmosphere Study Site

**Field/Lab Guides:**
- Documenting Your Atmosphere Study Site Field Guide
- GPS Protocol Field Guide
**Data Sheets:**
- Atmosphere Investigation Site Definition Sheet
**Other items needed:**
- Compass and GPS Receiver
- 50-meter Tape
- Clinometer
- Camera

**Notes:**
The Atmosphere Study Site must be documented using the definition sheet and the information entered on the GLOBE Web site prior to entering data for any of the Atmosphere protocols. 
The Field Guide is located in the Teacher’s Guide (Instrument Construction, Site Selection, and Set-Up-12)
The GPS Protocol Field Guide (GPS Investigation, Protocols – 9)
The Site Definition Sheet is located in the Teacher’s Guide (Atmosphere Investigation, Appendix-2)

**Hand out the field guide and site definition sheet. Take participants outside to collect the information necessary for them to create a site definition and then return to enter it on the GLOBE training Web site.

## Enter Atmosphere Study Site Definition Data

- Step 1: Enter date
- Step 2: Name the site
- Step 3: Enter coordinates from GPS protocol
- Step 4: Enter data and metadata
- Step 5: Confirm data entries on verification page

**Notes:**
Entering data on the training site will allow participants to practice prior to entering data to set-up their own atmosphere study site.
STEP 1: For training purposes, you may want to select a date at least 24 hours prior to your training time.  This allows you to enter Max/Min Air Temperature data immediately.
STEP 2: This name can be unique to the atmosphere study site.
STEP 3:  Enter at least 4 decimal places and if your receiver displays 5 decimal places, report all 5 (e.g., 100.46723).
STEP 4: Enter data and the metadata. Metadata is the additional descriptive information that helps explain the site and situation of the atmospheric study site location.
STEP 5: Confirm data entries on verification page. The atmospheric study site information should be updated if any changes occur at the location. Edits and changes to the site can be done by selecting the Site Definition menu on the main data entry page on the GLOBE Web site.