GLOBE Data
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FAQ: GLOBE Data
Below are answers to some common questions about the GLOBE Program's data.
GLOBE Data Use
The scientific protocols used in the GLOBE Program are developed by scientists and tested in classrooms worldwide. The GLOBE development and training process ensures that protocols produce standardized, research-quality data that can be used in support of student and professional scientific research.
Teachers from around the world are trained to conduct the GLOBE scientific measurement protocols and learning activities to implement them in their classrooms. Students use the protocols to collect measurements, which they then upload to the GLOBE database.
GLOBE Citizen Scientists also contribute to GLOBE's database by submitting their protocol measurements through the GLOBE Program's app, GLOBE Observer.
GLOBE Citizen Scientists also contribute to GLOBE's database by submitting their protocol measurements through the GLOBE Program's app, GLOBE Observer.
GLOBE's science data are freely available. Anyone can access GLOBE data by visiting GLOBE’s database.
GLOBE data supports student and professional scientific research related to Atmosphere (weather), Biosphere (study of animal and plant life cycles), Hydrosphere (water) and Pedosphere (soil). It can be used in K-12 student reports, undergraduate and graduate research, as well as scientific research.
Data Entry
On the GLOBE Science Data Entry tool, click on "Edit Site" to reach the page that contains your site coordinates and various other protocol information that you can update.
To get started, click on the "Enter Data" link on the home page, or go to "GLOBE Data" tab and select Data Entry from the menu. If you have completed a GLOBE training, you will be allowed to enter data and visit the GLOBE Science Live Data Entry and Training Data Entry applications.
The GLOBE website corrects for minor errors in elevation from GPS satellite data, based on your latitude and longitude.
While the GLOBE correction improves site elevations overall, individual sites may still look incorrect. For example, schools near sea level may end up with a corrected elevation beneath sea level.
If you need more refined height estimates, you can get elevations from independent data sources. Just be sure the latitude and longitude are reported accurately and with precise degrees (four or five decimal positions).
While the GLOBE correction improves site elevations overall, individual sites may still look incorrect. For example, schools near sea level may end up with a corrected elevation beneath sea level.
If you need more refined height estimates, you can get elevations from independent data sources. Just be sure the latitude and longitude are reported accurately and with precise degrees (four or five decimal positions).
To find the GLOBE Data Sheets, visit the GLOBE Teacher's Guide Search Tool. In the search filter, specify the “Earth Sphere(s)” and “Protocol(s)” you would like to view. In the "Document Types" field, select “Data Sheets.” Select "Apply" and then select the the data sheets you would like to print.
You can use the DataTool program to upload environmental measurements or extensive datasets into the GLOBE databases. Instead of form-based data entry through the GLOBE Desktop Forms, you can import data as a CSV file from any spreadsheet. The data can then be edited, visualized and uploaded. For an import to be recognized, the measurement sites must have already been created on the GLOBE website.
Learn more about DataTool.
Learn more about DataTool.
Measurement Times
In order to avoid possible confusion from having to state whether a time is a.m. or p.m., a 24-hour time format is used in many countries and is the GLOBE standard.
You should report the full time, including the minutes. For example, 18:45 should be recorded as “18:45” and not “19:00.”
Most measurements can be observed anytime of the day; however, certain measurements need to be observed at a specific time of the day. To see the times of day for observing a complete set of Daily Atmosphere Measurements, review Atmosphere Introduction (pdf).
GLOBE schools span many different time zones. They report their times in UTC so that measurements from across the world can be compared with each other.
In order to convert your local time to UTC, you can visit any website that assists with time conversations, such as 24 timezones.
Solar noon is the time of day when the sun appears to have reached its highest point in the sky. It is not usually the same time as “clock noon.”
Solar noon always occurs half-way between local sunrise and sunset. The average of the sunrise and sunset times is your local solar noon.
You can also check your local solar noon online.