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Using GLOBE Observations to Analyze the Effect of Hurricanes on Mosquito Population Patterns
Country:United States of America
Student(s):Valentina Larina, Emily Wang, Daniel Wright
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Educator(s):Cassie Soeffing
Contributors:Dr. Rusty Low, IGES, scientist
Peder Nelson, OSU, sme
Dr. Erika Podest, NASA JPL, scientist
Andrew Clark, IGES, EO Researcher and Data Analyst
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report, Mission Mosquito Report
Protocols:Mosquitoes
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Language(s):English
Date Submitted:01/05/2023
Each year, hurricanes hit the United States coastline and disrupt ecosystems in the area. This research aimed to analyze the effect of hurricanes on mosquito population patterns. The scope of this research was the city of Miami, Florida from the time period of 2017 to 2022, in which GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper data was collected. Data from the GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper, local data from Miami-Dade, data from the EM-DAT international disasters database and other data collected from hurricanes that affected Florida from 2017 to 2022 was utilized. This research compiled these datasets and mapped the relationships between them to reveal a trend. Maps of mosquito density and mosquito observations in the five-year time frame were compared to specific hurricane data to determine how mosquito populations react after an extreme weather event. Additionally, through utilizing GLOBE Mosquito Habitat Mapper data, this research determined how frequently citizens of the affected area will observe mosquitos after a disaster. Ultimately, this research analyzed the relationship between the intensity of hurricanes and mosquito population patterns where they hit, as well as how they influence the occurrence of citizen science contributions. The outcomes of this research can be used to predict how future hurricanes can influence mosquito populations and subsequently inform public health policy decisions.