Student Research Reports

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In this research, student researchers engineered a suite of microsensors designed to detect and record atmospheric parameters potentially useful for sensing weather variations during the upcoming 2024 Solar Eclipse taking place on April 8th, 2024. These sensors were attached to a NASA TerraRover 2 originally designed to take surface temperature measurements. The researchers specifically utilized a TerraRover 2 to ensure a consistent measure of data and ensure that potential human error was not a limitation. The parameters sensed by the TerraRover 2 include air pressure, air temperature, humidity, light intensity, sound, and a proximity sensor. To detect wind, the researchers used an Arduino proximity sensor connected to a handheld pinwheel. This allowed the researchers to calculate wind speed based on the amount of spins counted while testing. Each sensor was independently programmed using the Arduino programming language and wired onto Arduino Uno Boards. The researcher’s goal for this research was to develop protocols that will ultimately be utilized in comparing data the week before, during, and the week after the Total Solar Eclipse. Understanding the variations between each testing period would allow the researchers to make conclusions about the microclimate effects of a solar eclipse. In the future, the suite of sensors on the TerraRover 2 can be expanded to measure different protocols. The microsensors on the TerraRover 2 can be a significant and novel way to monitor changes during a solar eclipse wirelessly.