Student Research Reports
Influence of aerosols on the color of the sky and visibility in Junín de los Andes
Organization(s):Instituto María Auxiliadora
Country:Argentina
Student(s):Aigo, A.J.; Beccaria, M.A.; Bezi, M.G.; Biorkman, I.C.; Bossini, G.L.; CalderónHuenul, V.T.; Castillo, J.; Chiguay, A.S.; Coronel, J.; Dumais, G.J.; Espinós Rifo, P.A.; Huenufil Castro, S.M.; Nahuelcar, L.A.; Olivares Ayala, A.G.; Quidel, L.V.; Rivera Calfueque, B.L.; Rodríguez, D.E.; Romero, L.A.; Sapag Campos, M.; Stupia, J.A.; Zúñiga Parra, L.M. y Zurita, J.J.
Grade Level:Upper Primary (grades 3-5, ages 8-11)
GLOBE Educator(s):Nancy Pacheco
Contributors:Ana Beatriz Prieto
Marilé Colon Robles
Teresa Kennedy
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report, Standard Research Report
Protocols:Clouds
Presentation Video:
View Video
Language(s):English, Spanish
Date Submitted:02/06/2020
The city of Junín de los Andes is located between the Andes mountain range with forest to the west and steppe to the east. With climate change, in this region, it is expected to increase temperatures and decrease rainfall with increasing fires. Recently two volcanic eruptions covered the city with ashes. Often there is smoke from fires. The color of the sky and visibility were studied because they indirectly allow to know the amount of aerosols. Our questions were: How do the amount of aerosols influence the color of the sky and visibility? Why the changes that occurred in September and October 2019?
Data were recorded using GLOBE Program atmosphere protocols, the GLOBE Observer-Clouds application and others were downloaded from the GLOBE database. Earth NullSchool was used for aerosols, NASA Firms and Worldview for heat sources.
During the period studied, the color of the sky changed from blue to milky, visibility decreased when aerosols in the air increased. The milky sky and somewhat misty visibility were due to the amount of dust and smoke from fires. The sky was blue on days with few sprays.