Audience: Everyone! (Students and teachers all grade levels, informal educators, and the general public)
Dates: October 15, 2019 - November 15, 2019
Observations: Clouds and aerosols (dust storms, haze, smoke). Limit 10 per day.
NASA is requesting your help to determine “What’s up in your Sky”. The GLOBE Clouds team wants to study differences in clouds and aerosols. The data collected during this fall challenge will be compared to results from the 2018 Spring Clouds Challenge. Help by submitting clouds, dust, haze or smoke observations (limit of 10 per day) to GLOBE using any of GLOBE’s data entry tools including the clouds tool on the GLOBE Observer mobile app.
GLOBE and GLOBE Observer participants submitting the most observations (limit of 10 per day) will be congratulated by NASA scientists with a video posted on the NASA GLOBE Clouds website. Only cloud observation entries using the GLOBE Online Data Entry website, GLOBE Data Entry app, or the GLOBE Observer app will be considered. GLOBE welcomes citizen scientists, educators, students and STEM professionals. Follow the directions for creating an account at: https://www.globe.gov/get-started/get-started-overview .
Tell us what you see in your sky. Tips are available to help you distinguish between clouds and obscurations.
Do you see clouds? Use these steps to make the observation. Find tips and resources are available at the bottom.
Do you see a dust storm, haze, or smoke? We want your photographs! Use the steps recommended to capture a dust storms. Example images are available to guide you to identify what you are looking at. Please note that a gray looking day might be a sky that is completely covered by clouds. Want to learn more about dust storms? Use our Dust Observations section on our NASA GLOBE Clouds website to learn more about your impact and review educator resources on the topic.
NASA matches GLOBE Cloud observations submitted to various satellite data! To increase your chances of getting a satellite match to your observations by using the satellite notification option on the GLOBE Observer app or use the satellite overpass website to see the schedule when satellites will be right over your location. If your observation is made within 15 minutes (either before or after) the time a satellite will be over your area, you have increased the chances of getting a personalized email from NASA comparing your observations to satellites! Satellites that you could match to include geostationary satellites, Terra, Aqua, and CALIPSO.
Make Land Cover Observations - What is in the ground can impact what you may see in the sky. Learn more about the land cover and collect your observations using the GLOBE Observer app!
GLOBE Air Quality Campaigns – If you are a GLOBE teacher, you may want to learn more and even participate of different air quality campaigns available.
Urban Heat Island Effect - Surface Temperature Field Campaign (UHIE) - If you are interested in keeping track of your neighborhood's temperature, then you might enjoy the UHIE campaign. Webinars start September 24, 2019!
We hope you participate in this data challenge. Your observations help scientists better understand satellite data of our atmosphere. Below are some resources and helpful links to help you make your observations. Check out the recent NASA Earth Observer Kids featuring the GLOBE Observer app.
Cloud Identification Resources and Tips
Data collection and data entry help
Highlights of NASA GLOBE Clouds Teachers with classroom tips and ideas
