About Datasheets

About DataSheets

A DataSheet concisely describes a particular scientific dataset in a way that is useful to people who are interested in learning from or teaching with the data. It provides educationally relevant metadata to facilitate exploration of the data by educators and students.

DataSheets highlight the connections between datasets and specific topics in science. They also explicate how to acquire, interpret, and analyze the data. Information is presented at a level appropriate for those who don’t have specialized knowledge of the discipline in which the data are commonly used. The sheets are designed to support novice or out-of-field data users by providing them with the knowledge necessary to obtain and use data appropriately for scientific explorations. DataSheets also provide the meanings for acronyms and other jargon that users are likely to encounter, and include links to journal articles and educational resources that cite or use the data.

DataSheets have a number of content fields, each with a well-defined structure. The goal of this structure is to ensure consistency across the range of DataSheets, enabling users to explore a wide variety of data in an efficient manner. A growing collection of DataSheets is available at http://serc.carleton.edu/usingdata/browse_sheets.html

Generating DataSheets

This document describes the fields of a DataSheet and shows an example entry for each one. Please enter information into the template for a single dataset. Complete as many fields as possible, leaving those that are outside your experience or expertise for others. Save the completed template document by appending the dataset name to the current file name. GLOBE Program Surface Temperature DataSheet

Author(s) This DataSheet was created by David Smith (University of Redlands), Kevin Czajkowski and Mikell Lynne Hedley (University of Toledo, Dept. of Geography and Planning), Todd Ensign (NASA IV&V Facility Educator Resource Center) and Xiangfeng Meng (Ocean University of China)

DataSheet Title Exploring Surface Temperature Data using The GLOBE Program

Homepage URL http://www.globe.gov Link text (generally the The GLOBE Program Homepage name of the page) Data access URL http://viz.globe.gov/viz-bin/access.cgi Link text Access GLOBE Program Surface Temperature Data

Data This site provides access to 12,527 student-collected Description surface temperature data from more than 290 participating GLOBE school sites worldwide in tabular, graphical, and shape-file formats.

Image URL http://viz.globe.gov/viz-bin/time.cgi? nav=1&l=en&b=g&rg=n&enc=00&sz=1&s=0lStKLK&dz=1&e1=txtmp& s1=0lStKLK&y1=2008&m1=11&d1=25&y2=2008&m2=12&d2=15&SD =&EI=txtmp-ATM- 02&sz2=2&stack=0&range=auto&opt=+&M.x=239&M.y=143&keep=0lSt KLK Image 2008 graph of surface temperature data collected and reported by Roswell Caption Kent Middle School, Akron, Ohio generated by the GLOBE visualization and Credit server.

Use and Surface temperature is measured with a hand-held Infrared Thermometer (IRT) relevance that, when necessary, is wrapped in a thermal glove or has been placed outdoors for at least 30 minutes prior to data collection. The instrument is pointed at the ground to take surface temperature readings. Raw data is available for download in tabular format (tab or comma delimited text files) and as a shape-file for use with GIS. Data is also available in graphical and map view formats through the GLOBE visualization tools and is available from 2003 - present.

GLOBE scientists use student surface temperature observations in two ways.: - to validate satellite algorithms that are used to record Earth’s surface temperature. - to compare observations between different cover types to monitor the effect of land cover on the temperature of Earth. Surface temperature observations will allow us to determine if the satellite algorithms (equations) for surface temperature accurately account for the atmosphere’s interference and will give us an understanding of the causes and extent of the urban heat island effect. The urban heat island effect is a phenomenon where the change in the land from natural vegetation to parking lots and buildings can cause the temperature of the area to increase by 5-10˚ C when compared to the surrounding countryside.

Data type Raw data is available for download in tabular format (tab or comma delimited text files) and as a shape-file for use with GIS. Data is also available in graphical and map view formats through the GLOBE visualization tools and is available from 2003 - present.

Accessing data From the data access page, users can select Surface Temperature from the list of 55 available data sets, and can choose a date range along with output format. Output formats include tabular format in a browser, or for download as comma or tab delimited text file, or as a shape file in zip format.

Acronyms, GLOBE=Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment initials, or jargon IRT=Infrared Thermometer

Data Tools Raw data is available for download in tabular format (tab or comma delimited text files) and as a shape-file for use with GIS. Data is also available in graphical and map view formats through the GLOBE. Any GIS/geospatial tool that can read ESRI shape files or comma and tab delimited file including spread sheet applications.

Visualizing One way that users can process this data is to create graphs from the raw data data. The raw data are provided in HTML tabular format and tab delineated text files; these can be imported into a spreadsheet application such as Excel. Graphs could be used to visualize changes in surface temperature over time and to display the relationship between up to three school sites (such as urban, subarban and rural). This data can also be use in a GIS/Geospatial tool and compared to a myriad of available demographic data or an unlimited number of base images such as aerial photographs. Using the GLOBE visualization server, data can be viewed by time or as a scatter plot.

Collection Surface temperature is measured with a hand-held Infrared Thermometer Methods (IRT) that, when necessary, is wrapped in a thermal glove or has been placed outdoors for at least 30 minutes prior to data collection. The instrument is pointed at the ground to take surface temperature readings. GLOBE schools create site definition using a GPS unit and direct observations of the surface type. All data collected is associated with a specific site definition. Cloud and snow depth readings are typically collected at the same time as surface temperature for correlation. Data is then entered via the GLOBE website and can then be accessed by users worldwide.

Sources of Thermal shock is possible if the IRT is transported Error between the inside and outside when the temperature difference is greater than 5 degrees. This is avoided by using an insulating glove (oven mitt) over the IRT or by allowing the IRT to equalize for 30 minutes prior to taking readings. Other sources are human error including confusing units (Celsius/Fahrenheit), time

Scientific resources List up to 5 known scientific resources that refer to the data set. Include review articles or research articles that discuss topics and/or concepts related to the data. These articles should be relevant to users who are working with the data set and need additional background on the related science. Example:  'Earthquake prediction: A seismic shift in thinking' is an article from Nature that discusses the debate regarding accuracy in predicting earthquakes.  'Mantle Convection and Plate Tectonics: Toward an Integrated Physical and Chemical Theory' is an article from Science that reviews the physics of plate tectonics.

Scientific Lambert, J., M. Munro-Stasiuk, K. Czajkowski, T. Benko, B. Shellito, Resources M-L. Hedley, S. Sheridan, C. Merry, and J. Struble, 2008, SATELLITES: Students and Teachers Exploring Local Landscapes to Interpret the Earth from Space, Journal of Geoscience Education, Accepted.

Hedley, M-L, K. Czajkowski, T. Benko, R. Landenberger, B. Shellito, M. Munro-Stasiuk, and J. Struble, 2008, SATELLITES: A Geospatial Technology Program for Teachers and Students, The Earth Scientist, 27, 11-13.

Witter, J.D., A.L. Spongberg and K.P. Czajkowki, 2007. Diurnal Soil Temperature Within the GLOBE Program Dataset. Journal of Geography, 106, 13-19.

Ault, T., K. P. Czajkowski, T. Benko, J. Coss, J. Struble, A. Spongberg, M. Templin, and C. Gross, 2006, Validation of the MODIS Snow Product (MOD10) and Cloud Mask Using Student and NWS Cooperative Station Observations, Remote Sensing of Environment, 105, 341-353.

Hedley, M-L, K. Czajkowski, T. Benko, B. Shellito, S. Sheridan and J. Struble, M. Munro-Stasiuk, 2009, Celebrate with SATELLITES, The Science Teacher, January 2009, 76, 1, 27-33.

Use in Teaching This data can be used to teach or learn the following topics and skills in and learning earth/environmental science: Temperature change over time Remote sensing Graphing Statistics Data and trend analysis

Teaching Urban Heat Island Effect Topics Earth’s Energy Budget Electromagnetic Spectrum

Data-use Skills Using the data to make visualizations of temporal changes Using the data to make visualizations of spatial changes. Using data to study factors that affect surface temperature (population, surface type, etc.) Using data to create graphs to interpret temporal changes and make comparisons between sites.

Education Windows to the Universe lesson Feeling the Heat Resources http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/teacher_resources/teach_heat.html My NASA Data lesson on Sea Surface Temperature http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/preview_lesson.php?&passid=9

Other related N/A links