You can help NASA study climate change on Earth by becoming a citizen scientist by downloading the GLOBE Program’s Observer app.
Climate change on Earth is happening at an unprecedented rate and people are constantly being reminded of global warming and ways to control it. A lot of important information about the Earth’s climate can be gained by scientists by studying clouds. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has come up with NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate and is providing you an opportunity to become a citizen scientist by downloading the GLOBE Program’s Observer app.
Informing about the same NASA tweeted, “Will you look at clouds with us? Your observations will help us in our study of Earth’s climate. Become a citizen scientist by downloading The @GLOBEProgram’s Observer app and get started: https://go.nasa.gov/33I8syj.” As per the information provided, the challenge will run from January 15 to February 15, 2022.
Announcing the challenge, NASA said in a report, “During this year’s challenge, which runs Jan. 15 through Feb. 15, we’re asking you to observe clouds in two ways. And while doing so, to consider the following: How do the clouds above your head connect to what’s happening on a global scale?”
“Are you seeing more precipitating clouds? Are you seeing less of them? Are there more thick, blanketed clouds that cast more shadows, or are you seeing more of those thin high clouds that are ice and don’t cast shadows but hold the heat in the atmosphere?” said Marile Colon Robles, atmospheric scientist and lead for the GLOBE Clouds Team at NASA’s Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia. “Each cloud type affects Earth’s energy balance differently. That’s what we’re trying to understand.”
How can you participate in this NASA climate change challenge
The first way that the public can participate in this year’s NASA challenge is by making observations with the GLOBE Observer app. Participants can time their observations of clouds with that of satellite observations. Satellite matches are a major emphasis this year, and are a tremendous help to researchers, who can use them to help identify clouds that can be difficult to distinguish in satellite imagery. The team is hoping that challenge participants can help them by collectively making, at minimum, 20,000 observations matched to satellite data.
The GLOBE Clouds team tries to match citizen science observations to different satellites including: Aqua, CALIPSO and Terra. The team also matches to various geostationary satellites that are always overhead, which will include NOAA’s GOES-T after its launch later in the year.
Participants can check for satellite flyover notifications within the GLOBE Observer app. After you submit your data, watch your inbox to find a personalized email from NASA showing your observations and what the satellite detected.
In addition to cloud observations submitted via the GLOBE Observer app, this challenge is also incorporating NASA GLOBE CLOUD GAZE.
About the NASA program
As per the information provided by NASA, this program, which began in summer 2021, allows citizen scientists to look at cloud photographs submitted to GLOBE by students, teachers and the general public through The GLOBE Program’s GLOBE Observer app and tag elements such as the presence or absence of clouds, dust storms, smoke plumes and haze layers. In addition, participants can identify cloud types and point out any other noteworthy observations — all by visiting CLOUD GAZE on the Zooniverse online platform.
You can follow The GLOBE Program on social media and share what you are doing by using the hashtag #CloudChallenge. Visit the GLOBE Observer website to download the app and learn more about clouds and making observations.
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