Introduction to GLOBE Observer

 

Topic of study: 

Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Observer is a citizen science project that tracks clouds, water, and plants around the world. Check out the website: https://observer.globe.gov/. I will be specifically focused on the GLOBE Observer - Clouds project which is focused on gathering cloud and general weather data from citizen scientists and comparing that to satellite data and existing models for cloud predictions. 

Researchers and organizers:

While GLOBE Programs are designed so that data can be gathered and analyzed all over the world, the main sponsor of the GLOBE Program is the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). GLOBE also gets support from other U.S. federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the U.S. Department of State (DoS). There are researchers monitoring and analyzing data with GLOBE in over 125 countries. Researchers range from STEM professionals to formal and informal educators (i.e., teachers, librarians, museum staff) to students and citizen scientists. GLOBE has country coordinators which aim increase engagement with GLOBE through school visits and various training opportunities. 

Length of GLOBE Observer study:

GLOBE observer is part of the GLOBE Program, which was officially launched on Earth Day, April 22, 1995. This year will mark the 30-year anniversary. The GLOBE programs are ongoing. 

Background information and natural history:

The importance of this work, is based in the fact that clouds act as energy reflectors or absorbers for the Earth. Since clouds change rapidly, many observations across the world from citizen scientists help NASA to better interpret their satellite data. Check out this infographic from GLOBE Observer: 

A few publications have been made using the GLOBE Observer - Cloud volunteer data along with satellite data on days of total solar eclipses (see below). The most recent publication focuses on high clouds and contrails as these cloud types contribute to warming the Earth (as you can see in the above infographic) and have been increasing in occurrence in recent years. Autore et al. emphasizes the importance of GLOBE citizen scientists: "Volunteer observations give us a clear timeline of the changes occurring before, during, and after the solar eclipse in multiple locations, allowing us to gather more detail than using models or automated ground stations alone." They found that solar eclipses (and therefore potentially other short events) may "affect atmospheric conditions enough to alter the likelihood of formation of these high-level clouds." There are many other publications that can be found here: https://observer.globe.gov/publications

Autore, A. M., Dodson, J. B., Duda, D. P., Robles, M. C., Weaver, K. L., Taylor, J. E., Rogerson, T. M., & Kohl, H. (2025). GLOBE Eclipse 2024: A Case Study of the Effects of the April 2024 Total Solar Eclipse on Cirrus Clouds and Contrails in the United States of America. Bulletin of the AAS, 56(9). https://doi.org/10.3847/25c2cfeb.d9ddc39b

Dodson, J.B., Colón Robles, M.,Taylor J.E., DeFontes, C.C., Weaver K.L., (2019). Eclipse Across America: Citizen Science Observations of the 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse. Journal of Applied Meteorology & Climatology, https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-18-0297.1

Rahman, I. u., Czajkowski, K., Jiang, Y., & Weaver, K., (2019). Validation of GLOBE Citizen Science Air Temperature Observations Using Data from the Great American Solar Eclipse. In S.R. Buxner, L. Shore, & J.B. Jensen (Eds.), Celebrating the 2017 Great American Eclipse: Lessons Learned from the Path of Totality (pp. 501-509). San Francisco: Astronomical Society of the Pacific Conference Series.

My role:

My role in the GLOBE Observer - Clouds project is going outside, answering questions about the sky, visibility, and general weather conditions, and then uploading photos. Citizen scientists are encouraged to upload their observations either near solar noon or when a satellite is scheduled to pass over your location. I have the app notifications turned on to remind me to go outside and record during these times.

Training required:

GLOBE Observer has a roadmap that citizen scientists hoping to aid in monitoring efforts can follow to create an account, download the app, and start monitoring: https://www.globe.gov/get-trained/user-roadmaps/citizen-scientists. All monitoring is conducted through the app. Once the app is downloaded, the citizen scientist is directed to a mandatory training program before being able to record any observations. The videos of the tutorials are always available via their website: https://www.globe.gov/get-trained/tutorial-center/data-entry/-/tutorials/104432041/introduction-to-globe-observer-and-app-settings and are posted on youtube. A special thing about this citizen science research effort, is that all the data gathered is available for use by anyone. As such, there are also tutorials on how to access the data and citizen sciences (especially students) are encouraged to publish their research results.