The CERES SCOOL Project: Bringing Cloud Science and Satellite Data to the K12 Classroom

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The CERES SCOOL Project Bringing Cloud
Science and Satellite Data to the K-12 Classroom
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Seminar to NOAA, Feb. 23, 2009 Dr. Lin H.
Chambers, NASA Langley Research Center
www.nasa.gov
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Objectives

• Present the SCOOL Project
• Explore potential synergies between NASA and NOAA

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The CERES SCOOL Project

• Began January 1997
• Students' Cloud Observations On-Line
• EPO arm of CERES Project
• Involves school children in real science.
• Provides ground truth measurements to assist in
  the validation of the CERES instrument.
• Students and scientists
• compare the surface- and
• space-based observations to
• learn more about clouds
• and climate.

Chambers et al., June 2003.
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Long-Lasting Project

• Jan. 13, 2009
• 12th anniversary of SCOOL
• Global Cloud Observation Day

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SCOOL Website - http//scool.larc.nasa.gov

• School-Based participation
• Roving Observers
• International
• Regular Updates

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For Participants - Fixed Sites
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When to Observe Terra/Aqua Overpass
Time varies each day
Observation window is /- 15 minutes
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What to Observe

• 1-page form
• Earth System observation includes
• Sky
• Surface
• Near-surface air
• Open-ended comments

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Database Exploration

• Interactive
• web access
• to
• observation
• database

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Friendly Visualization
CERES cloud retrieval

• Browse reports
• Or
• Download spreadsheet file for analysis

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Active Interaction

• Auto-email notification when satellite data match
  a ground report.

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Educational Data Analysis
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Educational Data Analysis - II
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SCOOL Learning Materials
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SCOOL Data Analysis - S. Houser, J. Madigan
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SCOOL Data Analysis - S. Houser, J. Madigan
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SCOOL Data Analysis - S. Houser, J. Madigan
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SCOOL Data Analysis - S. Houser, J. Madigan
Terra-SSF Percent Cloud Cover at Upper Levels
Total events 2714
Total events 2288
Total events 301
Total events 974
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SCOOL Data Analysis - S. Houser, J. Madigan
Terra - SSF
Total events 496
Total events 102
Total events 337
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High Level Clouds
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SCOOL Project Results

• 75,000 observations from 49 countries and all
  50 states
• 45 from outside the US
• 2,800 registered participants from 70
  countries

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New to SCOOL Roving Observations
http//asd-www.larc.nasa.gov/Rover
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New to SCOOL Roving Observations
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A True SCOOL Rover
The Around the Americas Project (Pacific Science
Center) An Educational Adventure to Protect Our
Ocean Home June 2009 To June 2010
http//www.aroundtheamericas.com
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NASA - NOAA Connections

• Future CERES instruments (?)
• Other - TBD?

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