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"The type
and amount of land cover in an area are important characteristics
from the standpoint of understanding the Earth as a system - the
cycles of energy, water, and chemical elements essential to life
such as carbon, nitrogen, sulfur, and phosphorous. In the energy
cycle, land cover influences the reflection of solar radiation from
the land surface. This in turn influences the heating of the atmosphere
and local and regional climate patterns. The resulting patterns
in atmospheric temperature influence the kinds of plants that can
live in an area and this largely determines the type of natural
land cover. In the water and biogeochemical cycles, variations in
the type and amount of land cover influence the cycling of water,
carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur among the soil, plants and atmosphere."
- GLOBE, Landcover, The Big Picture
There are currently
two investigation tests and seven protocol tests for Landcover for
your selection:
| Investigation
Tests |
Protocol
Tests |
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Below are the
Goals and Concepts defined by the GLOBE Program for Landcover:
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Student Learning Goals |
Concepts
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- mapping
- modeling
- validation.
- representative
sampling
- indirect
and direct measurements
- classification
(using generalizations and choices)
- drawing
conclusions based upon evidence
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- A GLOBE Study Site has observable and/or
measurable characteristics.
- A GLOBE Study Site represents a system
with boundaries, and is a subset of the earth system.
- Earth’s land surface is covered by
a variety of naturally occurring vegetated ecosystems.
- The physical environment affects an organism’s
response patterns; organisms adapt and survive, move, or
die.
- Plants and animals have specialized structures
useful for living in a particular environment.
- Interactions among the solid earth, the
oceans, the atmosphere, and organisms affect the ongoing
evolution of the earth system.
- The magnetic needle of a compass is attracted
to Earth’s Magnetic North and to some metal objects
that are nearby.
- Classification helps to organize and understand
the natural world.
Enrichment Concepts
- Remote sensing is a technique used to
create visual representations of data.
- Image display is accomplished by conversion
of stored data to a user-defined coded scheme and creating
an image based on differences in measurement.
- Student remote sensing involves observations
made without the use of touch (i.e., using eyes, ears, nose
and skin surface).
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