Soil Texture Kit and Sun Photometer Available from GLOBE PIs

Are you having trouble estimating the texture of your soil? A new "GLOBE Soil Texture Kit" has been developed to help you! The kit consists of a set of three 12 oz. soil samples packaged in plastic containers. Each sample is from a different part of the soil textural triangle, representing a clay loam, a silt loam, and a sandy loam. The exact percentage of sand, silt, and clay for each sample has been determined and is shown on the containers. This kit can be used by GLOBE students who are performing the soil characterization measurements to "calibrate" their fingers and practice the "texture by feel" field method of determining soil texture. The kits were developed by the Soil and Water Geospatial Analysis Lab (SAWGAL) at the University of Maryland. They can be ordered by sending a check for $25.00 to:

GLOBE Soil Texture
University of Maryland
1112 H.J. Patterson Hall
College Park, MD 20742
USA

Be sure to include the number of kits you would like to purchase and your return address, phone number, and email if available. Checks should be made payable to University of Maryland/NRSL. Shipping and handling is included in the cost; packages will be shipped by UPS.

Currently, samples can be shipped only within the United States, although the SAWGAL group is looking into international shipping options. You can email them at globesoils@umail.umd.edu if you are an international educator that would like to purchase a kit, and they will inform you when international shipping is available.

For more information, check out the SAWGAL web page at: http://www.agnr.umd.edu/sawgal/globe.html

Sun Photometer:

Did you know that there are clouds of particulate matter that float in the atmosphere above you? These "clouds" are made of small solid and liquid particles suspended in the air, called aerosols. Aerosols scatter sunlight as they pass through the atmosphere. There are seasonal and diurnal variations in aerosol concentrations, as well as unpredictable changes due to events such as large dust storms and volcanic eruptions. It is sometimes possible to observe plumes of aerosols originating thousands of kilometers away. GLOBE allows you to study aerosols following the Aerosols Protocol. In this protocol students use a GLOBE sun photometer to measure the amount of sunlight reaching the ground when clouds do not cover the sun. The GLOBE sun photometer is a special instrument designed and distributed by the PI for the measurement, Dr. David Brooks.

GLOBE sun photometers allow you to take measurements similar to those from commercially made scientific sun photometers that are significantly more expensive. The GLOBE sun photometer is designed to be durable enough to allow for long-term classroom use. There are different models of sun photometers available. The most basic model costs $75 and requires an external voltmeter ($10). The top of the line model costs $130 and has several additional features, including a built-in voltmeter and a sensor that allows you to monitor the internal temperature of the instrument, which is of concern when assessing the quality of data collected. Sun photometers can be ordered directly from Dr. Brooks using an online order form.

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Links to the sources for equipment mentioned above are included on the newly redesigned Scientific Instrument and Equipment Suppliers Page. This page features categorized listings of vendors to aid you in finding vendors that sell the equipment you are interested in purchasing.