Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the Carbon Cycle project about?
GLOBE Carbon Cycle is focused on bringing cutting edge research and research techniques in the field of terrestrial ecosystem carbon cycling into the classroom. Students will collect data about their school field site through existing protocols of phenology, land cover and soils as well as new protocols focused on leaf traits, and ecosystem growth and change. They will also participate in classroom activities to understand the collected data. In addition to the traditional GLOBE experience, students will have the opportunity to integrate their data with emerging and expanding technologies including global and local carbon cycle models and remote sensing toolkits. This program design will allow students to explore research questions from local to global scales with both present and future environmental conditions.
- Why should we be interested in the carbon cycle?
Carbon is the most abundant element in living things and accounts for approximately 50% of the total mass of plants and animals. Carbon is also present in Earth's land, atmosphere and oceans and, over time, is cycled between all of these components of the environment. The carbon cycle has a large impact on Earth, both globally and locally. At a global scale, the carbon cycle influences Earth's climate and is a key factor keeping ecological systems in balance. Locally, the carbon cycle plays a large role in basic ecological processes such as plant growth and accumulation, as well as the death and decay of plant material. The carbon cycle also includes carbon that is in molecules of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, a principal greenhouse gas and the primary cause of climate change. Because ecosystems across the land surface store as much carbon as the atmosphere, carbon taken up by plants and soils plays an important role in regulating climate. With climate change at the forefront of both science and policy discussions, a better understanding of all aspects of the carbon cycle is needed. Students involved in the GLOBE Carbon Cycle project will not only contribute to our current state of scientific knowledge, they will also be filling society's growing need for informed citizens and trained professionals in future generations.
- Who can participate?
Because the carbon cycle is of global importance, a goal of this project is to allow participation by the whole international GLOBE community. Activities will be developed and tested locally in the U.S. and then further tested and reviewed by a more widely dispersed group of teachers throughout the GLOBE network. In the end, we hope the activities are interesting and compatible with the science curricula of all schools that wish to participate.
- What data will be used?
Models require data inputs (e.g. latitude, climate, vegetation type, specific leaf weight, growing degree days/summation), which may or may not be available to each school that participates in GLOBE Carbon Cycle. In circumstances where local measurements aren't feasible, model input data will be provided for a variety of different global ecosystems based on previously published studies. If students can collect data for their own field site they will be able to compare their own measurements to the data provided, as well as use their collected data as model inputs. In addition to model inputs, student collected data such as tree diameter, height and biomass will be used to assess site level carbon budgets and compare them to other GLOBE school sites, calculate student or school carbon footprints, and perform other analyses that students find interesting.
- What do the students do?
Students will collect data on land cover, biometry, phenology, and leaf characteristics. They may also collect data on temperature, precipitation and selected soil characteristics. Students will then be able to analyze their data comparing it to previous results or with data collected by other schools around the world. Students will also use models and remote sensing to look at patterns of data at different spatial and temporal scales. The performance of these tasks will be focused on answering larger research questions about the role terrestrial ecosystems play in the carbon cycle. Students will have the opportunity to look at questions that scientists ask in their daily work, as well as to ask their own questions. Students will be encouraged to explore and answer these questions through individual and group research projects.
- What grade levels can participate?
Initially, students at the middle and high school levels will be able to participate. Additional activities for the primary/elementary school level will follow as we gain further knowledge about presenting carbon cycle material to young students.
- When will the project be available for my participation?
The project will develop in stages so that participation in some activities will be possible as additional activities are developed. We plan to have background materials and a global carbon cycle activity available via the internet by April 2007.
- What is the duration?
There will be a variety of Carbon Cycle activities and protocols which may range widely in their completion time. There will be ample opportunity for students to perform their own research projects within timeframes determined by classroom teachers. The protocols will remain available for use in student research projects and locally or regionally coordinated activities after the official Carbon Cycle activities are complete.
- What technology is needed to participate (computer, internet access, software, etc.)?
Because resources for the distribution of printed materials are limited and because a focus of the GLOBE Carbon Cycle project is on emerging and expanding technologies, a computer will be required for both the distribution of materials and many of the activities. Although at this time the internet will be the only way to access project information. CDs will eventually be made available for schools that have either no or unreliable internet access. Microsoft Excel, or a similar spreadsheet program, will be the only necessary software for most activities.
- Do I get anything from you — materials, supplies, curriculum, support?
At this time all needed information will be distributed in a digital format. As with the traditional GLOBE Program, background materials, activities, protocols and sample unit plans will all be available. You can expect support from the science team in regard to your (and your students) questions concerning scientific content, training and classroom use.
GLOBE Carbon Cycle Project Page