Exploring Ecosystems and the Atmosphere in the K-12 Classroom: A Plan to Integrate NASA Carbon Cycle Science with GLOBE

University Of New Hampshire, Durham NH

Investigators

Abstract

Exploring Ecosystems and the Atmosphere in the K-12 Classroom: A Plan to Integrate NASA Carbon Cycle Science with GLOBE This project is a collaboration of scientists and educators from the University of New Hampshire, NASA's North American Carbon Program (NACP), and the Czech Republic with the GLOBE community. Through inquiry-based investigations of their local environment, GLOBE elementary and secondary students will learn about the global carbon cycle and its implications for climate change. The core activity of this project is an educational program that is structured like a scientific program to investigate the carbon cycle. These investigations are tiered with increasing levels of sophistication for use by students in higher grade levels. Students and teachers engage in activities that utilize ecological field measurements, a simplified ecosystem model that simulates carbon, water and nitrogen dynamics of forest ecosystems, a remote sensing toolkit and a set of exercises that use data collected by researchers. The project is using three existing GLOBE protocols (land cover, phenology, and soils) and is developing two new protocols for "Plant Biomass and Productivity" and "Leaf Traits." Several learning activities based on these protocols are being created and new data analysis tools will enable students to estimate aboveground carbon storage based on their plant biomass measurements. A simplified ecosystem model (PnET-GLOBE) that will allow students to manipulate variables sensitive to the carbon cycle is being adapted from a more sophisticated model used by the scientific community. In addition, new tools are being created to assist students in analyzing remote sensing data and carbon tower flux data. Specific activities for urban ecosystems being developed will help this project reach a more diverse audience. Through these activities, students will increase their environmental awareness and build stronger analytical and modeling skills.