The GLOBE Program is a partnership in science and education that gives students and the public worldwide the opportunity to help researchers understand the global environment and climate. Focusing on K-12 schools, GLOBE connects students, teachers, scientists and other citizens from around the world, helping them conduct real, hands-on science in their communities. Its goal is to foster both science and environmental literacy worldwide.
GLOBE students learn about science through hands-on investigations in their own communities, sparking their curiosity and stimulating their interest in science, technology, engineering and math. GLOBE helps students play an active role in adding to what we know about our global environment and planet.
The GLOBE Program developed a soil moisture protocol that aligns with satellite measurements from the SMAP mission. The SMAP spacecraft takes measurements of surface soil moisture and produces daily maps of soil moisture, with global coverage every three days.
The final step in the monitoring process is logging onto a secure website and entering the data collected into a master database. Students and SMAP scientists can see the data on the GLOBE website, using them to validate soil moisture measurements by satellite.
The international GLOBE network has grown to include representatives from over 100 participating countries and over 100 U.S. Partners coordinating GLOBE activities that are integrated into their local and regional communities.
The SMAP mission is collaborating with the Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program to develop sound scientific protocols for citizens to use in collecting local soil moisture data NASA satellite data.