By The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is inviting volunteers from around the globe to participate in a unique scientific initiative focused on tracking seasonal changes in leaves and land cover. The project, running from September to December, encourages individuals of all ages to document and analyze environmental shifts, contributing to a growing body of research on climate change.
Capturing “Green Down” and Seasonal Shifts
A core part of the initiative is observing and documenting “green down,” the process where leaves transition from green to brown and eventually fall. Volunteers are asked to photograph trees daily to capture this progression, providing a detailed timeline of the changes. This data is not only valuable on its own but becomes even more impactful when combined with satellite imagery, revealing local climate patterns and their broader implications.
Beyond leaf color changes, participants are encouraged to collect additional data on:
- Land Cover: Observing and documenting the surrounding environment.
- Tree Height: Measuring changes in trees over time.
These observations collectively offer a comprehensive picture of how climate change influences local ecosystems, from tree health to wildlife habitats.
A Global Collaborative Effort
The program unites volunteers from North America, Latin America, Central America, and Europe, highlighting its global scope. This collaboration is part of GLOBE’s Intensive Observation Period (IOP), which focuses on tracking climate change indicators in diverse regions. Data collected will contribute to the GLOBE 2025 International Virtual Science Symposium (IVSS), where students and citizen scientists present research projects based on their findings.
- GLOBE North America Phenology Campaign: Monitoring seasonal changes across North America.
- European Phenology Campaign: Documenting plant and animal life cycles in Europe.
- Trees Within LAC Campaign: Focusing on the dynamics of tree species in Latin America and the Caribbean.
These campaigns emphasize the interconnected nature of ecosystems worldwide and the importance of understanding regional variations.
Tools and Resources for Participants
The GLOBE European Phenology Campaign has created a suite of resources to support volunteers, particularly educators. These resources include instructional YouTube videos detailing how to select a tree, measure its height, and assess land cover. The program also provides a “green-down protocol” to standardize data collection, ensuring consistency across participants.
Educators interested in joining can register as GLOBE Educators through the program’s website, where they can access these resources and connect with a global community of citizen scientists.
Strengthening Climate Change Research
For decades, GLOBE students and volunteers have played a pivotal role in documenting seasonal variations in plants and animals. By contributing their observations to global databases, they help scientists gain deeper insights into the timing of seasonal changes and their effects on ecosystems. This data is critical for understanding how climate change impacts growing seasons, animal migrations, and habitat dynamics.
The Autumn Science Event not only enriches our understanding of climate change but also fosters collaboration between students, educators, and citizen scientists worldwide. As volunteers capture the subtle yet significant changes in their local environments, they contribute to a collective effort to track and address the challenges posed by a warming planet.