Thermometers and Anemometers
The youngest students monitor the temperature and wind
speed using thermometers and anemometers. They make daily weather
reports using both qualitative and quantitative observations. Their
observations may include wind speed, windiness, cloudiness, perceived
temperature and actual temperature. Students are able to compare their
observations with those made by the Environment Canada weather station
in their community. Additionally, they can compare their observed
monthly average temperature to the archived monthly average temperatures
from previous years.Pyranometers and Sun Photometers
Older students make observations about the atmosphere using a pyranometer and a sun photometer. A pyranometer views the sky from horizon to horizon and measures all of the sunlight (solar radiation) falling on it; in other words, it measures the amount of sunlight a specific location of Earth is receiving. Students use the pyranometer to collect and analyse solar radiation, and then compare their results to those collected by CANDAC scientists and other students. Scientists can use long-term pyranometer measurements to study climate change. Activities, research and investigations will demonstrate that the amount of sunlight reaching the surface of the Earth depends on the region’s latitude, the amount and type of cloud cover, the presence of air pollution and particles in the atmosphere, and the season. Students learn to graph their data to reveal the changes over time.
Another scientific instrument that
complements the measurements of a pyranometer is a sun photometer. A sun
photometer measures the intensity of direct sunlight over a narrow
range of wavelengths. It allows scientists to calculate aerosol optical
thickness, thus determining the amount of aerosol contaminants in the
atmosphere. Aerosols are important to atmospheric scientists because
they can have negative effects on human health and the ozone layer.
Interestingly, they can also play a role in mitigating the warming
effects of greenhouse gases. Students gather measurements using a sun
photometer and then compare their results to CANDAC CIMEL Sunphotometer
data and MODIS satellite imagery.The portable sun photometers and pyranometers we use are available through the Institute for Earth Science Research and Education. As part of the GLOBE project, David Brooks and Forrest Mims designed this inexpensive photometer that uses light emitting diodes (LEDs) as detectors.
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