AIM/GLOBE partnership: providing remote sensing opportunities for students and teachers to study Noctilucent Clouds
“Aeronomy of Ice In the Mesosphere” (AIM), is a NASA satellite-based research mission scheduled to launch in September 2006. AIM is dedicated to providing a scientific basis for understanding why Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) form and vary. PMCs are sometimes known as Noctilucent Clouds (NLCs) or “night shinning” clouds because of their visibility during or just before and after twilight. NLCs may well be the only truly visible atmospheric phenomenon associated with global atmospheric change. These clouds that form ~ 50km above the earth, surface usually poleward of 50 latitude, have been increasing with time, becoming brighter and moving toward the equator.
Translating the mission: when the ground-truthers meet the instrument-makers-how students at all points in the "Pipeline" learn about remote sensing
In 1997 the Virginia Space Grant Consortium (VSGC) worked with Old Dominion University, Hampton University, Tidewater Community College and the College of William and Mary to develop a student team to manage the design, fabrication, and launch process for a scientific balloon payload. The expertise available to the VSGC suggested that an environmentally focused payload should address the instrumentation for gathering remotely sensed images and ground-truthing data. The payload was successfully launched on August 25, 1998. Throughout the project all team members worked with precollege students. Questions about the project were responded to through the "Ask A Scientist" page of the web site (http://ixeab2.larc.nasa.gov//sup -/killough/vsgc). The "Lessons Learned" included: 1) Student accountability for accuracy, safety, and project costs is critical, 2) Internet research projects require a high degree of organization, software compatibility, and self-efficacy: judgement that the student himself feels capable of participating in an on-line research project, and 3) The moment of "Aha!" is the primary motivator.
D'une application pratique des indices bio-météorologiques
Abstract The purpose of the author is to determine statistically in what part of Switzerland maize could be cultivated with certain chance of rentability. The author gives first the method he used for determining the biometeorological index of four species of maize which were selected by the Swiss agronomical research stations. He has considered two possibilities for the growing period: ( a ) raising-ripening (l'approche globale); ( b ) raising-flowering, flowering-ripening (l'approche fractionee). From the biometeorological index, he calculated retrospectively the ripening time of these four species in the years 1901–1965. Assuming a priori that maize should be harvested before October 15th at the latest, he calculated, for a number of meteorological stations, the relative number of years when such conditions were fulfilled. Dividing the country in regions of similar mesoclimates and sorting these stations per region, it is possible to average the maximum altitude where maize can ripen at least 7, 8, 9 and 10 times within 10 years. Finally, taking into account the exposure and ground slope, he draws maps of the theoretically possible extension area, which maps are more reliable and detailed than the ones derived from actual means.