Earth as a System
The Earth is a dynamic and interconnected ecosystem with numerous processes that both influence and depend on one another. For example, the water composition of a lake may depend on the soil surrounding it as well as the type of land cover holding that soil in place. Because of this interdependency, researchers often need to look beyond one particular Earth sphere and account for how the processes they are studying rely on the Earth as a system.
To reflect this multidisciplinary approach to the Earth sciences, this community has built various GLOBE Protocol Bundles focused on student research. Each bundle includes:
- An introduction and summary of each bundle
- The GLOBE Protocols used within the bundle
- Relevant scientific background information
- Student research questions
- Case study examples
- Bundle acknowledgements and cited references
Protocol Bundles
Agriculture Bundle
Maintaining the natural resource base is essential for the sustainable production of food and other agricultural products. Additionally, taking care of fields helps preserve agriculture's benefits to humanity, including food security, nutrition and livelihoods. This bundle includes a group of protocols to help members better understand how agriculture interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Air Quality Bundle
Air quality is affected by a number of factors, including the source of pollutants, the type of pollutants and local climatological and weather conditions. The quality of the air in an area has significant health impacts for both human and wildlife health. This bundle includes a group of protocols to help members better understand how air quality interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
ENSO Bundle
El Niño and La Niña are important climatic phenomenon that can impact weather around the globe. Due to the global influence of this phenomenon, GLOBE has developed the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) campaign to engage students in tracking ENSO impacts in their local habitat. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how ENSO interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Mosquito Bundle
Mosquitoes infect hundreds of millions of people with serious diseases and kill more than a million people each year. Members can make a difference in tracking and controlling the spread of mosquitoes and help protect their loved ones from contracting dengue, Zika and other illnesses. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how mosquito populations interact with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Ocean Bundle
Oceans are complex ecosystems that require the consideration of several interrelated physical parameters to develop a complete understanding. Additionally, researchers must account for the oceanic mechanisms and processes occurring along the coast, as well as those occurring between the atmosphere and the oceans themselves. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how oceans interact with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Rivers & Lakes Bundle
Freshwater is essential for the planet and vital for people and other living things. Rivers and lakes in particular store and clean the water that is crucial for humans and wildlife. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how rivers and lakes interact with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Soils Bundle
Soils are one of Earth’s essential natural resources, yet they are often taken for granted. Soils are a living, breathing world supporting nearly all terrestrial life by holding nutrients, hydration and filtering water. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how soil interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Urban Bundle
The urban environment is more than an agglomeration of buildings, but functions as a "living organism" that constantly changes, primarily due to anthropogenic causes. Given the many small-scale variations caused by the built environment, citizen science contributions are particularly needed to adequately characterize the urban environment. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how the urban environment interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Water Cycle Bundle
The water cycle is a key part of the Earth system. The fluxes and reservoirs that comprise it vary over time and space, and the data researchers collect can help characterize these changes in their area. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how the water cycle interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Water Quality Bundle
The quality of water changes as it interacts with the atmosphere, soil and the surrounding land cover bordering water bodies. These changes in the water determine what can live in a body of water and how that water may be used. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how water quality interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >
Weather Bundle
Weather is highly variable around the world and can change in minutes. This variability is directly related to the energy budget of a particular area and depends on many different factors, such as land cover and incoming solar radiation. This bundle contains a group of protocols to help members better understand how the weather interacts with the various Earth spheres. Learn More >