Discover how GLOBE supports hands-on science for locally relevant learning which is also put into a global perspective.

This resource helps to identify and access GLOBE protocols and hands-on learning activities that complement the Phytoplankton Distribution phenomenon.

Explore and connect to the GLOBE Soils protocol bundle. 

Phytoplankton distribution background information.

Students observe seasonal images of Monthly Leaf Area, looking for any changes that are occurring throughout the year.

Find GLOBE resources which are connected to My NASA Data biosphere phenomena. These include campaigns, eTraining, pacing guides, and how to find related student projects.

Explore using units for calculations with Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI). NDVI is a ratio of different light wavelength reflectance which can be used to map the density of green vegetation.

Students learn how to estimate the "energy efficiency" of photosynthesis, or the amount of energy that plants absorb for any given location on Earth. This is the ratio of the amount of energy stored to the amount of light energy absorbed and is used to evaluate and model photosynthesis efficiency.

An urban heat island is a phenomenon that is best described when a city experiences much warmer temperatures than in nearby rural areas. The sun’s heat and light reach the city and the country in the same way. The difference in temperature between urban and less-developed rural areas has to do with how well the surfaces in each environment absorb and hold heat.

The Earth System Satellite Images help students observe and analyze global Earth and environmental data, understand the relationship among different environmental variables, and explore how the data change seasonally and over longer timescales.