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West Coast Aerosols: Pasadena vs. Cache Valley. Greg Nichols & Erika Sahlman. Abstract. Using CloudSAT protocol and a photometer students will measure regional differences in aerosol amounts between an urban and rural valley in the western U.S. Introduction & Hypothesis.
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West Coast Aerosols:Pasadena vs. Cache Valley Greg Nichols & Erika Sahlman
Abstract • Using CloudSAT protocol and a photometer students will measure regional differences in aerosol amounts between an urban and rural valley in the western U.S.
Introduction & Hypothesis • Is there a difference in aerosol concentrations between Pasadena (urban) and Cache Valley (rural) areas? • Questions that may lead to hypotheses • Seasons • Temperature • Altitude • Anthropogenic vs. Natural Aerosols
Materials & Method • CloudSAT • Use CloudSAT protocol and exchange photos between schools. • Photometer • Measure amounts of aerosols in both schools. • In the future… • Use GLOBE protocols to compare data online as we acquire additional resources. • Method • Collect data for as many times as possible over a two week period per school year month.
Compare cloud coverage and cloud types, photometer results, and temperature. Use Excel and make a graph for all three variables. The students are then going to pick their own questions to focus on and answer them using their data between the two schools. Are there seasonal changes in aerosol concentrations? Does temperature effect aerosol amounts? Do aerosol amounts vary depending on the time of day? Data Summary/Analysis and Results
Discussion • Equipment • Photometers • GLOBE weather station protocols • Some data is not available (AIM) ~ man-made vs. natural aerosols • Setting up collaborations between the two classes.
Partners & Bibliography • Pasadena, California • JPL - NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory • California Institute of Technology • Cache Valley, Utah • Space Dynamics Laboratory • Utah State University • MODIS - http://modis-atmos.gsfc.nasa.gov/ • CloudSAT - http://cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu/ • GLOBE - www.globe.gov • Google Earth - http://earth.google.com/ • UCAR - http://www.ucar.edu/