Urban Heat Island Without a Smart Device

How to Help Scientists Collect Data (no smart device required)

By participating in this project, everyone can help our city conduct a tree inventory and see how hot their neighborhood is compared to others. Along with scientists, people can develop and implement plans on how to cool areas in their communities. To provide scientists with a better understanding of the impact of the UHIE on your study site, you will be collecting surface temperature, cloud, and tree height data for this NASA research.

Collect and Record Cloud, Sky Condition, and Surface Temperature Data

Step 1

Use the Mini GPS location finder in the kit for location coordinates and elevation information. Press and hold the middle button to turn on the GPS and give it 15-30 minutes to connect to a satellite. Once it is connected, the screen will display a signal icon with bars and a blinking black bullet. Press the top button three times to see coordinates and two more times to see the elevation information measured in meters. Press and hold the middle button to turn the GPS off.

Step 2

Pick three Observation Spots in the same homogeneous area (i.e., an area with the same surfacing materials, such as grass, asphalt, concrete, etc.) within the same study site and mark them using stake flags in the kit. These Observation Spots can be random, and the distance between them depends on the size of the area you are studying. The Spots should also be away from trees and buildings that create a shadow on the land and in locations that have not been recently disturbed by people or animal traffic.

Step 3

Write down the latitude, longitude and elevation information of the center of the homogeneous area you picked, the observation date and (local) time, time zone, land cover type (i.e., grass, asphalt, concrete, etc.) on the data sheet (page 7) included in the instructions packet.

Step 4

Use the Infrared Thermometer (IRT) and measure the surface temperature in all three Observation Spots you picked. To measure, hold the IRT at arm’s length and point it straight down, click the button, then read it. Make sure to record your data in degrees Celsius (℃) on the data sheet.

Step 5

Use the GLOBE Clouds: Step by Step Guide, and Cloud Identification Charts in the kit (page 11-14) to help you determine sky conditions. Record your observations on the datasheet.

Step 6

When you have access to an Internet/WiFi-connected device, go to https://neisci.cc/uhieform to enter and submit your observation data.

Measure and Record Tree Heights at Your Study Site

Step 7

Build a Clinometer using the materials and template provided in the kit.
Note: You can keep the clinometer you built.

Step 8

Follow the instructions on the clinometer you built and use the tape measure to measure the height of a tree within your observation site (if any). Record the height on the Clinometer you made.

Step 9

When you have access to an Internet/WiFi-connected computer/laptop, go to https://neisci.cc/treeform to input the data you recorded on the clinometer you made and click "Submit".
Note: You can measure more than one tree within your study site.

Step 10

Complete the paper survey in the instructions packet (if included) and return this kit to the library.