S'COOL

S'COOL, standing for Student's Cloud Observations On-Line is a unique program with the goal of motivating students to participate in science inquiry. The sixth graders learn how to identify the clouds and determine their height, opacity and estimate the percent coverage. These observations are critical to NASA's Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) project. The CERES project has satellite instruments on three satellites, TERRA, AQUA and TRMM (TRMM is no longer functioning). These instruments have gaps in their ability to accurately determine the type of cloud in the sky. They also have been shown to confuse clear sky when it is over a body of water. To determine the extent of what the satellite misses or misreads the student observations are used. The satellite has been shown to miss thin, high level clouds. Snow covered surfaces have also confused the satellite. The student observations are avaliable online once they are processed by NASA. Satellite images from the day of observation are also online.

Here at St. Jude's we are taking this opportunity to practice our data gathering skills as well as use our cloud knowledge for scientific research. Over 25,000 students have participated so far, we are happy to join the ranks of the cloud observing students. The students are very excited to help out scientists! We even studied contrails, clouds created by airplanes disturbing the air, so we could make extra comments about these man made clouds. Radiation from the sun bounces off clouds and is sent out of the atmosphere, rather than absorbed as heat. Some scientists believe contrails may be changing how much radiation is received by the earth. This may have an impact on global climate. Scientists are looking to students to observe and record contrail sightings to help determine how much of an impact they have. While we make our cloud observations we are also recording data on the number and type of contrails we see.

We have our work set out for us so far. Our first observations were recorded today. Next week we should be able to see the satellite images that were taken during our observation. We may even start to notice some cloud trends. So far the sixth graders made the observation that the sky was clear when the cold front moved in, compared to the large low hanging cumulus clouds which were present prior to the cold front. What great observers!