Two exciting new projects seek students and other volunteers to help build science’s understanding of climate change and light pollution. The projects’ web sites teach participants about these subjects while they collect vital data. Project BudBurst, which began on February 15, asks volunteers in the U.S. to track climate change by observing the time at which plant buds have opened and leaves are visible. GLOBE at Night, running from February 25 to 8 March 8, asks observers in 110 countries to record visible stars as a way of measuring light pollution.

Sycamore At Budburst

One of the ways scientists measure climate change is by charting changes in the timing of the life cycles of plants. These plant “phenophases” are directly affected by temperature, rainfall and day length. Monitoring changes in phenological events such as first bud, budburst, and flowering is a way to show the effect climate change is having on nature. Participants in Project Budburst will investigate whether or not growing seasons are starting earlier in northern latitudes, and whether they are continuing over a longer period of time.

Each Budburst participant will check one or more plants beginning at least a week prior to the average date of budburst for their location. After budburst, participants will continue to observe the tree or flower for later events, such as the first leaf, first flower, and seed dispersal. When participants submit their records online, they can view maps of these phenological events across the United States. Project BudBurst collaborators include UCAR and its Windows to the Universe Web site, the Chicago Botanic Garden, and the University of Montana.

GLOBE at Night asks volunteers to find the constellation Orion (which is visible nearly everywhere on Earth this time of year) and report their observations online. With the results, students and scientists will collaborate to assess how the quality of the night sky varies around the world. Participation is free and open to anyone who lives or works in a country where GLOBE is active. The project is part of The GLOBE Program , a worldwide science education program that connects primary and secondary schools with scientists to collaborate on inquiry-based investigations of the environment and the Earth system. Sponsors include NASA, UCAR, and NSF.