NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022: Clouds in a Changing Climate

15 January to 15 February 2022

Short link to this page: https://observer.globe.gov/cloud-challenge-2022

Did you know that clouds can both warm and cool our planet? Keeping an eye on clouds helps NASA study our climate. We need your help capturing data about clouds where you live! The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program invites you to take part in our upcoming Cloud Challenge: “Clouds in a Changing Climate.”

Read NASA Langley Research Center's feature story about the challenge .

Jump to: Videos during the challenge -- Explore the latest clouds observations -- Satellite matches -- The GOES-T Satellite -- Resources for families -- Resources for educators and facilitators

The NASA GLOBE Cloud Challenge 2022 has concluded. Download a customizable certificate of participation (PDF) or digital badge (PNG) to celebrate. And we have a special satellite match certificate (PDF) if you contributed data to help us get to our satellite match goal. Print or share on social media, and thanks for joining in! 

Special videos during the challenge:

This special video from the GLOBE Student Vloggers is all about the clouds and climate in their individual areas, as well as the changes seen over time. You can see all the episodes on the GLOBE Student Vloggers YouTube playlist . Be sure to subscribe for notifications when the latest episode is released.

You can also watch vlogger Carlos (Bronx, New York, USA) talk about making cloud observations using the GLOBE Observer app.

Look for an Instagram Reel to be released on The GLOBE Program's Instagram channel  every Friday:

• 14 January - "Clouds in your everyday life" with Dr. Patrick Taylor  
• 21 January - "Weather versus climate and The GLOBE Program" with Dr. Denise "Skye" Yost  
• 28 January - "Not all clouds are the same" with Dr. Xia Cai  
• 04 February - "Climate data and clouds" with Dr. Yolanda Shea  
• 11 February - "How do satellites study clouds? (GOES-R)" with Dr. Daniel Lindsey  

We also have two opportunities for webinars you can attend to learn more about the challenge and citizen science related to clouds and weather more generally.

• A kick-off webinar about the challenge hosted by the Los Angeles Public Library , was held on Thursday, 13 January 2022. This family-friendly webinar is suitable for ages five and up. To participate in the hands-on activity, please have the following material ready before the program begins: a piece of paper, a light source (flashlight or cell phone), a few assorted transparent, translucent, and opaque, such as glass, cellophane, tissue paper, cardboard, foil, etc.

• The American Meteorological Society's Weather Band is holding their first Community and Citizen Science Symposium . The program on Friday, 21 January 2022 from 12:00 - 5:00 PM ET (1700 - 22:00 UTC) includes the GLOBE Program as well as other weather-related citizen science projects.

We will also have two activity videos debut:

• 02 February - A demonstration of the Sci Girls Cloud Clues activity, presented by Ms. Emily Hollyday and students from West End Secondary School
• 09 February - A demonstration of the Earth's Energy Budget and NASA GLOBE CLOUD GAZE  by Dr. Caryn Long and students from Montverde Academy.

Explore the latest clouds observations:

Open the GLOBE Visualization System in a new tab.   

You can also view a dashboard   showing all of the clouds observations during the challenge, as well as breaking them out by those specifically showing contrails and dust.

Satellite matches:

While observations at any time can be helpful, those within fifteen minutes of a satellite overpass are especially helpful to scientists. During the month of the challenge, we are hoping to receive 20,000 observations that match to satellite data, working toward our goal of one million total matches made. You can read more about matching to satellites on our Cloud Science page, or check out the videos below.

The GOES-T Satellite:

A new satellite to observe clouds is launching soon! NOAA’s GOES-T  is the third satellite in the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) – R Series, the Western Hemisphere’s most sophisticated weather-observing and environmental-monitoring system. The GOES-R Series provides advanced imagery and atmospheric measurements, real-time mapping of lightning activity, and monitoring of space weather.

Resources For Families

Resources For Educators and Program Facilitators