by Vivienne Byrd, Los Angeles Public Library, and Theresa Schwerin, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies, GLOBE Observer Team

Start the new year with the NASA GLOBE 2022 Cloud Challenge!

The challenge is January 15 – February 15, 2022.

The GLOBE campaign website has several resources to support your program.

How to get started

Vivienne Byrd at the Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) Neighborhood Science (NeiSci) program recommends doing the following to get started:

For fun family activities:

  • Make some clouds in a jar! Follow along with LAPL Librarian Basya Samuels and her little assistant in this Cloud in a Jar Demonstration!
  • Learn to say the word “Cloud” in different languages using Mango Languages. If you don’t have a library account, see if you have free access through an organization near you at the Mango Languages website.
  • Read about clouds in different languages in the Elementary GLOBE storybook, Do You Know That Clouds Have Names, which is translated into multiple languages.
  • Create a list of fun eBooks about clouds. Check out the GLOBE Observer Cloud book lists on World Cat: Books for Kids and Books for Teens and Adults
  • Look for an Instagram reel to be released on the NASA GLOBE Program’s Instagram every Friday to learn more about clouds with NASA scientists and educators.
  • Watch the video tutorial on how to set up your GLOBE Observer account and use it to share your cloud data.
  • Download the GLOBE Observer app and follow the steps in the app to observe, record, and upload the clouds you observed in your neighborhood
  • Check out the GLOBE Clouds Observation NeiSci circulating kit that LAPL developed
  • Share the photos of clouds you observed on social media. Be sure to use the hashtag #nasacloud22; you could also create a hashtag for your library. LAPL is using #laplneisci on its social.
  • Learn more about taking cloud observations including written instructions and answers to frequently asked questions.

Be sure to check out LAPL’s mini Clouds website.

On January 13, Los Angeles Public Library (LAPL) hosted an interactive webinar to kickoff the Cloud Challenge. LAPL and NASA scientist Jessica Taylor talked about how you can help scientists study our climate by sharing and capturing data about clouds where you live! Family-friendly, ages 5 and up. If there is a link to the recorded webinar, we will post it.