How to Be an Ice Watcher #CitizenScience #weather #science #environment #DIY #climatechange
I have to admit that I’m not a fan of cold weather, however, for those of you that enjoy puffer coats and big boots, this may just be the project for you. According to GANT News, IceWatch USA is looking for more volunteers, particularly in Pennsylvania. You get to monitor a body (or bodies) of water for ice, while also noting precipitation, temperature and signs of wildlife. IceWatch is a program by Nature Abounds and their site offers some solid reasons for observing the effects of ice.
Around the globe, scientists have studied the freezing and thawing of ice on freshwater lakes, concluding that the climate is indeed warming. Likewise, scientists around the globe have been studying weather as well as wildlife behavior.
Seasonal differences in the ice cover of lakes and rivers can have a serious impact on our ecosystems. For example, changes in the migration patterns and breeding seasons of birds, food supplies for fish and mammals, water temperature and water chemistry, can occur. Additionally, ice cover affects trade, transportation, outdoor recreation, and tourism.
Volunteers take photos and make written observations of ice-on and ice-off conditions. Findings are emailed to a coordinator for input into the national database and are shared with scientists. This project is partnered with IceWatch Canada so you can imagine how the dataset is growing. This is an easy project for those that live near a body of water (ponds count); there is interesting science waiting to be discovered in all seasons.
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Stop breadboarding and soldering – start making immediately! Adafruit’s Circuit Playground is jam-packed with LEDs, sensors, buttons, alligator clip pads and more. Build projects with Circuit Playground in a few minutes with the drag-and-drop MakeCode programming site, learn computer science using the CS Discoveries class on code.org, jump into CircuitPython to learn Python and hardware together, TinyGO, or even use the Arduino IDE. Circuit Playground Express is the newest and best Circuit Playground board, with support for CircuitPython, MakeCode, and Arduino. It has a powerful processor, 10 NeoPixels, mini speaker, InfraRed receive and transmit, two buttons, a switch, 14 alligator clip pads, and lots of sensors: capacitive touch, IR proximity, temperature, light, motion and sound. A whole wide world of electronics and coding is waiting for you, and it fits in the palm of your hand.
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Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Select Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: PyCon AU 2024 Talks, New Raspberry Pi Gear Available and More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi
EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey
