11/29/99

Dear GLOBE School,

I would like to offer you the special opportunity to participate in
the pilot testing of a new soil temperature protocol, one that takes
advantage of relatively inexpensive and very simple data loggers
to collect data we might not otherwise have access to. In
exchange for helping me debug this new investigation, I will let
you keep the data logging equipment that I send to you ($200 value).

Basically, I will need you to install a cluster of three soil
temperature probes and one air temperature probe at your atmospheric
station instrument shelter. Once installed, you will download the data
to a PC or MAC computer weekly and help me analyze your results. It
will be important to continue making regular air temperature and near-
surface soil temperature measurements to compare with the automatic
data. Further, it is important to complete the soil characteristic
protocol for the top 50 cm of your soil profile. I would like you
to participate in this pilot program for 24 months, if possible.

More information is available from my web site:

http://www.hwr.arizona.edu/globe/pilot/2000intro.html

This offer is open to any GLOBE school world-wide. It should begin early
next year.
I will accept requests to participate in this pilot until Jan. 1, 2000
or until I have selected 20 pilot schools. Please drop me a short note
regarding your interest in this effort and your ability to participate.

Please let me know about the following:

- Can you think of some soil research projects your students could do
  that require diurnal measurements of soil temperature? (eg. How
  might you use this equipment?)

- What kind of computer will you use to download the data (PC or MAC)
  and model?

- How do you rate your (or a cooperative colleague's) technology skills?
  5=(Expert) 4 3=(can work with DOS) 2 1=(Novice)

- Do you have the manual dial soil thermometer?

- Do your students already work with spreadsheets?
  Are you able to integrate spreadsheet analysis into your curriculum?

- Do you have any prior experience with data loggers or automated
  equipment?

- Do you have any prior experience completing a GLOBE pilot program or
  another collaborative effort?

- What is your mailing address for shipping the equipment?


     ----------------------- Cheers ----------------- 
  Jim Washburne    GLOBE Soil Moisture Scientist/ jwash@hwr.arizona.edu 
                   Department of Hydrology and Water Resources 
                 Harshbarger Bldg. #11, Rm 238  OR  P.O. Box 210011 
                   University of Arizona,  Tucson, AZ 85721-0011 
                   520 626-4107 (Off);   520 621-1422 (FAX)