GLOBE News Brief – August 2026 | | GLOBE Observations Now Match to
10 Satellites | | |
With the addition of the PACE satellite this month to the suite of satellites that GLOBE observations match to, we now offer opportunities to match with six satellites for your Clouds observations and four satellites for your Land Cover observations.
You can receive an email from NASA that provides satellite data aligned with your observation location each time your Clouds observation is made within 15 minutes of a satellite overhead and for any Land Cover observation. (Land cover doesn’t change as quickly as clouds, so the timing isn’t as essential!)
Each observation matched to satellite data brings us closer to our goal of 2 million satellite matches by April 2027. To date, NASA has made 1,754,285 matches (7,553 since the July News Brief)! Only 245,715 matches to go.
PACE’s addition to GLOBE also brings two exciting opportunities to collect data for NASA scientists on the PACE Mission – the PACE Clouds Challenge starting 15 September and the North America Phenology Campaign (happening now). Details about both opportunities are below.
Learn how to turn on satellite notifications in the GLOBE Observer app and make an observation today.
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We are excited to share two upcoming opportunities for you to hear directly from scientists about their NASA missions and how your GLOBE observations can benefit their work.
Meet PACE: An Introduction to the PACE Mission and Clouds Challenge
On 27 August at 12 pm ET (16:00 UTC), Dr. Andy Sayer and Dr. Carina Poulin from the NASA PACE mission will join Marilé Colón Robles from the GLOBE Clouds team to introduce the PACE satellite and a new Clouds Challenge to collect Clouds observations aligned with the satellite's worldwide orbits. Dr. Poulin will introduce the mission to the GLOBE community, and Dr. Sayer will describe how you can collect data with GLOBE Observer to support his research. Learn more and register.
Tracking Fall Color with PACE
On 22 September at 1 pm ET (17:00 UTC), data scientist and analyst Skye Caplan will discuss how the PACE mission observes Earth’s land surfaces and how GLOBE participants can help connect those satellite observations with data collected on the ground through the North America Phenology Campaign. This webinar is a fun collaboration between GO Connect and the Trees Around the GLOBE Campaign. Learn more and register.
| | New Virtual Series: GLOBE Website Learning and Support Sessions | | |
Join the GLOBE Website Learning and Support Sessions for friendly, practical support with the GLOBE.gov website. These informal Zoom sessions are designed for anyone in the GLOBE community with questions about the website, account changes, or other technical issues. Each session will include a short 10- to 15-minute tips-and-tricks spotlight, followed by time for questions, troubleshooting, and shared problem-solving. Whether you are creating an account, navigating My Observations+, or trying to find the right training or website resource, we hope you will join us. The first session will be held 30 September. Learn more and register.
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Seeking Your Input on the GO App | |
The GLOBE Observer app will be redesigned in the coming year, and we are collecting suggestions on how to improve the current app.
While we will not be able to use all the suggestions due to a limited budget and time, we hope to improve the app with your input. Submit your idea(s) today!
| | Regional Coordination Outside North America | | |
Regional coordination of the GLOBE Program outside of North America is now managed through the GLOBE Implementation Office’s (GIO) Regional Coordination Hub, which works directly with Country Coordinators to help bring GLOBE to communities throughout their countries.
Since May 2026, we have connected one-on-one, virtually, with 50 Country Coordinators to learn more about the specifics of how GLOBE operates in their countries and how the Regional Coordination Hub can best support their work. Learn more about the Hub and meet each region's Hub lead.
| | GLOBE Cup Challenge Results | | |
On 19 July, as Spain became World Cup Champions, our GLOBE Cup Challenge came to an end.
Results were shared during the July GLOBE Observer Connect: Results of the GLOBE Cup Challenge webinar before being unveiled on the website. A total of 3,165 air temperature, surface temperature, and land cover observations were submitted during the challenge. Thank you to all who participated; you should have received a certificate via email last week.
Read all the results, including the winning region and each region's top observers.
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PACE Clouds Challenge
15 September to 15 October
Are you up for a challenge? GLOBE and scientists from the NASA PACE mission challenge volunteers across the world to photograph the sky at the exact moment the PACE satellite flies over your location. GLOBE Clouds observations from the ground will help NASA better understand how to interpret data from innovative new technology flying on the satellite.
Join the PACE Clouds Challenge by submitting Clouds observations through the GLOBE Observer app between 15 September and 15 October 2026.
Upcoming Webinars
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Trees Around the GLOBE
Tree Check Month
1–31 August
This intensive observation period (IOP) asks GLOBE volunteers to take as many Tree Height and Land Cover observations as possible during the month of August 2026 and to note any pests or signs of damage in the trees or surrounding land cover. Learn more and join the IOP!
Wrapping Up 8 Years
As the GLOBE Program shifts its focus to support more NASA mission science, the Trees Around the GLOBE Campaign will come to a close on 31 October 2026. The campaign, which will host a final webinar on 27 October, has brought together GLOBE participants from over 70 countries with a goal of better understanding the science of trees and vegetation, land cover and change, spring green-up and fall green-down, and carbon cycle science. Learn more.
Upcoming Webinar
The Timing of Nature with the NASA PACE Mission and the North American Phenology Campaign | 22 September, 1 pm ET (17:00 UTC, 19:00 CEST). Hear from NASA PACE data scientist and analyst Skye Caplan about how the PACE mission observes Earth’s land surfaces, and learn how GLOBE participants can help connect those satellite observations with data collected on the ground through the North America Phenology Campaign.
Webinar Recording
Revisiting the Trees Around the GLOBE Tools, Resources, and Tricks for Maximizing Student Research in Land Cover, Tree, and Vegetation Science | In this webinar, participants revisited the many tools, tips, tricks, and resources highlighted over the past 8 years of supporting student research as part of the Trees Around the GLOBE Student Research Campaign.
| | Regional Campaigns and Highlights | |
North America
The North American Phenology Campaign
Measure fall color change with GLOBE! This campaign is particularly exciting, as there are two ways to observe Green-Down and participate:
- Monitor leaves on an individual tree using GLOBE’s Green-Down protocol or
- Take landscape photos for NASA’s PACE satellite mission using GLOBE’s Land Cover tool in the Observer app
The 2026 GLOBE North American Phenology Campaign kicked off on 19 August, with an introductory webinar. Participants learned about the two ways to take part in the campaign and were introduced to a new collaboration with NASA’s PACE satellite mission. Fred Huemmrich, PACE terrestrial scientist from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, shared how the PACE satellite can be used to monitor fall color change across the landscape. Watch the webinar recording.
Learn more about the campaign, how to participate, and resources available.
Stars Story
GLOBE United States: UNH Researchers and Students Use GLOBE Green-Up Protocol to Observe Seasonal Changes | Researchers and graduate students at the University of New Hampshire incorporated GLOBE’s Green-Up protocol into ongoing research on seasonal changes at Spruce Hole Bog, with a focus on the transition from winter to spring.
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Stay tuned for details on additional regional campaigns launching over the next few months!
Find more events and opportunities on the Events page of the GLOBE website. Read Stars Stories under News and Events. Have a GLOBE story to share? Submit a Stars Story!
| | Additional News and Information | |
Remembering Nadhira Al Harthy
It is with great sadness that we share the recent passing of Nadhira Al Harthy, former GLOBE Oman Country Coordinator. Nadhira was an inspiration to the GLOBE community.
If you have a story or photos to share about Nadhira and her impact on GLOBE, science, and the community, we invite you to email the GLOBE communications team so we can update this webpage with a few highlights of her work and life.
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How to Report Smoke Through GLOBE Clouds
Wildfires are a global issue, and you can use the GLOBE Clouds tool to report skies that are hazy or obscured by wildfire smoke. Learn more about how you can help build a clearer picture of how wildfire smoke affects skies, landscapes, and communities!
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Reminders
GLOBE.gov Updates
Find important information about GLOBE website updates and recently fixed issues, new protocol training requirements, and the process for becoming a trainer or mentor trainer.
GLOBE Publications
GLOBE data have been used in many scholarly works, including theses, dissertations, and peer-reviewed papers. Submit your GLOBE publication(s) and browse the collection of recent and past submissions.
GLOBE International STEM Network (GISN)
If you're not already a member, the GISN welcomes scientists and STEM professionals to increase participation across all six GLOBE regions. Visit the GISN webpage to learn more and apply for membership.
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