Data logging activities

Purpose

The purpose of this activity is to record microclimate variations as the student takes a short walk outside. The student will later return to the lab and transfer his data to Google Earth for mapping and analysis.

Xplorer GLX with GPS Position Sensor and a Weather Anemometer.

Procedure

1. Go outside and connect the Weather Anemometer and GPS Position Sensors to the ports at the top of the Xplorer GLX. Use GLX port 1for the GPS Position Sensor so that the sensor’s antenna points up for best reception. Use GLX port 2 for the Weather Anemometer.
   
2. Turn on the GLX. Press the power button    at the lower right corner.
   
   
3. The GPS Position Sensor’s red Search LED indicator light should be flashing, indicating that the GPS Sensor has not yet acquired the minimum three GPS satellite signals required for tracking.
   
   
4. From the Digits display, press F4  to display up to 8 of the 14 measurements available from both sensors.
   
    
   
   Note: Whether or not they are displayed, all measurements will be recorded, so display only those that you think will be most interesting to view as you walk around outside.
   To change a measurement from the digits display, press  and use the arrows  to highlight the measurement you wish to change. Press   again and choose the new measurement from the pull down menu.
   
   
5. The GPS Position Sensor’s red Search LED indicator light should be flashing, indicating that the GPS Sensor has not yet acquired the minimum three GPS satellite signals required for tracking.
   
   
6. Monitor the GPS sensor’s LED indicator lights. Within a couple of minutes of being outside, the blinking red LED should turn off and be replaced by a solid green Data LED. This indicates that three or more satellite signals have been acquired and that valid GPS sensor data is now available.
   
   
7. Throughout this activity, hold the GLX so that the GPS sensor’s antenna faces up toward the sky.
   
   
8. Tell your students where to walk and how soon to return. To start and stop data collection, press the  button. They will notice a clock running in the upper right of your screen when they are collecting data. When stopped, it will be the arrow symbol.

Click here to see how you display your data in the Google Earth application.