Water
Explore the water module and delve into the critical topics related to water systems, climate impacts, and the role of open data in solving global water challenges.
This is the first module of the SCHOOL Curriculum. Here, you will encounter several key datasets and use cases, each providing valuable lessons in understanding the water cycle. Through guided exploration, you’ll gain the skills necessary to tackle water-related data, focusing on its significance for society. The module is broken down into three lessons, each designed to gradually increase in complexity, allowing you to build confidence in your ability to handle and interpret data.
Huge Thanks!
This course was made possible thanks to the work of our NASA’s TOPS team, our SCHOOL Open Science team, open science Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and the SCHOOL Development team!
Water Security Indicator Model (WSIM)
In this lesson, you’ll work with historical data from the Global Land Data Assimilation System (GLDAS) to explore water anomalies. We’ll show you how to access this data and guide you through creating advanced visualizations. By working with both R and Python programming languages, you’ll gain a solid understanding of how historical water data can reveal crucial patterns, like droughts or surpluses, which have broad implications for ecosystems and societies.
Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS)
Floods are a pressing issue that impacts millions globally. In this lesson, you’ll explore near real-time water anomaly data from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Near Real-Time (NRT) Flood Data. You’ll learn how to access satellite data that captures these anomalies, process the information, and use it for real-world applications, like disaster preparedness and resource management.
Lead in New York State Schools
In the final lesson, you’ll dive into the critical issue of water contamination, with a focus on lead levels in New York State schools. This lesson combines US Census data with water quality data to highlight the importance of data cleaning, processing, and critical analysis. You’ll also learn to recognize and address the limitations in datasets — a vital skill for any researcher working with real-world data.
Goals & Outcomes
This module isn’t just about water; it’s about giving you the tools to integrate Open Science practices into your own work. By the end of the module, you’ll have a solid foundation in data acquisition, processing, and visualization techniques. These skills will help you take what you’ve learned here and apply it to new datasets, transforming the way you approach your research.
Understand the significance of water data in scientific research.
Be able to access and analyze key water datasets from NASA.
Master techniques for data cleaning, analysis, and advanced visualizations.
Gain confidence in adapting these skills to other Open Science workflows.