1. The Scientific Method: Real examples Monika V Sikand Ph.d Student Stevens Institute of Technology Department of Physics Light and Life Laboratory Hoboken.

2. Overview Stevens light and life laboratory research Scientific methods review Application of scientific methods Conclusion

4. Research at Light and Life Laboratory / Use of satellite data for retrieval of atmospheric and surface properties.

5. Research at Light and Life Laboratory / Remote sensing of ocean color.

6. The Scientific method steps Observation Question Hypothesis Experiment Data collection Conclusion

7. Observation

8. Global Temperature

9. Green house gases

10. Melting ice

11. Rising sea levels

12. Hurricanes

13. So what do we observe ?????

14. Global Warming & Climate Change

15. Do you have a problem or Question?

16. Question ???????

17. Think of an idea !!!!!!!!

18. Let’s study the Earth’s radiation budget

19. Radiation incident from Sun - radiation reflected from earth Radiation budget

20. Hypothesis: A scientific educated guess If radiation budget increases then Globe is warming.

21. Plan the experiment Investigation !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

22. Tethered Balloon system Ny-Alesund Svalbard, Norway (78.91N, 11.91E) in May/June 2008

23. Data Collection Quantitative(numerical) and Qualitative(descriptive)

24. Quantitative data Energy (Mean Intensity)

25. Qualitative data Cloud particles shape

26. Analysis of results

27. Cloud model presence of clouds influences the mean intensity.

28. Results The mixed phase clouds increases the mean intensity and hence the radiation budget.

29. Conclusion

30. Mixed phase(both ice and water)clouds increase the radiation budget in Arctic If radiation budget increases then Globe is warming.

31. Publication of results “Optical properties of mixed phase boundary layer clouds observed from a tethered balloon platform in the Arctic” M.Sikand et al. Journal of Quantitative Spectroscopy & Radiative Transfer 111 (2010) 1921–1930

32. Interesting Links http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/ClimateTimeMachine/climateTi meMachine_kids.cfm http://climate.nasa.gov/kids/climateTales/index.cfm

33. The End Thank you