Validation of GLOBE limnological data in Croatia

master's thesis

• Title (english): Validacija limnoloških GLOBE podataka u Hrvatskoj
• Author: Ibrahim Hafez Elnoby Abdelrady
• Mentor: Renata Matoničkin Kepčija (mentor)
• Committee member: Renata Matoničkin Kepčija (predsjednik povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Sara Essert (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Mirela Sertić Perić (član povjerenstva)
• Committee member: Marko Miliša (član povjerenstva)
• Granter: University of Zagreb; Faculty of Science; (Department of Biology); Zagreb
• Defense date and country: 2022-09-29, Croatia
• Scientific / art field, discipline and subdiscipline: NATURAL SCIENCES; Biology

Abstract

The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) program is an
international science and education program implemented by Croatian schools since 1995. The
program encourages schools to use standardized protocols to study the local environment and
enter the data into a global and publicly accessible database. The aim of this thesis was to
validate the GLOBE limnological data measured by several Croatian schools in terms of
accuracy, continuity and precision and to compare data from primary and secondary schools. I
used the GLOBE database to download data on five water parameters (water temperature,
dissolved oxygen, pH, electrical conductivity, and nitrates) for 15 hydrological study sites on
rivers and streams measured over a 10-year period (2010-2019). Compared to official
monitoring data, limnological data from GLOBE have higher temporal resolution and can
reveal trends and changes that are overlooked in official monitoring. Primary and secondary
schools showed almost the same level of continuity and precision. The pH and nitrate
measurements are the least precise and accurate GLOBE measurements of the five tested.
Limnological data collected from Croatian GLOBE schools can be used to analyse long-term
trends in rivers and streams, but with quality control to eliminate possible mismeasurements.

Abstract (english)

GLOBE (engl. Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment) program je
međunarodni znanstveni i edukacijski program koji hrvatske škole koriste u radu od 1995.
godine. Program potiče škole da uporabom standardnih protokola istražuju lokalne ekosustave
te unose podatke u globalnu i javno dostupnu bazu podataka. Cilj ovog diplomskog rada bio je
provesti validaciju limnoloških GLOBE podataka koje je prikupilo nekoliko hrvatskih GLOBE
škola, s obzirom na točnost, kontinuitet i preciznost te usporediti podatke osnovnih i srednjih
škola. Koristio sam GLOBE bazu podataka za preuzimanje podataka o pet limnoloških
čimbenika (temperatura vode, količina otopljenog kisika, pH, električna vodljivost i nitrati) za
15 hidroloških postaja na rijekama i potocima mjerenih tijekom 10-godišnjeg razdoblja (2010-
2019). U usporedbi sa službenim monitoringom, limnološki GLOBE podaci imaju veću
vremensku rezoluciju te mogu otkriti trendove i promjene koje se mogu previdjeti u službenom
praćenju. Osnovne i srednje škole pokazale su gotovo istu razinu kontinuiteta i preciznosti.
Mjerenja pH i nitrata su najmanje precizna GLOBE mjerenja od pet testiranih protokola.
Limnološki GLOBE podaci koje su prikupile škole u Hrvatskoj mogu se koristiti za analizu
dugoročnih (long-term) trendova u rijekama i potocima, ali uz kontrolu kvalitete podataka kako
bi se isključile greške u mjerenju.

• Keywords: GLOBE protocols; primary schools; secondary schools; rivers; streams
• Keywords (english): GLOBE protokoli; osnovne škole; srednje škole; rijeke; potoci
• Language: croatian
• URN:NBN: urn:nbn:hr:217:522872
• Study programme: Title: Experimental Biology; Study programme type: university; Study level: graduate; Academic / professional title: magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije (magistar/magistra eksperimentalne biologije)
• Type of resource: Text
• File origin: Born digital
• Access conditions: Open access; Embargo expiration date: 2024-09-29
• Created on: 2022-10-25 12:47:17