The 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center (TERC) has launched a new smartphone app, 鈥淐itizen Science Tahoe,鈥 that encourages beach-goers of all ages to tap in what they see at Lake Tahoe鈥攐bservational data that will be shared with the scientists to better understand conditions around the lake.
The app, available for download at , was programmed by Shahzeb Khan, a 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis freshman studying computer science who won a 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis-wide competition for the best app proposal.
鈥淲orking on the app and solving problems has been a fun challenge,鈥 said Khan. 鈥淐ollaborating with TERC has also been a great work experience.鈥
Just 鈥榞o to the beach鈥
Citizen scientists can help lake researchers by taking a few minutes to enter what they see at the beach, from algae to wildlife. Each observation automatically records the user鈥檚 location and the date and time. Users can also add photos and their own comments, and they earn points for every observation made.
Science needs both sides of the story, so users are encouraged to report on what is good at the beach as well as anything that indicates problems, such as algae, shells, or litter.
This perceptual data will help lake researchers better understand Lake Tahoe鈥檚 fragile nearshore, the region of the lake we experience the most, but, surprisingly, know the least about. Scientists will compare this data with data from a growing network of real-time sensors to gain a larger view of what鈥檚 going on in the nearshore. As the number of 鈥渃rowd-sourced鈥 observations increases, new information and trends will be discovered.
鈥淭here are aspects of water and ecological quality that depend solely on the perceptions of individuals,鈥 said Geoff Schladow, director of the 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center. 鈥淭hat is what this app is seeking to measure from everywhere around the lake at all times of year. If you want to contribute to science at Lake Tahoe, simply go to the beach鈥.
Data from the app and the sensors will be available through a science center exhibit currently under development. The future 鈥淟ake Tahoe Conditions鈥 exhibit, developed by 新澳门六合彩内幕信息 Davis TERC and funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services and North Lake Tahoe Resort Association/Placer County, will explore trends related to lake level, temperature, water color, water clarity, algae, and more.
Viewing the real-time data from around the shore of Lake Tahoe, visitors will be able to explore how conditions are changing over time and at different locations around the lake.
Media Resources
Kat Kerlin, Research news (emphasis on environmental sciences), 530-750-9195, kekerlin@ucdavis.edu