BROOKINGS — On April 8, six cadets from the Big Sioux Composite Squadron in Brookings spent the day collecting solar eclipse data for NASA. Readings were taken every 10 or 15 minutes from 11 a.m. until 5:20 p.m. depending on the parameter.

Data collected included air temperature, wind speed, wind direction, precipitation, cloud cover, cloud type, land cover and VHF radio interference. The measurements that were collected are important for scientists studying the effects of solar eclipses on weather and VHF radio operations.

Cadets who participated in the solar eclipse mission included C/Chief Master Sgt. Tyson Springman, C/Senior Airman Kaeden Kalber, C/Airman Isaac Haufschild, C/Airman Josiah Thomas, C/Airman Basic Atwood Ahmann, and C/Airman Basic Roland Risty. Senior members assisting included Major Tyler Gross, Second Lt. Deb Springman, and Flight Officer Simon Risty.

The Globe Observer app was an integral part of data collection. In the weeks before the eclipse, cadets learned about eclipses, familiarized themselves with data collection equipment, and practiced a mock eclipse using the Globe Observer app to prepare for the event.

Cadets used Globe Observer along with field data sheets to document the readings they collected. Globe Observer is a citizen science app that can be used by volunteers to document the environment using their devices (i.e. iPhone, iPad).

The data collected aids scientists in interpreting satellite data collected from space.

Cadets collected data simultaneously with 284 other Civil Air Patrol squadrons from 52 Civil Air Patrol Wings located across 50 states and two U.S. territories.

To learn more about the Brookings Big Sioux Composite Squadron, visit https://bigsioux.cap.gov/ or contact First Lt Jacob Roth, squadron commander, at jacob.roth@sdwg.cap.gov.