Alternative Text Description for GLOBE Observer Mosquito Observations

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays mosquito observations submitted by participatory scientists to the GLOBE Observer Mosquito Habitat Mapper application in Florida from 2017 to 2024. The observations represent locations where community members documented mosquito presence or mosquito habitat through NASA's Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program. The map shows the geographic distribution of citizen science contributions related to mosquito monitoring across the state over an eight-year period.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map encompasses the entire state of Florida, extending from the panhandle in the northwest near Dothan to the Florida Keys in the south. Major cities labeled on the map include Jacksonville in the northeast, Tallahassee in the north-central region, Gainesville in north-central Florida, Orlando in the central region, Tampa and St. Petersburg on the west coast, Palm Bay and Palm Coast on the east coast, Cape Coral on the southwest coast, and Port St. Lucie on the southeast coast. The map shows Florida bordered by the Gulf of America to the west and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Notable protected areas labeled include Apalachicola National Forest in the panhandle, Everglades National Park in the southern portion, Dry Tortugas National Park west of the Keys, and Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge in the southern Keys.

KEY INSIGHTS

Mosquito observations are concentrated in several distinct geographic clusters across Florida. The highest density of observations occurs in three primary areas: the greater Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area on the central west coast, the Orlando metropolitan area in central Florida, and the Cape Coral region on the southwest coast. Secondary concentrations appear in the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area in southeast Florida and around Jacksonville in the northeast. The northern panhandle and much of north-central Florida show relatively sparse observation coverage. Coastal regions, particularly along the Gulf of America coast and in southern Florida, show more observation activity than interior portions of the state. The distribution pattern suggests that observation density correlates with urban population centers rather than representing a uniform sampling across the state's geography.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

GLOBE Observer Mosquito Observations

This layer represents individual locations where participatory scientists submitted mosquito observations through the GLOBE Observer mobile application between 2017 and 2024.

Mosquito Observation Points (orange circles with white centers)

Appearance:

Each observation is represented by an orange circular symbol with a white center, creating a ring-like appearance. The symbols are uniform in size throughout the map.

Distribution:

Observation points are distributed statewide but with significant geographic clustering. The densest concentrations appear in urbanized coastal areas, particularly along the Gulf of America coast and in southeast Florida.

Notable locations:

The Tampa-St. Petersburg area shows the highest concentration with numerous overlapping symbols. Orlando displays a prominent cluster in central Florida. Cape Coral exhibits dense clustering on the southwest coast. Jacksonville, Gainesville, and the Palm Bay area show moderate concentrations. The Miami metropolitan area and Florida Keys display scattered observations extending to the southernmost points of the state.

Spatial patterns:

Observations form distinct urban clusters with connecting corridors of sparser observations between major metropolitan areas. Coastal regions show greater observation density than interior areas. The northern half of Florida, particularly the panhandle and north-central regions, shows markedly fewer observations than the central and southern portions of the state. Individual observations become more isolated in rural areas, while urban centers show overlapping symbols indicating multiple observations in close proximity.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map represents community-contributed data collected through a mobile application, meaning the distribution of observations reflects both mosquito habitat locations and the geographic distribution of program participants. Areas with more observations may indicate either higher mosquito activity, greater citizen science participation, or both. Areas with few or no observations do not necessarily indicate absence of mosquitoes but rather may reflect lower participation in the GLOBE Observer program. The observations were contributed by participants over an eight-year period from 2017 through 2024, representing a cumulative view of citizen science engagement with mosquito monitoring rather than a snapshot of current mosquito populations.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This dataset was downloaded from NASA's Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program, which collects observations submitted by participatory scientists worldwide through the GLOBE Observer mobile application. The data was processed in collaboration with the Geospatial Digital Informatics Lab at the University of Florida and the GeoPlan Center. Data source layer name: GLOBE_MHM_2024.

Definition Query:

The original global dataset was spatially filtered to include only observations within Florida and temporally filtered to include observations from 2017 through the end of 2024.

Scale Information:

The map is displayed at a statewide scale showing the entire state of Florida, appropriate for viewing broad geographic patterns in observation distribution across major metropolitan areas and regions.

Coordinate System:

NAD_1983_HARN_Florida_GDL_Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

Data collection period spans from 2017, when mosquito observations began being recorded in the GLOBE Observer program, through the end of 2024.

Limitations:

The distribution of observations reflects participant activity and may not represent actual mosquito population density or habitat distribution. Areas without observations may have mosquitoes but lack program participants. The dataset represents volunteer-contributed data and may have varying levels of accuracy, completeness, and geographic coverage. Urban areas with larger populations and greater smartphone usage are more likely to have higher observation counts regardless of actual mosquito prevalence.

Map Coverage:

The map covers the entire state of Florida from the panhandle region in the northwest to the Florida Keys in the south, including portions of adjacent states (Georgia and Alabama) and surrounding waters (Gulf of America and Atlantic Ocean) for geographic context.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.