What is Data SGP?

Data sgp is an R package that provides functions for performing Student Growth Percentile (SGP) analyses. It includes 4 examplar data sets that can be used to demonstrate the use of SGP functions. The first, sgpData, specifies data in the WIDE format that’s used by lower level SGP functions like studentGrowthPercentiles and studentGrowthProjections. The other two, sgpData_LONG and sgptData_LONG, specify data in the LONG format used by higher level SGP wrapper functions like abcSGP, prepareSGP, and analyzeSGP. These data sets include a number of demographic/student categorization variables that can be used to produce student aggregates.

The SGP project is currently working towards its first goal, which is to assemble or generate multi-proxy sedimentary geochemical data for every Paleozoic Epoch and roughly equivalent Neoproterozoic time slice. This is a large task that will involve the synthesis of existing data as well as major efforts to generate new geochemical data from ‘background’ intervals within the Paleozoic.

Located on 160 acres of cattle pasture and wheat fields, the SGP observatory is heavily instrumented with over 30 different instruments in a variety of different configurations. The observatory is staffed by ARM scientists and technicians who monitor continuous observations. Additionally, the observatory is home to a small group of scientists who perform guest experiments on site.

In addition to its role as an observational facility, the SGP site also serves as a platform for atmospheric modeling and simulations. The ARM team builds data sets that can be incorporated into large-eddy simulation (LES) models to provide context and a self-consistent representation of the atmosphere surrounding the observatory. This is a critical step in the process of assimilation of data into Earth system models.

This information will help the ARM science community address questions such as: How much does the SGP influence cloud formation, how does it affect air currents in the troposphere and stratosphere, and how does the SGP change with climate change?

The ARM Data Center makes all of this information available to the scientific community and to anyone who is interested in learning about the SGP. To access the data, visit the ARM Data Discovery page. The data sets are also available in the SGP Data Explorer. This tool allows users to create visualizations of the data and access additional information about each dataset.