Interpreting Infrared (IR) Imagery explains how radiometers are used in satellite meteorology including such topics as the types of radiometers, and how they capture and present images. An interactive exercise provides an introduction to interpreting satellite weather images typically seen on evening news programs. Users can "adjust" the air temperature (and cloud altitude) and surface temperature ... Full description.

This applet explores how the thickness of a cloud changes the way it looks from a satellite. The image is in the visible part of the spectrum, and the radiant energy is a function of not just temperature, as in the case of infrared images. The cloud thickness, its effective brightness, and the surface temperature can be modified while observing the satellite image. Full description.

This applet explores how the thickness of a cloud changes the way it looks from a satellite, as well as how modifying the surface characteristics (ground cover type) alters the brightness of the scene. Students may alter cloud thickness and vary the ground cover to include snow/ice, forests, oceans and crops. Full description.

In this demonstration, an overhead projector, diffraction grating, and a series of filters are used to introduce the basic concepts of the visible electromagnetic spectrum and the relationship between wavelength and absorption of light. The overhead projector is used to project the spectrum from the diffraction grating on the board or wall. A series of colored filters are used to filter the light ... Full description.

This applet provides a simulation of the type of precipitation that results from adjusting the temperature (dry bulb and wet bulb) at different altitudes. An updraft in the cloud can be produced in order to see its influence on precipitation. The precipitation types that are simulated include snowflakes/ice crystals, supercooled droplets, raindrops, drizzle, sleet, snow grains, and freezing rain or ... Full description.

This applet enables the user to create snowflakes from different crystals by choosing different temperature zones within a cloud. The crystal grows with each click of the mouse. Moving the mouse to a new temperature zone adds on a new layer. Full description.

In this activity students use a variety of windchill charts to determine how cold the temperature feels versus how cold it really is. Students experiment with cooling due to evaporation with and without wind. Students tie their knowledge of wind chill to understanding the impact of cold and wind in the polar environment and prevention of dangerous conditions. Students will graph and present their ... Full description.

The Solar Physics Group of Marshall Space Flight Center's (MSFC) Space Science Department is composed of scientists involved in various studies of the physics of the Sun. This site contains information about the NASA missions and projects worked on by the Solar Physics Group. It also contain a series of pages describing the study of the sun, solar structure, solar features, and the sun in action. ... Full description.

This reference page serves as a precursor to an activity on fusion reactions within stars. It explains that in the evolutionary path of high mass stars, once stars are five times or more massive than our Sun they reach the red giant phase and, being unstable, they progress from red giant to supernova. While many of the more common elements are made through nuclear fusion in the cores of stars, it ... Full description.

In this Why Files article, the world of infrared is explained and described for both its properties and its uses. This article explains where infrared lies on the electromagnetic spectrum, and how we use these waves. It also discusses the future of using infrared, such as in cars to detect animals along roadsides. Pluto and its moon Charon are used as an example to show how observing planets in infrared ... Full description.