Earth's orbit around the Sun, together with the tilt of its axis, results in periodic climate changes around the globe known as seasons. Different locations experience different types of climate changes. For example, some places have extreme seasonal changes in temperature, while others have little temperature change but may have rainy and dry seasons. This interactive feature explains why Earth experiences ... Full description.

In this activity students investigate the role of the Ultraviolet Imager on the Image for Magnetopause-to-Auroral Global Exploration (IMAGE) satellite. They will experiment with color filters and discover that the sun's light can be broken into many colors through the use of a spectrograph. They will also learn that certain wavelengths of energy are not visible to our eyes, and that highly specialized ... Full description.

Our Sun is an ordinary star; however, as our own star, it holds special status for us and is essential to our existence. The Sun's gravity holds the solar system together, and nuclear fusion within the Sun supplies the energy for life on Earth. Without the Sun, Earth would be a drastically different place. This video segment presents some basic facts about our Sun. Topics include its size and heat ... Full description.

In this activity, students investigate the presence of magnetic fields around magnets, the sun and the earth. They will explore magnetic field lines, understand that magnetic lines of force show the strength and direction of magnetic fields, determine how field lines interact between attracting and repelling magnetic poles, and discover that the earth and sun have magnetic properties. They will also ... Full description.

In this lesson, students explore different aspects of solar energy by building a solar hot box and testing various colors and materials to find the maximum temperature that can be reached. They will review the basic needs for alternative energy sources, identify three materials and colors that will produce maximum heat, and solve a design problem for the hot box. Full description.

The transfer of energy between Earth's surface and the atmosphere causes all weather. Energy can be transferred through three main processes: convection, conduction, and radiation. This video explains the differences between tropical convective cloud systems formed over land and those formed over oceans. The segment is one minute nine seconds in length. A background essay and discussion questions ... Full description.

This tour of auroral phenomena utilizes research images and taped interviews with scientists. Diagrams and text provide background on qualitative magneto-dynamics, and locations of auroral zones on the Earth. Variations in color are used to introduce ideas about spectroscopy. This activity will familiarize students with auroral phenomena and where they appear on the Earth's surface, relate auroras ... Full description.

At this site the question and answer format is used to provide information about the Earth's magnetic field. Frequently asked questions are linked to detailed answers. Along with standard questions about the magnetic poles and how a compass works, there are sections about geomagnetic models, Space Weather Scales and magnetic field reversals. Links lead to a site to download the latest model as well ... Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe website provides information and images about Earth's magnetic field (the magnetosphere), including detailed information about the aurora borealis, magnets, and solar wind. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging website that ... Full description.

This section of the Windows to the Universe web site provides information and images about Pluto including detailed information about surface, interior, ice, atmosphere, and its moon. Windows to the Universe is a user-friendly learning system pertaining to the Earth and Space sciences. The objective of this project is to develop an innovative and engaging web site that spans the Earth and Space sciences ... Full description.