This activity explores the potential for climate variability and change to trigger more frequent occurrences of El Nino, and the impacts that could result. Designed to teach through scientific inquiry, the activity seeks to stimulate thought about the long-term impacts of a warmer planet. Through their participation in this activity, students will access information at remote sites using telecommunications, ... Full description.

This inquiry-based module includes a series of activities and experiments demonstrating the importance of feedbacks and the balance of mass and energy to how a system responds to change. Full description.

The National Weather and Climate Center presents snowpack data from snow courses and SNOTEL sites in the western United States as graphs and color-contoured maps. Historical and real-time data on depth of snowpack, snow-water-equivalence, and forecasts are available for individual sites and entire drainage basins. The site also includes information about how scientists collect SNOTEL data. Full description.

Joint US and France project, the TOPEX-Poseidon satellites continuously measures sea surface height. Oceans store and transport solar heat, helping to keep Earth's climate in balance. The overall shape of the oceans' "hills" and "valleys" is called ocean surface topography, or OST. Precise knowledge of OST is essential to predict the effects of catastrophic storms. Educational resources available ... Full description.

This resource ties together physical and biological aspects of ocean color for high school students. Specific sections discuss life in the oceans, the appearance of the ocean from space, phytoplankton (the little link in a big food chain), carbon (where does it go?), and the Earth as a giant greenhouse. There are also activities that accompany these lessons. Full description.

These activities explain the management of ground water resources using a balanced approach, focusing on interdependencies in the environment. All activities can be performed using readily available materials. Fact sheets, reference materials, and a glossary of terms are provided. The activities cover such topics as groundwater basics, movement of water in aquifers, recharge and discharge, how a well ... Full description.

Temperature changes in surface water may affect the solubility of substances and affect ecosystems by increasing plant growth, which in turn, decreases the amount of dissolved oxygen available for animals. In this activity, students measure and compare the temperature of water in various zones of a river, stream, pond, or lake. A materials list, instructions, discussion questions, and a printable ... Full description.

In this lesson plan, students will learn about the potential threat posed by icebergs, particularly the enormous icebergs that have broken away from Antarctica's Ronne Ice Shelf. They will research a news article and various web sites (links are provided) to collect information about icebergs, discuss what icebergs are and where they are found, and brainstorm a list of potential problems that could ... Full description.

These lessons help students develop a better understanding of the importance of well-managed water use while exploring the concepts of a watershed, land use, aquifers, and water engineering. The material focuses on the historical water use decision affecting the Owens River Valley in California. Materials lists, procedures, assessment recommendations, and extension ideas are provided. Links to additional ... Full description.

This module offers students the opportunity to analyze and qualitatively compare the inorganic ion content and pH of different sources of local drinking water. The students collect, organize, graph, and analyze quantitative data showing the uses of groundwater in their state. They will read, summarize, and discuss news articles about the emerging impact of merchant power plants on groundwater resources. ... Full description.