This chapter describes the technique of preparing latitude-longitude based data so that it can be imported into a geographic information system (GIS). It describes the steps to create a map to display data and guides users through some basic geographic analyses. The focus of the chapter?s case study is earthquake prediction. Users download and format near real-time and historical earthquake data from ... Full description.

This resource covers components of the hydrologic (water) cycle. Although it is geared to high school level, middle school students could grasp the content with assistance from an instructor. Specific topics include the distribution and movement of water in the Earth system, such as evaporation, transpiration, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and ground water. Full description.

Discovering Plate Boundaries is based on 5 world maps containing earthquake, volcano, topography, satellite gravity, and seafloor age data. The novel aspect of the exercise is the "jigsaw" manner in which student groups access the maps and use them to discover, classify, and describe plate boundary types. The exercise is based only on observation and description, which makes it useful at a wide variety ... Full description.

This site contains a series of visualizations of the sun, moon and Earth System and how they relate to the changing face of the moon. Animations are in the form of Java applets, forms for field observation of the moon, and a collection of exercises and PDF versions of background material. There are practice questions and quizzes that discuss the animations. Full description.

Step-by-step instructions walk users through working with data from a seismic wave model in a freely available GIS (geographic information system) program, ESRI's ArcVoyager SE. Users generate and examine maps and produce graphs to explore variations in seismic wave velocities at depths of 28 and 100 km below Earth's surface. By examining and analyzing GIS-ready data, users visualize density changes ... Full description.

This guide provides instructions for educators on how to use sea ice data in the classroom. The data, from the National Snow and Ice Data Center (NSIDC), describe sea ice concentration and extent of coverage. Scientists use it to monitor changes in the concentration and coverage of ice in polar regions and to compare changes over time, such as loss of extent. Topics include temporal trends in sea ... Full description.

This guide instructs educators on the classroom use of earthquake data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) Earthquake Hazards Program. The data consist of locations, magnitudes, and times of earthquakes around the world. It is used by emergency response organizations and by scientists seeking to determine how earthquakes effect an area and whether seismic data can be used to predict future ... Full description.

This guide introduces teachers to the use of Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter (MOLA) data in the classroom. MOLA data is used to create global topographic maps of Mars and to provide information about properties such as surface roughness, elevation, cloud coverage, brightness, and water flow. This dataset consists of two years of altimetry data on Martian surface features; it can be used to teach Martian ... Full description.

This guide introduces educators to the classroom use of oceanographic data from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute (MBARI). MBARI provides near real-time, quality controlled data on surface and subsurface temperature and salinity; CO2 and O2 concentrations; and relative fluorescence, used by scientists to better understand the Monterey Bay ecosystem and draw parallels to the ocean as a whole. ... Full description.

This site contains a series of interactive web exercises to practice contouring. There are also explanations of what contouring and common isopleths are. The exercises involve contouring basics; working with real data, weather maps and ocean maps; and contouring potential temperatures in the Mediterranean. Full description.