This article, from Earth: Inside and Out, takes a look at dendroclimatologists, scientists who study climate changes by examining the growth patterns of old trees. It introduces students to the work of Gordon Jacoby, a dendroclimatologist and co-founder of the Tree Ring Laboratory at Columbia University. The site explains the growth rate of trees and provides a picture of Earth's temperature changes. ... Full description.

Global Warming Art is an effort to collect and produce compelling graphs, figures and photos that accurately display scientific information relevant to the climate change debate. Emphasis is given to the consensus views held by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other major research organizations. One of the guiding principles of Global Warming Art is that this information should ... Full description.

This flow chart presents the climate classification system developed in the early 1900s by German climatologist and amateur botanist Wladimir Koppen. The system establishes six climate zones (denoted by letters) described in terms of average monthly temperature and precipitation. The outline also includes exmples of locations which are in a particular zone, controlling factors that contribute to the ... Full description.

This activity focuses upon El Nino/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and its effect on global weather. Students will investigate the correlation between ENSO and precipitation in different cities around the world. They should develop the understanding that ENSO is a climate event which starts in the tropical Pacific Ocean and affects atmospheric and oceanic conditions far beyond its point of origin. As ... Full description.

This collection of climate change graphics from Earth: Inside and Out is part of the museum's Seminars on Science series. The collection includes six visually rich graphics entitled Climate Records in the Ice Core, Changes in Climate, Time Spans over which Different Phenomena Affect Climate, Eruptions Recorded in the Ice, Year Without a Summer, and Global Warming. These graphics allow the student ... Full description.

Earth's different climate classifications are featured on this site. Introductory material on climatology and climate controls is presented, along with a classification of climatic zones that is divided according to latitude. For each classification there is an example graph of temperature and precipitation, a photograph of a typical location, and information on geographic distribution, characteristics, ... Full description.

This page features videos from the "Hot Planet- Cold Comfort" television episode, related website articles and a student activity. The videos explore how the Gulf Stream conveyor belt may shut down; how Arctic river runoff and Alaskan glacial melt are freshening the oceans; and how ocean sediments and ice cores are being studied to understand the Little Ice Age. The videos total approximately one ... Full description.

This interactive activity has elementary and younger middle school students investigate the causes and effects of periodic climate change. A fun crash course in El Nino is followed by a game in which students practice climate predictions. Kids who love the weather will be intrigued by this website, which investigates El Nino and the tools scientists use to monitor and predict the conditions that create ... Full description.

This short article from the Why Files discusses research that provides new evidence for a century-long warming trend. The research is based on records of lake and river ice melting and freezing dates over a 150-year period in the Northern Hemisphere. Researcher John Magnuson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison published his results in the journal Science. Full description.

This interactive teacher guide is part of NASA's Eyes on the Earth, which presents the latest climate information from NASA's Earth monitoring missions and research. It provides step-by-step instructions for six ways to use and initiate discussions about the NASA's Global Climate Change website in the classroom. Full description.