This activity describes the technique of preparing "GIS-ready" data and shows how to map that data and conduct basic analyses using a geographic information system (GIS). First, you will download and format near real-time and historical earthquake data from the USGS. Using latitude and longitude fields, you will then plot these data in a GIS. Next, you will analyze patterns by querying records and ... Full description.

The PALEOMAP Project illustrates the plate tectonic development of the ocean basins and continents, as well as the changing distribution of land and sea during the past 1100 million years. The reconstruction of paleoclimates is also discussed. Maps are viewed as animations where the time component can be user-manipulated. Included are a variety of background materials which supplement the animations. ... Full description.

This NASA site contains a wealth of information about hurricanes, including how they are created, how they move, and the dangers they pose. Also included are sections that deal with naming of hurricanes, hurricane hunters, a VR trip through a hurricane, satellite instrumentation, and a video of hurricane Andrew. Full description.

This set of resources for younger students includes activities and information on thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, blizzards and clouds: how they form, and how they impact our lives. There are games about clouds, stories about extreme weather events, and a set of activities in which students create simulations of various weather phenomena such as fog, clouds, tornadoes, and others. The 'Recipe ... Full description.

This is a Flash-based interactive tool kit. It allows users to watch real-time NASA satellite images of the Sun and Earth. A thumbnail viewer lets them explore and compare solar and terrestrial data from a variety of NASA missions and ground-based observatories. In addition, the viewer contains video interviews with scientists and other experts. Computer-generated visualizations and additional NASA ... Full description.

This activity introduces students to planetary research. Students learn to focus on details by studying and writing descriptions of uncaptioned images of the Solar System. They then increase their knowledge of the planets and their features by comparing their descriptions to those of real researchers. Students organize their findings to infer a key difference between inner and outer planets. Full description.

Students in this lesson will be introduced to the concept of tides and tidal forces. By viewing a related applet which visualizes the relationship between the Earth, moon and tides, students will gain an understanding of why the Earth experiences tides. In the process they are asked to observe and explain how the relative positions of Earth, the moon, and the sun are responsible for the moon phases, ... Full description.

This collection of imagery and visualizations is derived from the geosynchronous and polar orbiting environmental weather satellites administered by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA) National Environmental Satellite Data and Information Service. Other sources include the European Organization for the Exploitation of Meteorological Satellites (EUMETSAT) and The National Space ... Full description.

This special edition of the Star Witness, a science content reading selection, announced NASA?s plans for the final servicing mission (SM-4) to the Hubble Space Telescope. The story identified the hardware and instruments added to the telescope during the astronauts? visit. Discussion questions with answers, defined vocabulary terms and reading standards are included on a supplementary sheet for educators. ... Full description.

These videos introduce middle- and high school-age learners to the electromagnetic spectrum. The product consists of 8 animations including an introduction to electromagnetic waves and one animation for each wavelength of the EM spectrum (Radio, Microwave, Infrared, Visible, Ultraviolet, X-Rays and Gamma Rays). Each wavelength of the EM spectrum offers a construct to illustrate and teach about NASA ... Full description.