Many claims have been made about the evidence for or against global warming, yet whether the interpretation of the data points leans towards fact or fiction, a more descriptive term to use is global climate change. The most hard-hit area where global climate change is apparent is within the Arctic Circle. In this lesson, students will explore data from the Arctic, develop relationships between parameters ... Full description.

: This lesson plan uses Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) cloud data and a weather map to explore cloud coverage during a winter storm. When atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists, study weather patterns, they may use several different sources of information. For example, in studying storm patterns, they may use a combination of Earth Observing Satellite data, such as from ... Full description.

The purpose of this lesson is to use CERES radiation data to understand seasonal variations in the pattern of net energy input to the Earth system. The students will begin to understand how Earth's tilt causes seasonal differences in incoming solar energy. They will use the Live Access Server to investigate the Earth's radiation budget and map locations using latitude and longitude coordinates. Studentw ... Full description.

This lesson plan provides instructions for several activities for students to perform to study the relationship of temperature, pressure, relative humidity, and dew point in cloud formation. The lesson involves graphing of weather balloon data using a spreadsheet program. Full description.

In recent years more and more attention has been paid to the Earth's climate and how it is evolving. When studying hurricanes it is important to understand that, for a hurricane to grow, warm water is an absolute necessity. So if the Earth continues to warm, what does that mean for hurricanes and their intensity? In this lesson, the student will look at past hurricane data by researching the intensity ... Full description.

In this lesson, students will assume the role of a Department of Forestry Ranger one of whose major concerns is forest fires. Using NASA Surface Scene Type data (biomes) and Monthly Equivalent Water Thickness Land Mass Change Data from 2006, the students will determine areas at high risk for forest fire development. Full description.

El Nino and La Nina are important temperature fluctuations in surface waters of the tropical Pacific Ocean. In this lesson, students will create maps and line graphs of data to compare the effects of El Nino and La Nina at two different longitudinal locations, but at the same latitude, using sea surface temperature and precipitation from real satellite data. Full description.

This page describes El Nino and the Southern Oscillation and how they may contribute to severe weather and the destruction of sensitive ecosystems such as coral reefs. It features text, pictures, scientific illustrations, and links to satellite information and weather-related science activities. Full description.

This activity explores understanding the greenhouse effect through a lab experiment. The effect on the atmosphere is included too. Full description.

The site focuses on the responses of Antarctica and its sea ice to climate changes. Two experiments help illustrate what happens as water warms and how this warming could affect sea levels and low-lying coastal areas. Links to more detailed information are also provided. Full description.