This PDF document discusses a field activity for K-12 students. The purpose of the activity is to observe type and cover of clouds including contrails. Students will observe ten types of clouds and how many of three types of contrails are visible, how much of the sky is covered with clouds, and how much is covered by contrails. The PDF is an instructor guide with detailed advice for administering ... Full description.

Visitors to this site can read and view satellite imagery about the most recent La Nina event, which produced less-than-normal snowfalls in Western North America. A TOPEX/Poseidon image of the Pacific ocean illustrates the warmer water and higher-than-normal sea surface height in the Western Pacific which are characteristic of a La Nina event. A discussion of the uncertainties of long-range climate ... Full description.

This CD-ROM provides a detailed overview of the NASA CloudSat satellite, its mission, personnel, other satellites in the "A-Train," science and technology behind the mission, launch information, and program partners. It also contains educational activities, artwork, references and a glossary, as well as links to further information. Included are video clips of CloudSat scientists and other mission ... Full description.

This problem-based learning activity uses Hurricane Katrina as the context for students to conduct an Earth system analyses in order the answer the following questions: Are recent increases in the number and strength of hurricanes a result of an increased greenhouse effect and a warmer climate? Or are they the result of a natural cycle? Full description.

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.

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.

The Gulf Stream Voyage is an online multidisciplinary project which utilizes both real time data and primary source materials to help guide students to discover the science and history of the Gulf Stream. Students investigate the driving forces behind this ocean current, how it affects the Atlantic Ocean and some of mankind's experiences dealing with it. This voyage includes activities for marine ... Full description.

This lesson plan uses NASA satellite data to correlate cloud cover over Africa to the solar declination. The four seasons on Earth have a scientific basis. The Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees from vertical. This tilt and the Earth's orbit around the sun are the reasons for the seasons. Earth's tilt and orbital position cause differing angles at which the sun's rays hit the surface of the Earth. As Earth ... Full description.

This lesson plan uses NASA Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) instrument percent coverage surface data with a world map to locate landmasses and bodies of water at the Earth's Equator. When using satellites to study Earth system processes, especially atmospheric processes, it is important to know what is the background that one is seeing on the Earth. This lesson provides an introduction ... Full description.

Scientists have studied the physical properties of clouds and have developed instruments onboard satellites to characterize the types of clouds they see below. Some satellites have instruments that allow them to measure rainfall as well. For this lesson, students will hypothesize what types of clouds they believe will create the most precipitation (rainfall) over Nashville, TN. Students use the Live ... Full description.