This archive of climatic data houses both national and global datasets as part of the National Climatic Data Center's (NCDC) mission to describe the climate of the United States and to maintain records regarding trends and anomalies of weather and climate. Users may search the archive by data type, national or global coverage, and time period; or by resource type, such as satellite, radar, models, ... 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.

Watersheds are those land areas that catch rain or snow and drain to specific marshes, streams, rivers, lakes, or to ground water. This site allows users to locate their watershed by city, county, state, or region. Links provide information about stream flow, water use, conservation efforts, demographics, forest riparian habitats, science in your watershed, water discharges, and assessment of watershed ... Full description.

This learning system provides a variety of materials on Earth and space sciences, such as images, movies, animations, and data sets. Students, teachers, and the general public can access information on the sun and space weather, astronomy, our planet and solar system, current space missions, space-related mythology and art, and geology. For teachers, there are links to tools for navigating the site, ... Full description.

In this activity, students construct a model of the seafloor, prepare profiles, and learn how ocean depth is measured. A materials list, instructions, engagement and explanatory information, and a vocabulary list are included. Full description.

This illustration from an online textbook features a map showing the major ocean currents of the world. A set of links provides access to a study guide with glossary and test questions, additional readings, and links to related sites. Full description.

Users may learn about ocean currents and the role the oceans play in storing heat and influencing global climate. A special introductory section for teachers provides background information and links to classroom activities using the constructivist approach that demonstrate the mechanisms that drive the Gulf Stream, the Mediterranean Outflow, and the Great Ocean Conveyor Belt. For students, an interactive ... Full description.

In this activity, students create a model ocean over which "wind" will be blown, and observe the relationship between the wind and the resulting ocean surface currents. The activity reinforces the concept that surface currents in the ocean are mostly caused by wind. A materials list and instructions are provided, and links to a glossary are embedded in the text. Full description.

This document provides a brief description of the major currents and general circulation patterns of the world's oceans. Links to animations showing satellite imagery of ocean-surface topography and temperature are included. Links to references are embedded in the text. Full description.

Visitors can use sea surface temperature data to build animations that show seasonal and yearly fluctuations, and compare them to data from other selected months and years. The animations can be constructed in map or globe formats and may be viewed on the website or downloaded. Full description.