This DVD and Website contains NASA satellite image animations of several major wildland fires in the United States that occurred from October 2001 to September 2002, including the Hayman, Rodeo-Chediski, and Biscuit Fires. It also contains a recording of a NASA press conference during July 2003, which includes a panel discussion by several key researchers regarding how NASA data is used to help in ... Full description.

This 6-minute animation presents an overview of the cryosphere and how changes within the cryosphere can impact people and the environment. Remotely-sensed data from several instruments on NASA satellites are use to 1) illustrate the various components of the cryosphere (ice sheets, glaciers, icebergs, sea ice, snow, permafrost), 2) show how the cryosphere affects people living in mid-latitudes, not ... Full description.

The StarChild website, a service of the High Energy Astrophysics Science Archive Research Center (HEASARC)/NASA, offers a wealth of information on space science for young astronomers and teachers who are searching for space science activities for young learners. Each of these major topics are covered in an age appropriate manner, either for Level 1 or Level 2 learners: Solar System, Universe, Space ... Full description.

One of the deepest and most ancient lakes in the world, Lake Baikal is situated in the south of Eastern Siberia. Its age and complicated evolutionary history make it home to a wide variety of plants and animals. This site describes ecological problems, climatic conditions, geology, and cultural aspects of the region, and includes detailed maps and photographs. Portions of the site are translated into ... Full description.

This weather education website has been developed for kids, parents, and teachers from national TV meteorologist Nick Walker. Users can browse through his songs, definitions, weather proverbs, parent/teacher resources, and more. The site hosts an on-line weather basics book with information about clouds, thunder and lightning, precipitation, meteorology, snow, the Sun, air pressure, seasons, forecasting, ... Full description.

The El Niņo Southern Oscillation is a climatic cycle that is characterized by reduced easterly winds around the Pacific equator. Without these winds, warm water accumulates off the coast of South America and slowly spreads across the Pacific. Higher than normal temperatures, shown as orange and red in the animation, alter global precipitation, ocean and atmospheric circulation. Full description.

The La Niņa is the climatic antithesis of El Niņo. Whereas El Niņo created equatorial Pacific warming due to weak surface winds, La Niņa arises from very strong easterly winds that promote the upwelling of deep, cold waters to the surface of the ocean. These colder than average waters are visible in the animation as blue and purple colors. Like El Niņo, the La Niņa also alters global precipitations, ... Full description.

This animation shows three years of sea ice concentration data, as observed by the NASA QuikSCAT satellite. Notice how the North Pole ice minimum is at the opposite time of the year as the South Pole's. This difference is cause by the axis of Earth's rotation creating different seasons in the northern and southern hemispheres. Full description.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's polar-orbiting satellites (POES) have been collecting sea surface temperature data since 1985. This animation is a compilation of all of the data collected from POES from 1985-2006. Red colors indicate warm water, blue equals cold. Look for recurrent features such as the Gulf Stream, El Nino and La Nina, and seasonal changes in heat content. Full description.

This animation shows the global annual temperature anomalies from 1880 to the present. As also shown in the animated graph, the average temperature of the Earth has increased since 1880. Notice the rapid appearance of orange and red over the U.S. in the last 25 years, these are areas where the temperature is much warmer than usual. Full description.