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.

Students will use NASA Satellite data to analyze and understand ways of studying photosynthesis from space. They will assume the role of a park ranger at Shenandoah National Park and determine when the plants and trees at their top efficiency by analyzing when the plants are absorbing a majority of the light hitting them (within the photosynthetic range.) Full description.

From space, we can understand fires in ways that are impossible from the ground. New Earth-observing satellites capture the significant impact of fires on our planet. In this animation of fires around the globe in 2002, each red dot marks a new fire. Dots change color to yellow after a few days and to black when fires burn out. From brush fires in Africa to forest fires in North America, satellites ... Full description.

This website features the most complete set of astronaut photography of Earth from the beginning of human spaceflight in the 1960s to the digital photographs being downlinked daily from the International Space Station. The underlying database includes over 430,000 records in 2002, with new data added daily. The pages are maintained by the data source at NASA's Johnson Space Center and include search ... Full description.

This poster features remote-sensing images from NASA's Sea-viewing Wide Field-of-View Sensor (SeaWiFS). The teaching supplement augments the poster with descriptive summaries of the variety of geophysical phenomena that can be seen in each image. The supplement also includes a glossary of terms and a listing of URLs for additional information. Full description.

This book explains the Earth system using three concepts: 1.The cycles of matter; 2.The flows of energy; and 3.The web of life. It then applies these concepts to real-life problems and issues that affect us and our planet. Full description.

This brochure gives a brief overview of the Earth science research that is being done with data from the instruments onboard NASA's Terra spacecraft. Note: this brochure was produced before the Terra launched; for the most recent information, go to http://terra.nasa.gov/. Full description.

This book of 19 essays, written by Earth scientists, provides insight into the dynamic processes that shape the Earth. The essays are supported by case studies describing a range of research projects (including Looking for Life in Antarctica-and Mars, Mapping Mt. Rainer, and Mapping Hot Springs on the Deep Ocean Floor) and profiles of historically significant Earth scientists (Including Inge Lehmann, ... Full description.

People are demanding more of the goods, services, and amenities provided by the forests of the Pacific Northwest, but the finiteness of the supply has become clear. This issue involves complex questions of biology, economics, social values, community life, and federal intervention. Forests of the Pacific Northwest explains that economic and aesthetic benefits can be sustained through new approaches ... Full description.

The federal role in the management of nonfederal U.S. forests was once relatively simple: to assist in the prevention and control of wildfires. The administrative structure to carry out this role was similarly uncomplicated, with most programs under the aegis of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. In recent years, however, both the management and administrative landscapes have changed dramatically. ... Full description.