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My NASA Data Lesson Plan: Seasons and Cloud Cover: Are They Related? DLESE Reviewed Collection
http://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/Solar_Decl.html
From NASA Reviewed Collection
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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 rotates on its axis, the tilt and orbital position also cause fluctuating lengths of daylight during the year depending on latitude. The latitude on the Earth where the sun is directly overhead at solar noon is called the solar declination. This location is somewhere between 23.5 N and 23.5 S depending on the day of the year. This region defines the Tropics. Where solar radiation is most intense, the warm moist air rises and clouds are frequently formed. In this lesson, it will be shown that the location of these clouds tends to follow solar declination.
Intended for grade levels:
  • Intermediate (3-5)
  • Middle (6-8)
  • High (9-12)
Type of resource:
  • For the classroom:
    • Classroom activity
    • Computer activity
    • Case study
    • Lesson plan
    • Problem set
    • Project
  • Visual:
    • Illustration - artistic
    • Illustration - scientific
    • Imagery - remotely sensed
    • Map
    • Photograph
    • Visualization - scientific
  • Text:
    • Glossary
    • Abstract / Summary
  • Portal:
    • Educational
    • Government
  • Services:
    • Ask an expert
  • Dataset:
    • Modeled
    • Remotely sensed
  • Tools:
    • Software
  • Physical object
Subject:
  • Atmospheric science
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Climatology
  • Physics
  • Space science
  • Technology
Technical requirements:
No specific technical requirements, just a browser required
Cost / Copyright:
Cost information is not known
This product is free and clear for general use.
DLESE Catalog ID: NASA-ESERevProd649
Educational standards:
  • National Science Education Standards (NSES):
    • 5-8:
      • Unifying concepts and processes:
        • Evidence, models, and explanation
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
        • Understanding about scientific inquiry
      • B - Physical science:
        • Transfer of energy
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Earth in the solar system
      • E - Science and technology:
        • Abilities of technological design
        • Understandings about sci. / tech.
    • 9-12:
      • Unifying concepts and processes:
        • Evidence, models, and explanation
      • A - Science as inquiry:
        • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry
        • Understandings about scientific inquiry
      • D - Earth and space science:
        • Energy in the earth system
      • E - Science and technology:
        • Abilities of technological design
        • Understandings about science and technology
  • National Geography Standards:
    • Physical systems:
      • The physical processes that shape the patterns of Earth's surface
    • Places and regions:
      • The physical and human characteristics of places
    • The world in spatial terms:
      • How to use maps and other geographic representations, tools, and technologies to acquire, process, and report information
Resource contact / Creator / Publisher:
Contact: Lin H.
NASA LaRC