Digital Library for Earth System Education
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Flash Flood Processes
No full textAccording to NOAA's National Weather Service, a flash flood is a life-threatening flood that begins within 6 hours--and often within 3 hours--of a causative event. That causative event can be intense rainfall, the failure of a dam, levee, or other structure that is impounding water, or the sudden rise of water level associated with river ice jams. Educational levels: Graduate or professional
Sea Surface Temperature Trends of the Gulf Stream
No full textOne of the most studied and important ocean currents of the world lies along the eastern coast of the United States and is called the Gulf Stream. It derives its name from its source region of warm water in the Gulf of Mexico. For the past two decades, scientists have been collecting sea surface temperature (SST) data from satellites, buoys and ships in the Gulf Stream and Atlantic Basin. In this three-part lesson, students will explore the Live Access Server (LAS) and produce plots of sea surface temperature. They then prepare a time series of data for particular location(s) on the Gulf Stream and use Excel to produce and analyze graphs of sea surface temperature. The lesson provides detailed procedure, related links, sample graphs, follow-up questions, extensions, and teacher notes. Educational levels: Middle school, High school
Supporting Military Emergency Response During Hazardous Releases
No full textThis module is primarily intended for AFWA and other military forecasters. It explains the basics of how hazardous materials are dispersed in the atmosphere and how emergency responders and others model the transport and impact of the materials. The goal is to acquaint forecasters with the inputs needed for modeling and to encourage them to be proactive in providing their site-specific knowledge to improve dispersion predictions. Educational levels: Graduate or professional
The Groundwater Story
No full textThis animated cartoon teaches younger students about the importance of groundwater and the need to protect this hidden resource. The cartoon emphasizes that the Earth's supply of water is finite, is repeatedly cycled, and is susceptible to contamination from human activity. Educational levels: Primary elementary, Intermediate elementary
The Scientific Process
No full textMany scientists study objects and events that they cannot observe directly. But through extensive sampling, observation, and analysis, scientists are able to construct a plausible series of explanations to describe subjects ranging from the birth of our solar system to the lives of extinct creatures. For example, paleontologists work to unravel the stories of our past through the collection and analysis of fossil evidence. In this lesson, students explore how they can learn about events that have occurred in the past by using the scientific process. They make observations, develop a hypothesis, and use evidence to test their hypothesis to see how well it holds up in light of the evidence they have. Educational levels: Middle school
Aura Ozone Monitoring Garden Lithograph
Get PDFThis lithograph describes where ozone is found, how it is formed, and the effects of ozone on biological processes. How and why NASA studies ozone is covered along with how individuals can monitor ground level (tropospheric) ozone by starting their own ozone-monitoring garden. Educational levels: Middle school, High school
Active Galaxies Pop-up book
No full textThis large pop-up book with foldouts contains a 3D model of an active galaxy with jets that pops up out of the center. Active galaxies, a major scientific target for the GLAST mission (renamed Fermi in 2008),contain super-massive black holes at their cores, and sometimes emit jets of particles and light. One foldout contains explanatory information for the parts of the galaxy depicted in the central pop-up, as well as a glossary, while the other contains a classroom activity, the "Tasty Active Galaxy." The back of the book features a cartoon story: "How the Galaxy Got Its Jets." Educational levels: Intermediate elementary, Middle school
MY NASA DATA: Aruba Cloud Cover Measured by Satellite
No full textThis lesson is designed to help students gain knowledge in graphing a microset of data, then using the graphs to investigate the relationship between volcanic activity and the presence of atmospheric aerosols. The lesson provides detailed procedure, related links and sample graphs, follow-up questions and extensions, and Teacher Notes. Educational levels: Middle school, General public
MY NASA DATA Lesson Plan: Storm Clouds-Fly over a Late Winter Storm onboard a NASA Earth Observing Satellite
No full text: This lesson plan uses Clouds and Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES) cloud data and a weather map to explore cloud coverage during a winter storm. When atmospheric scientists, including meteorologists, study weather patterns, they may use several different sources of information. For example, in studying storm patterns, they may use a combination of Earth Observing Satellite data, such as from CERES, or NOAA weather satellite imagery, and geographical tools to determine locations and paths of storms. As one part of the training to analyze this data and imagery, scientists look at 'case studies' such as the late winter storm shown in the weather satellite imagery included with the lesson. An infrared satellite image looks at the temperature. Cold things (like high clouds) are very bright. Warm things (like Mexico and Florida) are dark. The imagery can be compared to data collected by other satellites, so that improved models of storm patterns can be developed. Educational levels: High school, Middle school
Cosmic Questions Educator's Guide
Get PDFThis educator's guide contains activities relating to the Cosmic Questions national traveling exhibit's theme, our place in space and time-and information about the exhibit. Although the guide complements a museum visit, activities can be used independently from the exhibit. Educational levels: Middle school, High school