This video describes the joint NASA-JAXA GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) satellite mission …
This video describes the joint NASA-JAXA GPM (Global Precipitation Measurement) satellite mission and why it is necessary for monitoring precipitation around the Earth. It discusses the science around the hazards of extreme precipitation such as landslides and drought. It emphasizes the value of comprehensive datasets and their ability to help predict natural disasters.
This video shows some of the most dramatic fluctuations to our cryosphere …
This video shows some of the most dramatic fluctuations to our cryosphere in recent years, using visuals created with a variety of satellite-based data.
Using real data from NASA's GRACE satellites, students will track water mass …
Using real data from NASA's GRACE satellites, students will track water mass changes in the U.S., data that measures changes in ice, surface and especially groundwater. The background information includes an animated video about where water exists and how it moves around Earth, as well as short video clips to introduce the GRACE mission and explain how satellites collect data. Students will estimate water resources using heat-map data, create a line graph for a specific location, then assess trends and discuss implications.
This activity illustrates the importance of water resources and how changes in climate are closely linked to changes in water resources. The activity could fit into many parts of a science curriculum, for example a unit on water could be connected to climate change.
In this lesson, students collect outdoor observational data to create a song …
In this lesson, students collect outdoor observational data to create a song about climate change. Intermediate music students will not only earn a greater appreciation for Alaska, but also for nature. These activities help students to learn how to use sound and sight maps in order to identify aspects of our region in Southeast Alaska. In addition, students learn about the basic concepts of climate change in order to write creative lyrics for songs for the entire school. At the end of the unit, students perform their unique songs in a school wide assembly.
Although written for Alaska, the lesson could easily be adapted for many other locations.
This video describes the role that dendrochronology plays in understanding climate change, …
This video describes the role that dendrochronology plays in understanding climate change, especially changes to high elevation environments at an upper tree line. Dendrochronologists from the Big Sky Institute sample living and dead trees, describe how correlations between trees are made, and explain how tree cores record climate changes.
This activity describes the flow of carbon in the environment and focuses …
This activity describes the flow of carbon in the environment and focuses on how much carbon is stored in trees. It goes on to have students analyze data and make calculations about the amount of carbon stored in a set of trees at three sites in a wooded area that were to be cut down to build a college dormitory.
This tribal climate tool provides maps, graphs and reports that summarize projected …
This tribal climate tool provides maps, graphs and reports that summarize projected changes in climate for specific tribes in the Pacific Northwest and Great Basin.
Students use real satellite data to determine 1) where the greatest concentrations …
Students use real satellite data to determine 1) where the greatest concentrations of aerosols are located during the course of a year in the tropical Atlantic region and 2) their source of origin. This is an inquiry-style lesson where students pull real aerosol data and attempt to identify trends among data sets.
This video profiles glaciologist Lonnie Thompson and his research into tropical mountain …
This video profiles glaciologist Lonnie Thompson and his research into tropical mountain glaciers as a way to understand climate history. Beginning in the 1970s, Thompson recognized that tropical ice cores contain information relating to tropical climate phenomena, including El NiÃo events and monsoons. These phenomena are not archived in ice from polar regions. Thompson explains that his archive of ice cores is full of clues that, taken together with records collected from around the world, can help scientists create a timeline that tells Earth's climate story.
This activity has students examine the misconception that there is no scientific …
This activity has students examine the misconception that there is no scientific consensus on climate change. Students explore temperature data and report their conclusions to the class. Then students examine techniques of science denial and examine a claim about scientific consensus.
Climate has varied in the past, but today's climate change rate is …
Climate has varied in the past, but today's climate change rate is much more drastic due to human activity. Students explore past climate cycle graphs and compare the cycles with the current rate of change.
Students analyze complex real-world problems by specifying qualitative and quantitative criteria and …
Students analyze complex real-world problems by specifying qualitative and quantitative criteria and constraints for solutions that account for societal needs and wants. This place-based activity discusses multiple strategies to reduce carbon emissions, and realistic paths to preventing climate change.
This narrated slideshow describes the impact of sea level rise on Tuvalu, …
This narrated slideshow describes the impact of sea level rise on Tuvalu, one of the low-lying island nations in the South Pacific. As the frequency and intensity of floods and cyclones increases, the island is shrinking and saltwater intrusion is affecting local food production on the plantations. As a result, many residents are moving off the island to New Zealand, where they face major cultural changes.
This visualization is a website with an interactive calculator that allows for …
This visualization is a website with an interactive calculator that allows for estimation of greenhouse gas production from croplands in the United States.
This is a real-time map of current drought conditions in the US, …
This is a real-time map of current drought conditions in the US, which can be zoomed to the state level, with access to many more resources at that level. Some of these include the National Drought Regional Summaries and animations of historical data.
This animation displays the relative importance of energy sources in the US …
This animation displays the relative importance of energy sources in the US from 1805 to present, by fuel and sector, as measured in watts per capita. The interactive also shows the changes in energy sources and use over the past 200 years in the U.S. Features of the visualization include allowing the user to view the data while switching between timeline and clickable milestone events.
In this intermediate Excel activity, students import US Historical Climate Network mean …
In this intermediate Excel activity, students import US Historical Climate Network mean temperature data into Excel from a station of their choice. They are then guided through the activity on how to use Excel for statistical calculations, graphing, and linear trend estimates. The activity assumes some familiarity with Excel and graphing in Excel.
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