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The Earth Explorers Series

Who Are NASA's Earth Explorers? The elementary school student questioning if El Nino occurs anywhere besides the Pacific Ocean... The researcher investigating connections between Arctic ozone depletion and global climate change... The consumer comparing hydrocarbon versus hydrogen-powered cars... And the business person projecting future needs for harvest, delivery, and storage of crops... All of these people are Earth Explorers -- they are all connected by their curiosity about Earth system processes. This monthly series will introduce you to NASA Earth Explorers, young and old, with a variety of backgrounds and interests.

The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) maintains an Earth Explorers topic index for educators, students and others who want to browse articles by subject. IGES is a nonprofit organization that works with NASA's Science Mission Directorate to provide educational Earth and space science content for the NASA portal.

Current Articles

Lucy McFadden goes on an Antarctic adventure 02.24.09 - A Dream Come True
Lucy McFadden goes on an Antarctic adventure.

For Educators: All Levels
For Students: K-4 | 5-8

CUBAnauts Operation Deep Climb 11.04.08 - The Scoop on SCUBAnauts
Operation Deep Climb takes students deep down into the ocean and to the top of a tall mountain.

For Educators: All Levels
For Students: K-4 | 5-8

Small robot used to study subzero settings from warmer confines. 05.13.08 - Robotic Rovers to the Rescue
Derrick Lampkin is designing suitcase-sized machines to help scientists study subzero settings from warmer confines.

For Educators: All Levels
For Students: K-4 | 5-8

Four girls stand with their teacher and hold their award certificates 01.03.08 - Snow Day
A science project takes Ohio middle school students to South Africa.

For Educators: All Levels
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education
Phil Christensen stands in front of a rocket 09.12.07 - Like Mars, Like Earth
Students help Phil Christensen compare rocks from Earth and Mars.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education
Robert Bindschadler 08.27.07 - The Chills and Thrills of Ice
Robert Bindschadler enjoys the risks and rewards of visiting the world's coldest climates.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education
Lissa Lyncker stands in knee-deep water as her boat floats in the background 05.02.07 - After Katrina, a Story of Survival and Science
Life and science go on in and around Lake Pontchertrain.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Higher Education
A large black-and-white bird with a red crest on its head clings to the side of a tree 12.05.06 billed Woodpecker
A bird's-eye view aids search for a bird once thought extinct.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Picture of a hand pouring water from a glass container into a tray of plants 07.27.06 Signs of Science
Sign language, fieldwork and technology help explain Earth to the hard-of-hearing.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Large stone buildings on top of a grassy hill 03.30.06 Making Sense of the Mayan Collapse
Remote sensing reveals secrets of the past and prevents mistakes in the present.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
A painting of wispy clouds in a red, orange and blue sky 12.01.05 Masterpiece of the Sky
Both as a scientist and as an artist, Graeme Stephens strives to paint an accurate picture of clouds.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
A diver hovers over a bed of seagrass as she scuba dives near the ocean floor 10.06.05 Equal to the Task
In math and science, oceanographer Heidi Dierssen says women are as capable as men.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Adam Greenbaum sitting at a computer 08.18.05 Seeing Green
Students and scientists warm up to studying the cooling effects of green roofs.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Sean Triplett 07.14.05 In the Line of Fire
When it comes to fighting fires, water and manpower are important. But so are satellites and computers.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Picture of Diane Evans sitting on top of a sand dune 06.16.05 Bringing Space Down to Earth
Diane Evans works to ensure that space technology also has a role here on Earth.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
A harp seal 05.12.05 Turtles, Dolphins and Seals, Oh My!
Students are hot on the trail of migrating land and marine animals.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Adam Johnson studying the land in Ghana 04.07.05 Into Africa
Science and history come together for Coppin State researchers visiting Ghana.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Lee-Lueng Fu sitting at a computer 03.10.05 Judging the Ocean by Its Cover
Satellites have provided NASA's Lee-Lueng Fu an ocean of data to work with.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Teacher Mr. Moore stands to the left of a student poster project showing various satellite images of different locations as a student stands to the right of the project 02.17.05 It Takes a Village
Tomorrow's scientists discover the importance of international cooperation and communication.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Erica Holloman 01.20.05 World of Opportunity
Two young women are finding their places in the science world.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Students studying their GLOBE cloud charts 12.09.04 When Bad Things Happen to Good Students
An Iowa town offers support after vandals damage school's weather equipment and steal the thermometer.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
A 14-year-old blind boy named Steven is digging in a container of soil at the Maryland Science Center 11.11.04 Opening Blind Eyes to Science
Blind-friendly tools allow students to explore Earth in nonvisual ways.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Carlos Del Castillo stands on a boat holding a metal pole over the water 10.14.04 The Path That Nearly Wasn't Followed
After conquering seasickness, NASA's Carlos Del Castillo receives presidential award for exploring the oceans.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Several children gathered around and looking at a large globe 09.09.04 Starting Young
Think middle and high school students are too young for serious science? Think again.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Photograph of Abigail 08.05.04 With One Eye on the Sky
Abigail is continuing a family tradition of exploration and discovery.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8
For Students: K-4 | 5-8
Photograph of Dyuti Sengupta using a handheld computer to mark the location of tamarisk 08.05.04 A DEVELOPing Story
Students with NASA's DEVELOP program are helping community leaders tackle important environmental problems.

For Educators: 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: 9-12 | Post Secondary
Photograph of Anne Douglass 07.08.04 Meet More Aura Scientists
NASA is set to launch the Aura satellite. Meet more scientists who have made this mission possible.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: 9-12 | Post Secondary
Pieternel Levelt riding a bike 06.10.04 Meet the EOS Aura Team
NASA's Aura spacecraft is about to lift off. Earth Explorers introduces you to some of the scientists who have made this mission possible.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Picture of Robbie Hood 05.06.04 Flying Through Hurricanes with Robbie Hood
This month's NASA Earth Explorer explains what it's like to be face-to-face with one of nature's most powerful storms.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Harry Swan sitting at a computer 04.08.04 Exploring Earth with EarthKAM
It's true! Student explorers control camera on International Space Station.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Lauren Banister 03.11.04 Women Earth Explorers
Earth Explorers celebrates Women's History Month.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Marshall Shepherd 02.19.04 African American Earth Explorers
A scientist, a college student and middle schoolers share their thoughts on becoming NASA Earth Explorers.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Picture of Tom Nolan 01.22.04 Tom Nolan's Excellent Adventure
Once a dolphin show trainer, Tom Nolan is now a NASA Earth Explorer.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary | Informal
For Students: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
Gianna D'Emilio and Chris Hanawalt Taking Aerosol Measurements 12.18.03 The Globe Program: Science in the Sunshine
A team of students traveled to Croatia to present its findings.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12
For Students: 5-8 | 9-12
James Rattling Leaf 11.20.03 Native Views from Space
James Rattling Leaf is helping fellow Native Americans become modern-day Earth explorers.

For Educators: K-4 | 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
For Students: 5-8 | 9-12 | Post Secondary
picture of NSIP winner Earth Explorer Yimin Yao 10.16.03 Thacher Scholarship Winners: Where Are They Now?
The NASA Student Involvement Program and the Thacher Scholarship are inspiring a new generation of young explorers.

For Educators: 9-12
For Students: 9-12