Browse ESS2.A Resources

Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum

Primary Topic:

Technology

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Energy Cycle, Satellites, Remote Sensing, Data

Type:

Website

Audience:

Informal, Formal, General

Keywords:

energy budget, electromagnetic spectrum, microwaves, infrared

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS3.D, ETS2.A, ETS2.B

Summary:

Welcome to the Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. This unique NASA resource on the web, in print, and with companion videos introduces electromagnetic waves, their behaviors, and how scientists visualize these data.

The GLOBE Earth System Poster Learning Activities

Primary Topic:

Technology

Subtopics:

Weather and Climate, Satellites, Remote Sensing

Type:

Lesson Plan

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D, ESS3.C, ESS3.D, ETS2.B

Keywords:

climate change, cloud coverage, global data sets, models, infrared radiation

Summary:

The activities in this guide will help students understand variations in environmental parameters by examining connections among different phenomena measured on local, regional and global scales.

Towers in the Tempest

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Weather, Tropical Cyclones, Energy Cycle, Remote Sensing

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8, General

Standards:

ESS2.A

Keywords:

hurricanes, hot towers, TRMM, low pressure

Summary:

'Towers in the Tempest' is a 4.5 minute narrated animation that explains recent scientific insights into how hurricanes intensify. This intensification can be caused by a phenomenon called a 'hot tower'.

Real World: Monitoring Earth's Energy Budget with CERES

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Weather, Human Impact, Energy Cycle, Technology, Satellites

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D

Keywords:

energy budget, radiation budget, atmosphere, greenhouse effect, greenhouse gases, carbon footprint

Summary:

Learn how NASA uses a data-collecting sensor, Clouds and Earth’s Radiant Energy System, or CERES, to study clouds and make accurate measurements of energy leaving Earth.

Real World: Hurricane Hunters

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Weather, Tropical Cyclones, STEM Careers, Forecasting

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS3.B

Keywords:

hurricane, temperature, air pressure

Summary:

This NASA video segment focuses on how scientists use satellites to collect data. These sets of data are then analyzed and used to predict storms.

Launchpad: Global Warming - How Humans are Affecting Our Planet

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Climate, Human Impact, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS3.D

Keywords:

climate change, greenhouse effect, atmosphere, greenhouse gases, energy budget, radiation budget

Summary:

Learn how the greenhouse effect keeps more of the sun's heat and energy within Earth's atmosphere causing temperatures on Earth to rise. This video explains the effect warmer temperatures are playing on Earth.

Aquarius Ocean Circulation

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Water Properties, Weather and Climate, Climate, Satellites, Remote Sensing

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D, ESS3.D

Keywords:

ocean currents, density, energy cycle, salinity, ocean temperature, climate change, wind

Summary:

Ocean circulation plays a key role in distributing solar energy and maintaining climate, by moving heat from Earth's equator to the poles. Aquarius salinity data, combined with data from other sensors, will give us a clearer picture of how the ocean works

Components of the Water Cycle on a Flat Map

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C

Keywords:

evaporation, sea surface temperature, water vapor, atmosphere

Summary:

The process by which water moves around the earth, from the ocean, to the atmosphere, to the land and back to the ocean is called the water cycle. These animations each portray a component of the water cycle.

Components of the Water Cycle

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Precipitation, Earth Systems, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C

Keywords:

evaporation, sea surface temperature, water vapor, atmosphere

Summary:

The process by which water moves around the earth, from the ocean, to the atmosphere, to the land and back to the ocean is called the water cycle. These animations each portray a component of the water cycle.