Mini Lesson/Activity

Earth's Heating Imbalances

Overview

Students will analyze a graph showing the amounts of peak energy received at local noon each day over the year changes with different latitudes.

Student Directions

The Earth’s climate is a solar powered system. Globally, over the course of the year, the Earth system—land surfaces, oceans, and atmosphere—absorbs an average of about 240 watts of solar power per square meter (one watt is one joule of energy every second). The absorbed sunlight drives photosynthesis, fuels evaporation, melts snow and ice, and warms the Earth system.

The peak energy received at different latitudes changes throughout the year. Locate the degrees latitude on the map. Find their corresponding values on the graph. The graph shows how the solar energy received at local noon each day of the year changes with latitude.

Heating Imbalances Student Activity Map | Credit: NASA | https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/Heating%20Imbalances%20Student%20Activity%20Map.png

Earth's Heating Imbalances Graph | Image Credit: NASA | https://mynasadata.larc.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/Heating%20Imbalances%20Student%20Activity%20Graph_0_0.png

Steps:

Check with your instructor on how to submit your answers.
Analyze the graph.
1. Describe the energy received at the Equator.
2. How does it change over the year?
3. What do the blue lines (23.5 degrees N, 45 degrees N, 60 degrees N) represent?
4. What do the green lines (23.5 degrees S, 45 degrees S, 60 degrees S) represent?
5. Describe the relationship among the blue and green lines and the cause of these values/patterns.

Sources:

Lindsey, R. (2009, January 14). Climate and Earth's Energy Budget. NASA Earth Observatory. Retrieved October 25, 2022, from https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/features/EnergyBalance

Teacher Note

Teachers, these mini lessons/student activities are perfect "warm up" tasks that can be used as a hook, bell ringer, exit slip, etc. They take less than a class period to complete. Learn more on the "My NASA Data What are Mini Lessons?" page.

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