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Featured Mini Lessons
Examining a Simplified Model of Cloud Effects on Earth’s Energy Budget
This lesson is designed to help students analyze the interaction between different cloud heights and Earth's incoming and outgoing energy.
Earth's Heating Imbalances
Students will analyze a graph showing the amounts of peak energy received at local noon each day over the year changes with different latitudes.
Evaluating Natural and Human Activities Effects on Earth's Climate
In this mini lesson, students analyze a bar graph showing the relative forcings from natural and human factors that affect Earth's climate. They use information from this graph to assess the relative importance of these factors.
Describing Radiation in Earth’s Energy Budget
Using an infographic, students describe differences in electromagnetic radiation that is part of a model of Earth’s energy budget by applying the defined terms of Shortwave Radiation and Longwave Radiation.
Valuing Albedo
Students will watch a short video that explains albedo and how it plays an important role in Earth’s Energy Budget.
Correlating Shortwave Radiation and Cloud Coverage
Students differentiate between data sets of monthly shortwave radiation and monthly cloud coverage to discover a relationship between radiation and clouds by answering analysis questions.
Clouds and Climate Impacts
Students watch a NOVA PBS video about the different effects of clouds on climate and Earth's energy budget. Then they answer questions and brainstorm to complete a flow chart of events that might occur if the percentage of absorbing clouds increases.
Analyzing Earth’s Energy Imbalance by Latitude and Month
Students will analyze a graph showing the variation of energy imbalance on Earth over the year along different latitudinal zones and answer the questions that follow.
Exploring Cryosphere Seasonal Thaw and Energy Budget
Students analyze two North Pole orthographic data visualizations produced from soil moisture data.