An urban heat island is a phenomenon that is best described when a city experiences much warmer temperatures than in nearby rural areas. The sun’s heat and light reach the city and the country in the same way. The difference in temperature between urban and less-developed rural areas has to do with how well the surfaces in each environment absorb and hold heat.
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Students observe the surface temperatures of a variety of surface types found in a suburban environment.
Background information on soil moisture.
Watch NASA videos about aerosols and volcanic ash.
Students examine satellite images of an island before and after a volcanic eruption to determine the impact of the eruption.
This mini lesson engages students by watching a NASA video related to plant growth activity around the world using data from the NASA/NOAA Suomi NPP satellite and answering questions on these stability and change relationships.
Students compare climographs for two locations to determine the most likely months to expect the emergence of mosquitoes in each location.
This mini lesson engages students with answering questions on cause and effect relationships by watching a NASA video related to changing forests in the Pacific Northwest from 1984 to 2011.