This mini lesson engages students in writing a commentary for a NASA video regarding changes in global temperatures from 1880 to 2017. 

Introduction to the concept of albedo.

Review this mapped plot of the historic Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations of key locations around the world for the period of 1998-2018. Also, consider using the Map Cube to help students with deeper dives into data analysis. Credit: NASA, NOAA

Analyze these satellite images comparing Ocean Chlorophyll Concentrations with Sea Surface Temperatures beginning with the North Atlantic region, then expanding global patterns of these phenomena.  Credit: NASA Earth Observatory

Review the animation showing seasonal chlorophyll concentration as it relates to net radiation.

Students observe images of daily average sea surface temperatures taken during 2017, as they analyze the plots for evidence of changes that are occurring throughout the year.

Students observe images, individually, looking for changes in surface air temperatures (using data displayed, unit of measure, range of values, etc.) and patterns noticeable within the maps.

Arctic sea ice is the cap of frozen seawater blanketing most of the Arctic Ocean and neighboring seas in wintertime. It follows seasonal patterns of thickening and melting. See how the quantity has changed from 1979 through 2018. 

This line graph shows how the surface temperature and air temperature values change over the course of 24 hours.

Students review the NASA video showing biosphere data over the North Atlantic Ocean as a time series animation displaying a decade of phytoplankton blooms and answer questions that follow.