Students review Earth System phenomena that are affected by soil moisture.  They analyze and evaluate maps of seasonal global surface air temperature and soil moisture data from NASA satellites. Building from their observations, students will select a location in the U.S.

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

The purpose of this lesson is for students to compare data displays to determine which best answers the driving question. To do this they will evaluate the spread of the data and what the displays show. 

Compare a histogram and map to determine the differences in the information conveyed in each data display.

Examine (daytime) surface temperature and solar radiation received at locations found near similar latitudes using NASA Data.

Students interpret a double bar/column chart comparing the number of tropical cyclones in different locations.

Students analyze surface air temperature anomalies to identify change with respect to different latitudes across the world.

Students will observe monthly satellite data of the North Atlantic to identify relationships among key science variables that include sea surface salinity (SS), air temperature at the ocean surface (AT), sea surface temperature (ST), evaporation (EV), precipitation (PT), and evaporation minus pre