Students review a video showing how the ocean is warmed by solar energy. This is the first video of a four-part series on the water cycle, which follows the journey of water from the ocean to the atmosphere, to the land, and back again to the ocean.

 Air, Water, Land, & Life: A Global Perspective

Students will explore the Nitrogen Cycle by modeling the movement of a nitrogen atom as it passes through the cycle. Students will stop in the different reservoirs along the way, answering questions about the processes that brought them to the different reservoirs.  

This lesson was based on an activity from UCAR Center for Science Education. 

This NASA visualization shows sea surface salinity observations (September 2011-September 2014). Students review the video and answer questions.

Explore and connect to the GLOBE Weather protocol bundle. 

Explore and connect to the GLOBE Urban protocol bundle. 

GLOBE protocols and learning activities that complement exploration of the Flow of Energy and Matter are outlined.

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

Explore and connect to the GLOBE Air Quality protocol bundle. 

What is the atmosphere and why is it important?