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

Students will examine air temperature data collected through The GLOBE Program during the 2017 US solar eclipse.

Students will analyze surface temperature and solar radiation data to construct explanations about the relationship of seasons and temperature to the amount of solar energy received on Earth’s surface.

Students move through a series of short activities to explore and evaluate global solar radiation data from NASA satellites.  In this process, students make qualitative and quantitative observations about seasonal variations in net energy input to the Earth System.

Dr. Stackhouse uses satellite observations of the Earth-atmosphere system from multiple sources to study Earth’s global energy cycle, especially the processes that cause variability from global to regional scales. Dr. Stackhouse also develops new data products and data systems to help analyze these processes and more efficiently understand and use renewable energy sources.

Students analyze a graph that illustrates the change in global surface temperature relative to 1951-1980 average temperatures.

What is the atmosphere and why is it important?

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

Students will watch and examine a NASA animation of Earth’s rising surface temperatures over an almost 150 year period.

Check out how Dr. James Smith, Research Scientist at Biospheric Sciences Branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center researches changes in the Biosphere using remote sensing techniques.