Earth is made up of five major parts or subsystems: the Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Geosphere. Each major part is connected to the other parts in a complex web of processes.

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

Students review a video showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere shortwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012 and answer the questions that follow.

Students review a visualization showing a global view of the top-of-atmosphere longwave radiation from January 26 and 27, 2012. They review the supporting text and analyze the data in the visualization to answer questions.

Explore the energy and matter cycles found within the Earth System. 

My NASA Data has recently released several new resources, StoryMaps, for use in educational settings.

Students will analyze and interpret maps of the average net atmospheric radiation to compare the flow of energy from the Sun toward Earth in different months and for cloudy versus clear days. Students will draw conclusions and support them with evidence.

Students connect day/night and seasonal cycles with albedo in the Arctic region. 

Earth is a system of systems.

Background on changing albedo values.