Browse Earth Systems Resources

Browse Earth Systems Resources

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In this lesson, students will explore (through labs, videos, and a simulation) how energy from the sun is absorbed, reflected and radiated back out into space as part of the Earth’s energy budget.
Photo of clouds in the atmosphere.
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This lesson helps students learn about the atmosphere by making observations and taking measurements.
Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum
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Welcome to the Tour of the Electromagnetic Spectrum. This unique NASA resource on the web, in print, and with companion videos introduces electromagnetic waves, their behaviors, and how scientists visualize these data.
Climate Literacy: The Essential Principles of Climate Sciences
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This booklet presents important information for individuals and communities to understand Earth's climate, impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting and mitigating change.
Sea Surface Temperature, Salinity and Density
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The animations in this group show the long-term average sea surface temperature, the long term average sea surface salinity, and the the long term average sea surface density.
The Thermohaline Circulation - The Great Ocean Conveyor Belt
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The oceans are mostly composed of warm salty water near the surface over cold, less salty water in the ocean depths. These two regions don't mix except in certain special areas, which creates a large slow current called the thermohaline circulation.
Components of the Water Cycle on a Flat Map
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The process by which water moves around the earth, from the ocean, to the atmosphere, to the land and back to the ocean is called the water cycle. These animations each portray a component of the water cycle.
Components of the water cycle thumb.
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The process by which water moves around the earth, from the ocean, to the atmosphere, to the land and back to the ocean is called the water cycle. These animations each portray a component of the water cycle.
Diagram of the water cycle from NASA Earth Science
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This article explains the basics behind the water cycle and includes many good visuals. It provides some good background information about our water cycle as well as providing students with many real-world applications.
Earth System thumbnail
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This unit will introduce you to many of the complex issues surrounding the Earth as a system and will help you to look at Earth in a new way—as a living system.

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