Assuming the role of a meteorologist, students will proclaim one month as "Thunderstorm season" for their chosen study area. This decision will be based on analysis of deep convective cloud data downloaded from the Live Access Server. This lesson... (View More) uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, and an online glossary. (View Less)

Satellite data analysis of both ocean currents and sea surface temperatures will allow students to discover the link that exists between them. Students will download data-based maps on which they will determine and then draw directional movement of... (View More) currents. Then, in both groups and individually, they will discuss the relationship between the currents and sea surface temperatures, answer a set of questions, and predict changes in the appearance of the maps if Earth continues its warming trend. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, and an online glossary. (View Less)

Tree ring analysis and satellite data observations are combined in this investigative lesson on past climate. Students will compare the width of tree rings from a real or virtual tree x-section with precipitation levels from authentic satellite... (View More) observations for that same time period. They will then analyze the two sets of data to interpret past climate patterns. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary, and data analysis tools. (View Less)

The strength of the historic 1997-1999 El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) event was captured and recorded by NASA Earth observing satellites. By downloading and plotting that satellite data, students will observe and analyze El Niño's effect on... (View More) sea level height and sea surface temperatures. Students will then determine the effects of that same El Niño event on their local environment by downloading and plotting precipitation data for their latitude and longitude. Researching data from beyond the 1997-99 period will also allow students to study the subsequent La Niña. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, an online glossary and a list of related AP Environmental Science topics. (View Less)

In this lesson, students will download and analyze two sets of aerosol data: one from 2003 found on the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS), and one from 2006 taken from the NASA Earth Observations (NEO) site. Analysis of wind plots enable... (View More) students to determine the months of greatest aerosol activity, their path of dispersion, and their original source on the landscape. Step-by-step instructions for use of the MY NASA DATA LAS guide students through selecting a data set, importing the data into a spreadsheet, creating graphs, and analyzing data plots. The lesson provides detailed procedures, related links and sample graphs, follow-up questions, extensions, and teacher notes. Designed for student use, MY NASA DATA LAS samples micro datasets from large scientific data archives, and provides structured investigations engaging students in exploration of real data to answer real world questions. (View Less)

This lesson is a case study of atmospheric ozone levels developed from observations over Thule, Greenland in 2002. Students will download a composite graph of this stratospheric ozone data taken from two different sources: the SAGE III satellite and... (View More) an ozone sensor on a weather balloon. Instructions for downloading the graph to either a computer or a graphing calculator (the TI-84 Silver Plus is recommended) are included in the lesson. Students will then compare and analyze the two data sets shown on the graph. Emphasis is placed on the applicability of using the weather balloon data to validate the satellite data. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, extensions, and an online glossary. (View Less)

In this data analysis activity, students will obtain snow cover and surface temperature data for a locale in Alaska, plot the data, investigate seasonal trends in snow cover, and the relationship between snow cover and surface temperature at that... (View More) locale. Step-by-step instructions for use of the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS) guide students through selecting a data set, importing the data into a spreadsheet, creating graphs, and analyzing data plots. The lesson provides detailed procedures, related links and sample graphs, follow-up questions, extensions, and teacher notes. Designed for student use, MY NASA DATA LAS samples micro datasets from large scientific data archives, and provides structured investigations engaging students in exploration of real data to answer real world questions. (View Less)

This lesson consists of three activities. Students will discover the effect of temperature and pressure on cloud formation, analyze weather balloon data, and interpret a graph created from the synthesis of data sets on temperature, relative humidity... (View More) and dew point. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It includes related links. (View Less)

Through the use of satellite images taken during a winter storm over the Central United States in 2000, this lesson provides the opportunity to conduct a case study of cloud coverage. Students will use satellite images to not only estimate total... (View More) cloud cover, but also the cloud cover at four different altitude levels. They will then compare their estimates to the actual data from the CERES instrument. This lesson uses student- and citizen science-friendly microsets of authentic NASA Earth system science data from the MY NASA DATA project. It also includes related links, lesson extensions, an online glossary, and data analysis tools. (View Less)