Hurricanes as a heat engine

Use sea surface temperature data to explore the energy exchange that occurs when hurricanes extract heat energy from the ocean surface.

  • 1hr(s) 30mins
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Sea ice and the earth system

Sea ice is frozen seawater that floats on the ocean surface in both the Arctic and the Antarctic. Explore changes in sea ice extent as it relates to other spheres within the earth system.

  • 1hr(s) 40mins
  • Story

Creation of urban heat islands

Human activities have led to the creation of urban heat islands. Use land surface temperature and vegetation data to investigate the processes that create these differences in urban temperatures.

  • 1hr(s) 30mins
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Global phytoplankton distribution

Students will investigate the processes that allow phytoplankton populations to thrive as well as how their role in the carbon cycle impacts the other spheres of the earth system.

  • 1hr(s) 40mins
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Volcanic eruptions

Ash and aerosols produced from volcanic eruptions are hazardous to the human ecosystem. Students will graph the concentrations of aerosols from a volcanic eruption over time.

  • 1hr(s) 40mins
  • Story