Browse Earth Systems Resources

The Water Cycle: Steaming the Air

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, General

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C

Keywords:

energy cycle, energy budget, radiation budget, water cycle, ocean, evaporation, atmosphere, water vapor

Summary:

Explore water vapor in the air in part two of the water cycle series. This second part of our series on the water cycle illustrates the way in which evaporation and winds combine to move water from the ocean to the land.

The Water Cycle: Heating the Ocean

Multiple Earth's showing different heat visualizations

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Climate, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C

Keywords:

cryosphere, ice, permafrost, sea ice, ocean currents, glaciers, satellites

Summary:

Explore the solar heating of the ocean in part one of a series on the water cycle. The animations show multiple views of the solar heating of the oceans, a picture of this first stage of water's cyclical journey from sea to air to land, and back again.

Water Vapor Animation

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Climate, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Outreach, Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.D

Keywords:

water vapor, clouds, heat, latent heat

Summary:

Water vapor - and with it energy - is carried around the globe by weather systems. This satellite image shows the distribution of water vapor over Africa and the Atlantic Ocean.

A Tour of the Cryosphere 2009

Primary Topic:

Water Cycle

Subtopics:

Hydrologic Cycle, Earth Systems, Weather and Climate, Energy Cycle

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 9 - 12, 6 - 8

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.C

Keywords:

cryosphere, ice, permafrost, sea ice, ocean currents, glaciers, satellites

Summary:

The cryosphere consists of those parts of the Earth's surface where water is found in solid form, including areas of snow, sea ice, glaciers, permafrost, ice sheets, and icebergs. This animation shows fluctuations in the cryosphere.

Climate Change and the Global Ocean

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Climate

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, 6 - 8, 9 - 12

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D

Keywords:

oceans, global warming

Summary:

This video covers the impact that climate change is having on Earth's oceans, and shows how technology is being used by NASA to help us learn how oceans are responding to climate change.

NASA Our World: What is a Hurricane?

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Weather

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, K - 5

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D

Keywords:

hurricanes, tropical cyclones, hot towers, meteorologists

Summary:

This NASA video segment explains the formation of hurricanes. Go behind the scenes with a meteorologist at the Weather Channel in Atlanta, Georgia to learn how scientists predict hurricanes and hurricane formation.

NASA Our World: What is Weather

Primary Topic:

Weather and Climate

Subtopics:

Earth Systems, Weather

Type:

Video

Audience:

Informal, Formal, K - 5

Standards:

ESS2.A, ESS2.D

Keywords:

climate zones, air pressure, latent heat

Summary:

This NASA video segment focuses on the relationship between weather and climate. Learn how heat, air pressure, winds and moisture work together to produce local weather.