Odyssey of the Mind: Hydrosphere
Hydrologic Cycle @ NASA's Observatorium
It's true, the water we use today has been around for hundreds of
millions of years, and the amount available probably hasn't changed very
much. Water moves around the world, changes forms, is taken in by plants and
animals, but never really disappears. It "travels" in a large, continuous
cycle. We call this the Hydrologic Cycle ("hydro" means water).
For Grades: 5-12
The Water Cycle @ NASA's Earth
Observatory
As seen from space, one of the most unique features of our home planet
is the water, in both liquid and frozen forms, that covers approximately 75%
of the Earth's surface.
For Grades: 9-12
El Niño Southern Oscillation - The Power of the
Children @ NASA Goddard's Education Office
The focus of this activity is for students to use the information and
concepts learned during the oceanography lessons as a basis for
understanding the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) phenomena. They
will study the way energy moves between the hydrosphere and atmosphere
during normal times as compared to an El Niño Southern Oscillation
(ENSO) event (either El Niño or La Niña) and the effect this
has on the Earth's other systems and spheres. They will investigate how an
ENSO event begins, follow it through its life-cycle, and learn how
scientists use remote sensing and in-situ data to study the ENSO phenomena.
For Grades: 5-12
El Niño @ NASA's Observatorium
Explore the effects of El Niño on weather patterns.
For Grades: 5-12
El Niño @ NASA's Earth
Observatory
During an El Niño, the physical relationships between wind, ocean
currents, oceanic and atmospheric temperature, and biosphere break down into
destructive patterns that are second only to the march of the seasons in
their impacts to weather conditions around the world.
For Grades: 9-12
El
Niño Pudding @ NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
You have probably heard people blame "El Niño" for everything
from bad weather to lost homework. Now we are going to "blame El Niño"
for inspiring a delicious and colorful dessert!
For Grades: 4-8
The Rise and Fall of the '97-'98 El Niño as
Tracked by TOPEX/Poseidon
The TOPEX/Poseidon satellite measures global sea level in order to
monitor global ocean circulation, discover the tie between the oceans and
atmosphere, and improve global climate predictions.
For Grades: 8-12
Ocean Surface
Topography from Space @ NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
For Grades: 9-12
El
Niño Southern Oscillation Primer @ NASA's Goddard Space Flight
Center
Learn about El Niño in five different languages.
For Grades: 9-12
La Niña @ NASA's Earth
Observatory
The coupled atmosphere-ocean phenomenon known as El Niño is
frequently followed by a period of normal conditions in the equatorial
Pacific Ocean. Sometimes, but not always, El Niño conditions give way
to the other extreme of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO)
cycle. This cold counterpart to El Niño is known as La Niña,
Spanish for "the girl child."
For Grades: 9-12
