An explanation of how temperature is affected by the composition of the atmosphere and how energy flows in and out of Earth's atmosphere.

See how Earth's temperature would change if the Sun's brightness increased or dimmed or if Earth's albedo was different.

As the Earth's surface temperature gradually rises, it has become vital for us to predict the rate of this increase with as much precision as possible. In order to do that, scientists need to understand more about aerosols and clouds....

As viewed from space, the Earth appears beautiful and serene. As you well know, however, here standing on Earth, it's complicated! Complex, that is. And, it's constantly changing. Often changes on Earth happen so slowly it would be...

This textbook chapter looks at the role of temperature in sustaining life on Earth and on weather and climate. It discusses the Earth's movements and the seasons, the circulation of the oceans, wind and weather, and the water cycle....

In this activity, students will investigate the change in global temperature by analyzing data on Google Earth for 13 different cities. Students will then interpret the climate patterns for those cities to make conclusion about the...

Explains the origin of the Fahrenheit temperature scale.

In this lesson, students will understand that temperature changes can cause density changes in water and in air.

This unit contains a series of lessons that allow young scholars to explore the effect of sunlight on Earth's natural surfaces of sand, soil, rock, and water. In addition, students explore how the color and material of a surface affects...

Earth's temperature depends on the balance between energy entering and leaving the planet's system . When incoming energy from the sun is absorbed by the Earth system, Earth warms. When the sun's energy is reflected back into space,...

[Free Registration/Login Required] What is alarming to experts about the science and the politics surrounding Earth's rapidly warming temperatures? Small groups will have conversations about global warming with the prompts provided.

An explanation of the different parts of the atmosphere and how pressure and temperature changes at different altitudes.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] How different temperature gradients separate the atmosphere into distinct layers.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Summarizes the key points about atmospheric processes involving air pressure, air density, and temperature. Includes a few questions to check for understanding.

[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The balance of heat entering and exiting Earth's atmosphere.

This article describes the effects of polar ice caps on the Earth and offers explanations as to the possible effects of polar ice melting on sea level and temperature.

Article cites factors affecting temperature change of Earth's water and explains thermal pollution's impact on our planet's ecology.

Over more than a century, the global average temperature warmed 1.5F (0.8C). Learn the science of why this has happened, and what the future holds.

Students are guided in how to build their own weather station that will measure temperature, humidity, precipitation, atmospheric pressure, and wind direction and speed.

Climate scientists around the world study greenhouse gases and the ways they affect global climate. By making a small greenhouse, recreate the greenhouse effect and measure its effect on temperature.

This global map from NASA's Earth Observatory shows the sea surface temperature from July 2002 to October 2008. Learn the influences that sea surface temperature has on climate and weather.

View a global map from NASA's Earth Observatory that shows land surface temperature from February 2000 to November 2008. Learn how land surface temperature is measured and monitored.

The purpose of this activity is for students to learn how the Earth's systems interact on a global level. They will examine global environmental data and compare this to data on the polar regions. In the process, they will develop an...

An animated model of the Earth from the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory showing how global temperatures increased from 1870 to 2100 due to rising amounts of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.