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SPACE-BASED EARTH SCIENCE EDUCATION RESOURCES
U.S. Geological Survey Programs ~ NASA Earth Study Programs
USGS Education Resources for Earth Science
| Where Can I Find It? |
What Can I Do With It? |
What Does It Look Like? |
Earthquake Hazards Program
http://earthquake.usgs.gov |
How many earthquakes occurred today, and where were they? Query worldwide earthquakes to discover the relationship between earthquakes and tectonic plate boundaries and their proximity to cities. |
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Educational Recourses for Primary,
Secondary, and University Educators and
Students
http://education.usgs.gov |
Tap into 127 years of USGS research in the Natural Sciences - in the form of maps, images of the planet, books, and much more. Also thousands of ideas are available for how to use these resources in your curriculum. |
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Education Map Catalog
http://education.usgs.gov/common/
resources/mapcatalog/ |
View, order, and find out how to use over 250 of the most useful maps about geology, earthquakes, environment, water, national parks, topology, hydrology, culture, history, the planets, and other themes. |
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Looking at Earth
EROS http://eros.usgs.gov
http://glovis.usgs.gov/
http://earthexplorer.usgs.gov/
http://seamless.usgs.gov/
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EROS (The USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science) invites you to visit its gateways to explore our changing world with views of Earth from space.
Glovis (Global Visualization) Landsat and other satellite images of any place on Earth.
Earth Explorer A comprehensive search and order system for satellite images, air photos, and cartographic data.
Seamless Data Distribution System View and download geospatial data layers, such as elevation, land cover, high resolution orthoimagery, and much more. |
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Education News and Information
http://education.usgs.gov/common/news.htm |
Be informed! Find out about Earth Science Week, Geography Awareness Week, science education news, and other valuable information and events of interest to educators and students. |
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The GIS Lab
http://education.usgs.gov/common/
lessons/gis.html
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Geographic Information Systems are among the most sought-after fields of the 21st Century. Learn how to use GIS to study hazards, population, climate change, and much more through hands-on lessons. |
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The National Atlas
http://nationalatlas.gov |
Make your own customized maps from data sets from the USGS and 17 other organizations- everything from A (aquifers) to Z (zebra mussels). |
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Scientists in Action
http://mac.usgs.gov/isb/pubs/booklets/
scientists/index.html
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Discover how scientists contribute to society, what it would be like to work as a scientist, and how you can get involved with science- even while you are still a student. |
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Polar Resources
http://education.usgs.gov/ipy/ |
Uncover the mysteries of polar regions through USGS interactive maps, satellite imagery, scientific studies, and through the eyes of the people who make all of the research happen and have their own stories to tell. Join in the celebration of the International Polar Year! |
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NASA Education Resources and Missions for Earth Science
Students' Cloud Observations On-Line: S'COOL
http://scool.larc.nasa.gov |
This is a component of NASA's CERES (Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System). The CERES instrument measures the amount of energy reflected and emitted by the Earth system. It focuses on understanding how clouds effect energy transfers. Participating students make basic weather observations and record the type and features of clouds in the sky at the time the satellite is scheduled to over their location. The data is then submitted to NASA (by Web, email, fax, or mail) for entry into an online database. Students can access their results as well as those from other participating schools using the S'COOL Web site (which is available in six other languages). Satellite observations for matching times are also posted so that students can compare their observations to those of the satellite, and scientists can evaluate CERES performance. Participants receive instructional materials, a schedule of satellite overpass times and information necessary for reporting results. |
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The Space Place
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov
http://spaceplace.nasa.gov/espanol
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This Web site for elementary-age kids features games, animations, projects, a cartoon talk show, and amazing facts related to Earth, space, and technology. The Teachers Corner contains curriculum supplements originally published in Technology Teacher magazine. |
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Earth & Sky
http://www.earthsky.org/shows/
observaingearth.php |
Earth & Sky is heard by millions of listeners each day on more the 1,000 commercial and public radio affiliates in the United States, on the Sirius and XM Satellite Radio networks and internationally by Podcast and on dozens of independent stations and networks including American Forces Radio, World Radio Network and Voice of America. NASA sponsors a series of Earth science shows on Earth & Sky. Each 90-second show is based on interviews with NASA scientists and includes links to related Web sites. |
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Eyes on Earth
http://www.omsi.edu/visit/earth
/eyesonearth |
Eyes on Earth is a 2,500 sq. ft. interactive, traveling science exhibition developed by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) that focuses on NASA's Earth Observing System (EOS) and explores three major areas: Satellites, Orbits and Satellite Technology. Designed primarily for families and school groups (upper elementary+), Eyes on Earth brings these concepts down to Earth through a combination of fun accessible interactives. The exhibit is available for leasing from OMSI through 2010.
In 2005, OMSI received funding from NASA for a new traveling exhibition, A View From Space. This 700 sq. ft., interactive exhibit focuses on the imagery and data collected by NASA's EOS, its interpretation by NASA scientists, and how the information affects the general public. The exhibit is available for leasing through 2013 and is targeted at smaller rural museum venues. |
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| Satellite |
Mission Description/URL |
Launch |
Earth Measurements |
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Aqua
Earth's water cycle, energy fluxes, aerosols, land vegetation cover, ocean phytoplankton, sea and land ice, and air/land/water temperatures.
http://aqua.nasa.gov
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2002 |
Air, Land, Water, Ice, Life |
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Aquarius
Understanding the interaction between ocean circulation, the water cycle and climate by measuring ocean salinity.
http:aquarius.gsfc.nasa.gov
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2009 |
Water |
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Aura
Composition, chemistry and dynamic of Earth's atmosphere as well as study the ozone, air quality, and climate
http://aura.gsfc.nasa.gov
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2004 |
Air |
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CALIPSO
Cloud-Aerosol Lindar and Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations
Effects of aerosol and clouds on climate
http://www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov |
2006 |
Air |
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CloudSat
Structure, composition and effects of clouds on a global basis
http://cloudsat.atmos.colostate.edu |
2006 |
Air |
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GRACE
Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment
Map Earth's gravity fields
http://www.csr.utexas.edu/grace |
2002 |
Land, Water, Ice |
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ICESat
Ice, Cloud, and land Elevation Satellite
Ice sheet mass balance, cloud, and aerosol heights (especially over polar areas), land topography and vegetation (polar and global)
http://icesat.gsfc.nasa.gov |
2003 |
Air, Land, Water, Ice |
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Jason - 1
Monitor ocean surface topography and global ocean circulation to improve global climate predictions, and monitor events such as El Nino conditions and ocean eddies.
http://sealevel.jpl.nasa.gov |
2001 |
Water |
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Landsat Program
Nearly 35 continuous years of data and images map the globe's changing continental and coastal areas on a landscape-scale
http://landsat.gsfc.nasa.gov |
2000 |
Land, Ice, Life |
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Orbiting Carbon Observatory (OCO)
First space-based measurements of atmospheric CO2 to to characterize sources and links
http://oco.jpl.nasa.gov |
2008 |
Air |
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Terra
Global measurements of atmosphere, land and oceans mainly to improve understanding of Earth's energy and carbon budgets
http://terra.nasa.gov |
1999 |
Air, Land, Water, Ice, Life |
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TRMM
Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission
Monitor and study tropical rainfall
http://trmm.gsfc.nasa.gov |
1997 |
Air, Water |
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