Temperature Puzzle

NASA-GISS

This NASA video discusses the impacts of the sun's energy, Earth's reflectance, and greenhouse gases on the Earth System.

Click to View

Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

Middle School: show in class to introduce concepts, then follow on with more in-depth discussion/exercises. High School: have students view as part of a homework assignment.
This video focuses on NASA observations of solar variability, Earth's changing albedo, rising levels of greenhouse gas concentrations, and impacts on sea level. Video integrates satellite imagery of polar ice, global temperatures, cloud cover, and solar activity. It uses computer animations to demonstrate the relationships between solar activity, albedo, and global temperatures. Comments from expert scientist: Clear and concise synopsis of factors that affect the Earth's temperature based on the state-of-the-science. Emphasizes uncertainty in models, but uses climate models to describe predictions of changes in Earth's temperature.
Students watch the video to learn about the sun's energy output, albedo, greenhouse gases, and global temperatures. No teacher support materials are provided. No prerequisite knowledge needed, although this can help summarize a variety of global change science concepts. It will be up to the teacher to assist diverse learners and to engage students in the content.