Encyclopedia of Earth
Encyclopedia of Earth: Solar Radiation
Almost all of the energy that drives the various systems (climate systems, ecosystems, hydrologic systems, etc.) found on the Earth originates from the sun. Solar energy is created at the core of the sun when hydrogen atoms are fused...
Climate Literacy
Clean: Introduction to Earth's Climate
This instructional activity is an introduction to Earth's climate and covers key principles regarding Earth's unique climate, atmosphere, and regional and temporal climate differences. Students will gain an understanding of how the...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Modeling Global Climate Change
Students will gain an understanding of global climate change by exploring the role that energy plays in it. They will explore NetLogo models of climate and learn about cumulative effects.
American Geosciences Institute
American Geosciences Institute: Solar Energy: Background
A reference page on solar energy. Learn about solar energy, solar heating, solar radiation, and electromagnetic radiation. The page also describes the advantages and disadvantages to solar energy.
![Global Wind Systems [Pdf] Website](https://d15y2dacu3jp90.cloudfront.net/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/FPO-knovation.png "Global Wind Systems [Pdf] Website")
Idaho State University
Global Wind Systems [Pdf]
A great description of the global scale circulation and heat energy. Discusses a single-cell model, a three-cell model, jet streams and more.
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Overview of Radiation
This site details what radiation is, the physics of radiation, and radiative transfer as it occurs in nature. Content explores the electromagnetic spectrum, electromagnetic waves, properties of radiation, and solar radiation.
Oklahoma Mesonet
Oklahoma Climatological Survey: Earth's Energy Budget
This 2-part resource details how the Earth absorbs just enough energy from the Sun to sustain life. Content explores incoming solar radiation and outgoing terrestrial radiation.
US Energy Information Administration
U.s. Eia Energy Kids: Timelines: Solar Thermal
Timeline of key milestones in the use of solar power as a source of renewable energy.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Physical Science: Using Earth's Magnetic Field
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] The Earth's magnetic field and how it protects life on Earth, and how it is used for navigation.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Learn: The Greenhouse Effect
A detailed overview of the greenhouse effect, with explanations about Earth's atmosphere gases referred to as greenhouse gases, and the factors that influence the heat-trapping ability of a greenhouse. All information is reinforced...
NASA
Nasa: Effect of the Sun's Energy on the Ocean and Atmosphere
A project based lesson where students' mission is to conduct a series of tasks that enable them to audit Earth's energy budget and help answer a number of science questions.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Sea Ice and Heat: A Vicious Cycle
Melting sea ice doesn't cause sea level to rise because the ice is already in the ocean, but it does cause other changes to the planet. When sea ice melts, more sunlight is absorbed by the Earth, which causes more warming. It's a vicious...
Exploratorium
Exploratorium: Global Climate Change: Atmosphere
Use this site to explore real scientific data relating to the atmosphere. With this information you can gather evidence, test theories, and come to conclusions. Click on the data examples to view a full scale version.
PBS
Pbs Teachers:dimming the Sun
Conduct an experiment and investigate how air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed, solar radiation and precipitation affect evaporation. Graph the data collected during the experiment.
Other
Newport: Introduction to Solar Radiation
Radiation from the sun sustains life on earth and determines climate. The energy flow within the sun results in a surface temperature of around 5800 K, so the spectrum of the radiation from the sun is similar to that of a 5800 K...
National Snow and Ice Data Center
National Snow and Ice Data Center: Factors Affecting Arctic Weather and Climate
An introduction to the factors that affect the Arctic's weather and climate: latitude, land/sea distribution, solar radiation, air temperature, air pressure, winds, humidity, clouds, and precipitation.