PBS
Skydive From the Stratosphere
This simulation allows you to experience Joe Kittinger's famous 1960 skydiving feat. As you ascend the troposphere and stratosphere you can view changes in several atmospheric conditions. The challenge will be surviving the leap once you...
Read Works
Read Works: Passages: "The Rise of Oxygen in the Earth's Atmosphere"
[Free Registration/Login Required] The article "The Rise of Oxygen in the Earth's Atmosphere" from the American Museum of Natural History focuses on when the rise of oxygen in the earth's atmosphere began. A Step Read, a question set,...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Atmosphere and Oceans: The Origin of the Modern Atmosphere
An explanation of how the Earth's atmosphere has changed over time. Evidence that helped scientists understand these changes is presented.
King's Centre for Visualization in Science
Explaining Climate Change: Lesson 1: Introduction to Earth's Climate
This is the first lesson in a series of learning modules on the topic of climate change. It explores Earth's unique climate and atmosphere, regional climate differences, and temporal climate differences. Includes comprehension questions...
King's Centre for Visualization in Science
Explaining Climate Change: Lesson 3: The Chemistry of the Greenhouse Effect
This is the third lesson in a series of learning modules on the topic of climate change. It takes a look at how greenhouse gases cause warming and affect Earth's climate. Includes comprehension questions and interactive tools for...
Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center: Forces of Change:meet Your Atmosphere
This superb site has detailed information about the composition of the atmosphere, how it is always changing, how it protects life on earth, and the destructive impact human activity has on it. There is an atmosphere design lab, as well...
Vision Learning
Visionlearning: Atmosphere and Oceans: The Rise of Atmospheric Oxygen
An explanation of the Earth's atmosphere and how it has evolved over geologic time.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Layers of Earth's Atmosphere
Learn about the layers of Earth's atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.
Nine Planets
The Nine Planets: Earth Facts
Find lots of information about our planet Earth here. Covers basic facts, Earth's history, layers of the Earth, plate tectonics, composition of the atmosphere, Earth's magnetic field, and some facts about our moon.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Water Vapor Circulation on Earth
This simulation from the National Center for Atmospheric Research portrays annual patterns in water vapor and precipitation across the globe, illustrating general circulation patterns as well as seasonal and regional variation. [4:52]
Center for Educational Technologies
Nasa Classroom of the Future: Earth on Fire
Information and activities looking at the impact of industrial and agricultural practices on global warming.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Virtual Ballooning to Explore the Atmosphere
Explore the atmosphere by launching Virtual Weather Balloons. This "virtual laboratory" simulation lets you investigate the layers of Earth's atmosphere.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Virtual Ballooning to Explore the Atmosphere Activity
In this computer-based virtual lab, students will learn about the layers of Earth's atmosphere by launching virtual balloons to collect temperature and pressure data at various altitudes. Given a limited number of balloon flights,...
Science Museum of Minnesota
Science Museum of Minnesota: Air Cluster
Interesting site with links to activities about wind and air in many forms. Browse the different activities and investigations on the properties of air on the toolbar to the left of the page.
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Using Satellite Images to Understand Earth's Atmosphere
This lesson helps students select, explore, and analyze satellite imagery. Students investigate the relationship between atmospheric carbon monoxide and aerosols. Incorporate ImageJ to animate a year of monthly images of aerosol data and...
Simon Fraser University
Chem1 Virtual Textbook: Origin and Evolution of the Atmosphere
As part of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, this site examines a variety of topics related to the Earth's atmosphere. Included in the discussion are topics such as prebiotic atmosphere, origin of atmospheric oxygen, carbon...
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: Nitrogen: Periodic Table of Videos
The team at Periodicvideos has created a TED-Ed Lesson for every element of the periodic table. This one is about number 7 on the periodic table: nitrogen. It's the most abundant element in Earth's atmosphere. [4:03]
TED Talks
Ted: Ted Ed: What Is an Aurora?
Why do we see those stunning lights in the northern- and southernmost portions of the night sky? Michael Molina explains every step of the dazzling phenomenon of the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis. [4:10]
Open Curriculum
Open Curriculum: Into the Mitochondrion: Making Atp With Oxygen
The aim of this article is to relate the history of oxygen in the atmosphere to the evolution of photosynthesis, aerobic respiration, mitochondria, and life on earth.
NASA
Nasa: Visible Earth: 3 D Data From Ice Sat
3-D Data from ICESat: Orbiting the Earth at nearly 17,000 miles per hour, NASA's Ice, Cloud and land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) is collecting spectacular new three-dimensional measurements of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
Other
California Air Resources Board: The Greenhouse Effect and California [Pdf]
This article has a brief summary of the causes and possible consequences of the greenhouse effect and global warming. In particular, the effects of the potential climate change in California are highlighted.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Weather & Climate: Earth's Atmosphere
A video and a short multiple-choice quiz on the composition of and the layers in Earth's atmosphere.
Scholastic
Scholastic: Study Jams! Science: Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, and Atmosphere
A slideshow and a short multiple-choice quiz on the rock surface of the Earth, its water, and the gas layers that surround it.
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Ucar: Introduction to the Atmosphere
A detailed overview of the Earth's atmosphere, with explanations about atmospheric properties, the structure of the atmosphere, its four layers, atmospheric processes, energy heat transfer, conduction and convection, and radiation. All...