Curated OER
Earth's Energy Budget - Seasonal Cycles in Net Radiative Flux
Young scholars attempt to understand seasonal variation by viewing images of the energy received by the earth. In this weather lesson, students view images from NASA of the influx of energy from the sun and make predictions about...
Simon Fraser University
Chem1 Virtual Textbook: The Hydrosphere and the Oceans
As part of the General Chemistry Virtual Textbook, this site examines a variety of topics related to the hydrosphere and the oceans. Topics covered include where the water came from, the hydrologic cycle, Oceanic circulation, atmospheric...
Columbia University
The Climate System: Atmospheric Forces, Balances, and Weather Systems
The large scale horizontal flow of air in the atmosphere is driven by the imbalance of net radiation over the globe. This resource introduces us to the physical laws governing the horizontal motion of air. It also describes types of...
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Earth System: El Nino's Influence on Hurricane Formation
This video segment adapted from NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center explains how and where hurricanes develop. Learn how El Nino events alter the course of atmospheric circulation. Includes background reading material and discussion...
Science Education Resource Center at Carleton College
Serc: Topic Guide: Paleoclimate
In this activity students form groups, conduct research into paleoclimate, and report their findings in the form of a presentation.
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.
NOAA
Noaa: Weather Systems and Patterns
Imagine our weather if Earth were completely motionless, had a flat dry landscape and an un-tilted axis. This, of course, is not the case; if it were, the weather would be much different. The local weather that impacts our daily lives...
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Heat Transfer in the Atmosphere
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Looks at how heat is transferred in the atmosphere.
University of Oregon
University of Oregon: Coriolis Effect
This site from the University of Oregon provides a great explanation of the Coriolis Effect and then gives several chart type examples to help the understanding of it.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Geographical Determinants of Climate Study Guide
[Free Registration/Login may be required to access all resource tools.] Summarizes the key processes that determine the type of climate. Includes several questions to check for understanding.
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.
CK-12 Foundation
Ck 12: Earth Science: Circulation in the Atmosphere Study Guide
This comprehensive study guide covers the main terms and concepts needed for an earth science unit on circulation in the atmosphere. Review questions are included at the bottom of the study guide.
Geography 4 kids
Geography4 kids.com: Atmospheric Circulation
Check out how air circulates around us. Understand the differences between mesoscale and microscale.