Henry Boynton can tell you what the atmosphere looks like at 51,000 feet above Earth's surface, a good 15,000 feet higher than most commercial airplanes venture. "The biggest thing you notice is that the sky is a lot bluer," he observes.
Using the SIFT method, students analyze and evaluate the credibility of online information and then apply the method to assessing information related to weather and climate change.
Resource Type: Activities
Air is a mixture of naturally occurring gases and human-made air pollutants. Learn more about these gases and the role they play in our atmosphere.
Resource Type: Information
Laura Pan describes herself as an "accidental" scientist. She never intentionally set out to pursue a science career. Rather, she began with an interest in theoretical physics and found herself drawn along as adventures unfolded, first in remote sensing and more recently in high-altitude research flights.
In this activity, students use models to observe that air is a fluid that flows due to temperature-driven density differences.
Resource Type: Activities
Students create and investigate a physical model to explore how the resolution of a mathematical model impacts model results.
Resource Type: Activities
Students will observe two scale models of Earth's atmosphere and the layers of the atmosphere to gain an appreciation for the size of the atmosphere compared to the planet Earth.
Resource Type: Activities
The Changing Nitrogen Cycle
Get prepared for your visit to the NSF NCAR Mesa Lab Visitor Center by reviewing what we have to offer onsite.
Without the Sun, life on Earth would not be possible. The energy we receive from the Sun provides light and heat, drives our planet's winds and ocean currents, helps crops grow, and more.