Extreme Weather

Discover the dynamic and complex forces shaping our planet—and the surprising connections that help us understand and adapt to our ever-changing weather.

Activities

Students identify the difference between global warming and climate change. They learn what causes global rise in sea level, and they test predictions about sea level rise through a hands-on experiment.

Students use prior knowledge to brainstorm instruments scientists use to measure weather. They play a game to match illustrations of instruments that measure weather with descriptions of each instrument, and then use a photo gallery to check their answers. Students analyze the instruments based on how valuable they would be for measuring weather on other planets, or what modifications they may need to handle extreme weather.

Students use prior knowledge to brainstorm instruments scientists use to measure weather. They use a photo gallery to identify what weather conditions each instrument measures. Then students play a game to match illustrations of instruments that measure weather with descriptions of each instrument.

Students use prior knowledge, a photo gallery, and a video to discuss what they already know about extreme weather on Earth and brainstorm a list of weather-related words. Then they organize the information they learned about weather events and conditions present for each type of weather event, and compare and contrast weather events and conditions.

Students use prior knowledge, a photo gallery, and a video to discuss what they already know about extreme weather on Earth and brainstorm and categorize a list of weather-related words and phrases. Then they identify the necessary conditions for weather events to occur, and the factors that affect extreme weather. Students organize information about weather events and conditions, identify patterns, and make connections between weather and climate.

Film Clips

This video shows how scientific instruments are being used to gather and record the temperature and salt density at different depths in order to calculate the rate of melting of ice above and below the water’s surface. This gives scientists clues as to how much sea level is rising.

See how the ash from drought-sparked forest fires contributes to increased melting of ice and snow, thus creating a feedback loop that pushes the climate system in a warming direction.

Look at the causes and effects of the droughts that have plagued the western United States for years. Understand the conditions that have led to increased numbers of forest fires year round and learn how the heat from these firestorms creates its own weather system, forming giant cloud structures called pyrocumulus.

Extreme Weather: Interconnections in Extreme Weather

Discover the ways in which air and water interact in a vast complex system. This video clip illustrates the interconnections between rising sea levels, forest fires, droughts, heat waves, typhoons, powerful storms, and flooding.

About Climate Change

This article provides a comprehensive overview of climate change—evidence and causes—with photographs and links to additional resources.

Map of the Arctic Ocean and Arctic Circle with ice degradation data.

Find a collection of educational resources related to climate change and global warming.

Here’s what you need to know about the warming planet, how it’s affecting us, and what’s at stake.

About Weather

This collection contains a selection of content from NG Education about weather.

This article gives a comprehensive definition of weather.

This lesson plan engages students in drawing pictures that symbolize different types of weather and then use information about today's weather to make their own state weather map.