Weatherthings
A Rainbow May be a Circle
A simple demonstration shows how a rainbow can be a full circle, depending on perspective.
Weatherthings
Wildfire Safety: Being Ready
How, when, and where wildfires happen, with a focus on safety. Wildfires need fuel and heat, so they can happen in any dry place. They are a natural part of Earth and they do have benefits. Most are caused by human activity. Wildfires...
Curated Video
NASA | Intern Profile – Jorel Torres
Summer intern Jorel Torres, a graduate student from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, talks about snow research and the value of hard work, persistence, and passion.
Weatherthings
Flight Passenger, Left Side Window View
A celebration of cloud types, colors, heights and textures, as seen out the window of a passenger airplane.
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water on Earth - Lakes
Water on Earth focuses on water as most kids would think about it. We start with water in obvious locations such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. We quickly learn that water can change phase to remain a solid in glaciers. Many kids may be...
Weatherthings
Grid Waves
Sometimes waves arrive at a beach or shore in the shape of a grid. Here's how that may happen.
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water on Earth - Rivers
Water on Earth focuses on water as most kids would think about it. We start with water in obvious locations such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. We quickly learn that water can change phase to remain a solid in glaciers. Many kids may be...
Weatherthings
Some Clouds are Bright Some Clouds are Dark
A simple demonstration showing how some clouds are bright and others are dark.
Weatherthings
Parhelic Circle
If you've ever noticed a white ring in the thin clouds that goes through the sun, this is what it is.
Weatherthings
Hurricane Laura and Hurricane Delta
Louisiana was struck by two hurricanes within six weeks in 2020. Hurricane Laura was a powerful Category 4. Hurricane Delta was a Category 2. The two hurricanes made landfall in almost the same location. Combined, they took dozens of...
Weatherthings
Weather and Seasons: sun, heat, air, wind, rain
A little girl and her grandfather spend a summer afternoon sitting by a pond. The conversation changes from how warm the summer day is to how the pond gets cold and freezes in the winter. The grandfather helps the girl understand how the...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water in the Air - Hail
Water in the Air reveals the varied phases of water that surround us, fall on us, travel in air, and serve as a crucial component of the water cycle. Emphasis is on the fact that water in air can be vapor or solid, visible or invisible,...
Weatherthings
Sun, Heat, Air and Wind: sun, heat, air
A curious pre-school child asks questions to a big kid about how weather works. Every answer is enlightening yet leads to another question. The little child learns that wind is air that moves, that may be gentle or strong and even...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water on Earth - Summary
Water on Earth focuses on water as most kids would think about it. We start with water in obvious locations such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. We quickly learn that water can change phase to remain a solid in glaciers. Many kids may be...
Weatherthings
A Sun Dog is a Mock Sun is a Parhelion
Often, next to the sun, we find very bright patches of color. This describes what they are, and that they are not rainbows.
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water as a Natural Resource - Conserve Water
In Water as a Natural Resource we are introduced to words such as habitat, ecosystem, watershed and estuary. Not only do kids learn that water exists everywhere on Earth, but that it is vital for life in plants, animals, and all other...
Weatherthings
Ship Tracks
Ships leave trails of vapor, called ship tracks, in humid ocean air. You see them here, on satellite.
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water in the Air - Snow
Water in the Air reveals the varied phases of water that surround us, fall on us, travel in air, and serve as a crucial component of the water cycle. Emphasis is on the fact that water in air can be vapor or solid, visible or invisible,...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water in the Air - Quiz
Water in the Air reveals the varied phases of water that surround us, fall on us, travel in air, and serve as a crucial component of the water cycle. Emphasis is on the fact that water in air can be vapor or solid, visible or invisible,...
Weatherthings
Hurricane Sandy: The Impact on Society
What led to the unique path of Hurricane Sandy in 2016 and why it had such a large impact, as the second most-costly hurricane to hit the United States in modern times. It was nicknamed a superstorm for the wide impact it had in the...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water on Earth - Estuaries
Water on Earth focuses on water as most kids would think about it. We start with water in obvious locations such as oceans, lakes, and rivers. We quickly learn that water can change phase to remain a solid in glaciers. Many kids may be...
Weatherthings
Wildfire Safety: Threats and impacts
How, when, and where wildfires happen, with a focus on safety. Wildfires need fuel and heat, so they can happen in any dry place. They are a natural part of Earth and they do have benefits. Most are caused by human activity. Wildfires...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water as a Natural Resource - Pollution
In Water as a Natural Resource we are introduced to words such as habitat, ecosystem, watershed and estuary. Not only do kids learn that water exists everywhere on Earth, but that it is vital for life in plants, animals, and all other...
Weatherthings
Water Smart: Water as a Natural Resource - Wastewater
In Water as a Natural Resource we are introduced to words such as habitat, ecosystem, watershed and estuary. Not only do kids learn that water exists everywhere on Earth, but that it is vital for life in plants, animals, and all other...