BACKGROUND
The Sun-Earth Connection program is one of the four principal science themes of NASA’s Office of Space Sciences. This program is a partnership between NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center and UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. Numerous ground based observatories and organizations contribute to studying Sun-Earth Connection topics. The mission of the program is to increase science literacy and steward Sun-Earth Connection science resources. While the major focus of the Sun-Earth Connection program is investigating the physical processes that link the Sun and the Earth, the program can be divided into science content areas for educational purposes. (Sun-Earth Connection Program Overview).
TEACHERS
This program encompasses a large variety of science topics that cover a broad spectrum of science disciplines. The science content of the entire program matches most completely with Earth & Space Science or Environmental Science courses. Earth & Space Science and Environmental Science teachers could use program information and data to teach Astronomy or Sun-Earth interaction units.
Individual portions of the Sun-Earth Connections program are excellent practical examples of Physics and Chemistry topics. Physics and Chemistry teachers could use the Sun-Earth Connection project to provide real life connections and increase student interest in their units on:
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Energy Transfer
- Atmospheric Chemistry Magnetism
- There is a variety of background information and suggested activities currently available on the internet. The Sun-Earth Connections project takes Sun-Earth topics that are currently taught in your classroom and adds current studies on these topics.
- SCIENCE CONTENT AREAS
1. SOLAR STUDIES - These are investigations that focus upon physical processes inside and near the surface of the Sun. These topics include:
- Layers of the Sun
- Solar Energy Production
- Interior Energy Transfer
- Surface features
- Solar Flares
- Coronal Mass Ejections
- 2. SOLAR VARIABILITY - Solar energy output varies over time periods of seconds and years. These topics include:
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Solar Rotational Cycle
- Sunspot Cycle
- Magnetic Activity Cycle
- 3. SOLAR WIND & SURFACE EVENTS - In addition to electromagnetic energy the sun emits high energy charged particles which comprise the solar wind. Solar wind is measured by satellites and varies with solar cycles and fluctuations in surface activity. These topics include:
- Solar Wind
- Solar Wind/Surface Events
- Solar Wind Measurements
- 4. SOLAR INTERACTIONS WITH THE EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE AND SPACE ENVIRONMENT - The earth’s magnetosphere, atmosphere, and surface are constantly bathed in electromagnetic energy and charged particles from the sun. These particles and energy add to the dynamics of the earth system. These topics include:
- Earth’s Magnetosphere
- Magnetosphere/Solar Wind Interaction
- Auroras
- Atmospheric Chemistry/Solar Wind Interaction
- Solar Variability and Climate Change
- Earth’s Space Environment
- 5. IMPACTS OF SPACE WEATHER ON HUMAN ENDEAVORS - Space Weather (electromagnetic energy wavelength and charged particle concentrations), like weather on earth, is monitored, broadcast, and forecasted. Variations in space weather can have a pronounced effect upon manned space missions, orbiting satellites, and Earth’s power grids. With an increasing number of human lives and $110 billion in orbiting technology, private companies and governments are becoming increasingly concerned with the study of space weather. Science topics include:
- Effects of Electromagnetic Radiation and Charged Particles upon Living Organisms
- Space Weather/Monitoring/Forecasting
- Effects of Space Weather upon Orbiting Technologies
- One goal of the GESSEP 1999 Teacher Ambassador group is to develop education investigations for each of the science content areas associated with the Sun-Earth Connections program. These investigations will be designed for students, teachers and the general public. Investigations will be internet based and will utilize available science data and technologies. Investigations completed by the GESSEP group can be found through the links below:
- Solar Cycle Investigations
NASA Education Mall
- Links to other educational products associated with the Sun-Earth Connections program available on the web:
- Stanford Solar Center
NASA Image Poetry Education
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