Be a Citizen Scientist! The USGS sponsors or has partnerships with many citizen science programs that are appropriate for classroom projects, for individual students, or for interested citizens. USGS Hazards Did You Feel It? People who experience an earthquake are encouraged to go online and share information about its effects to help create a map of shaking intensities and damage. These “Community Internet Intensity Maps” contribute greatly toward the quick assessment of the scope of an earthquake emergency and provide valuable data for earthquake research. [Read More]

Collecting Real World Data Activity Source: National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Adapted with permission. Scientists collect data to understand Earth and how it changes. Quantitative data involves taking measurements, while qualitative data are observations and descriptions of phenomena. When it comes to climate, scientists try to collect as much and as many types of data as possible to be able to analyze how climate is changing and what effects it is having. [Read More]

Cores for Kids Activity Source: International Ocean Discovery Program Background The JOIDES Resolution is a ship that operates on behalf of the International Ocean Discovery Program and is one of a handful of vessels designed specifically to drill into the ocean floor for scientific research. The cylinders of sediment and rock that are recovered from the ocean floor — ​called “cores” — ​can be considered time machines, revealing secrets from Earth’s past about geology, climate change, and the origins and extremes of life. [Read More]

Enliven Data With Art Activity Source: Science Friday, Adapted with permission. There are many reasons people look to art for expression. Art is a means to express emotion, document events, and convey information. In this exercise, you will select a scientific graph that addresses an important real-world issue, create an illustrated graph from that original, and craft an effective artist’s statement that connects the two. Once you’re done, keep an eye out for other ways you can merge science with art. [Read More]

Exploring Low-Temperature Geothermal Energy Activity Source: American Association of Petroleum Geologists Background Geothermal energy harnesses Earth’s internal heat to generate power. Typically, it involves tapping into high-temperature reservoirs of hot water deep beneath Earth’s surface. However, as the demand for clean energy grows, researchers are developing innovative techniques to access common low-temperature geothermal sources found closer to Earth’s surface. New technologies broaden the geographic reach of geothermal energy, making it a more accessible and sustainable energy option. [Read More]

Using Global Earth Science Data Activity Source: NASA Background With the use of cutting-edge remote sensing technologies, NASA can collect a wealth of data that offers a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of our planet. This data ranges from monitoring land cover changes and oceanic currents to deciphering climate patterns and atmospheric composition through an intricate network of satellites, ground-based sensors, and aerial platforms. The My NASA Data visualization tool, the Earth System Data Explorer (ESDE), helps learners visualize complex Earth System data sets over space and time. [Read More]

What Does Data Sound Like? Activity Source: The American Geophysical Union Background Look at a picture of a beach. What do you see? If you were there, what might you hear? What do those sounds tell you about the environment? How can sounds be used to convey information? Data sonification is a technique that transforms numerical information into sound, allowing us to listen to data patterns instead of visualizing them. In the context of geologic data, this means converting geological information, such as seismic activity or rock formations, into audible tones. [Read More]