CALIPSO Teacher's Guide: Key Questions for Students

QUESTIONS YOUR STUDENTS ARE LIKELY TO IDENTIFY AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROBLEM SOLVING MODEL

What are aerosols, types, origins?
How does man-made pollution affect climate?
How do natural aerosols affect climate?
How do aerosols affect health?
How can we curb the amount of sulfur dioxide in the atmosphere? Should we?
What is the impact of burning fossil fuels on airborne residues?
What types of atmospheric pollution or aerosols are present in our region?
Are the levels of aerosols in our area a matter of concern for health, weather, and climate?

STUDENT AERSOLS AND POLLUTION PBL ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES
(some or all may be appropriate depending on your state’s standards and the needs of your curriculum.)

As a result of taking part in this activity, students should be able to:

Demonstrate an understanding of aerosols, their types and origins.
Discuss the impact of industrial pollution in the US and around the world.
Demonstrate an understanding of the interactions between aerosols and clouds.
Make recommendations concerning pollution levels and means to reduce them in the US.
Discuss human activities contributing to increases of aerosols.
Demonstrate understandings of aerosols’ impacts on plants, weather, climate, and health.

EXTENSIONS

After students investigate this problem and have learned more about aerosols, clouds and pollution, consider expanding one of these questions into other student-centered investigations.

What is the connection between aerosols and regional and global climate change?
What role do aerosols play in the Earth’s solar and radiation budgets?
What is the effect of increasing global aerosol levels on Earth’s cloudiness?
What role do aerosols have in reducing the ozone layer?

Teacher's Guide Home
CALIPSO Mission Objectives | Key Questions for Students
Problem-Solving Model | Materials and Procedures | Resources

APPENDICES
Appendix A: Sample Student Activity Sheet
Appendix B: Assessment Rubric
Appendix C: National Science Education Standards

Student Page Home

Contacts:

Dianne Q. Robinson, Ph. D.
Outreach Director
dianne.robinson@hamptonu.edu

Barbara Maggi
Assistant Outreach Director
barbara.maggi@hamptonu.edu

Responsible NASA official: Melinda Cagle, Science Manager, CALIPSO


NASA Langley Research Center	Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales	Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp.	Institut Pierre Simon Laplace	Hampton University

CALIPSO is a collaboration between NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC), the French space agency CNES, Hampton University, the Institut Pierre Simon Laplace (IPSL), and Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. The primary roles and contributions of these partners can be found at http://www-calipso.larc.nasa.gov. This mission is part of NASA's Earth System Science Pathfinder (ESSP) Program, a series of missions designed to examine critical issues in Earth system science.