To celebrate the June 2011 launch of the Aquarius/SAC-D satellite, COSEE-OS conducted a workshop for K-12 educators at
NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). Day 1 of the workshop featured eminent NASA scientists who worked collaboratively with educators to
examine connections between the water cycle, ocean circulation, climate and sea surface salinity. Using an online Concept Map Builder the
scientist/educator teams developed concept maps to enable effective communication of these connections.
On Day 2, educators toured the JPL
facility, attached scientist-vetted content (e.g., animations and images, news items) to their online concept maps, and conducted "hands on"
activities that support workshop themes.
About Aquarius
Aquarius will employ advanced technologies to make NASA's first space-based measurements
of ocean salinity across the globe - an important observation for ocean and climate studies. From 650 kilometers (400 miles) above Earth's
surface, Aquarius will detect changes in sea surface salinity (SSS) as small as a "pinch" of salt in a gallon of water. The mission is a collaboration
between NASA and the Space Agency of Argentina (Comisión Nacional de Actividades Espaciales).
Mission Overview Video
transcript |
download movie (right click)
Watch a webinar featuring Principal Investigator Gary Lagerloef
and Project Scientist Yi Chao as they prepare for the launch of NASA's first
space-based measurements of ocean salinity across the globe - an important observation for ocean and climate studies.
Part I:
Yi Chao illustrates the history and technology behind the Aquarius instrument
Part II:
Gary Lagerloef explains the science goals and broader implications of studying SSS
Part III:
Gary and Yi explain the challenges of studying climate at different time scales
VIEW the Concepts Maps Created at this Workshop |
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Workshop contact: Annette deCharon
