TOPEX/POSEIDON and Jason-1 Educational Outreach - Jointly sponsored by NASA and the French Space Agency (CNES) the TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite has
continuously surveyed the ocean surface height with a radar altimeter since launch in 1992. Now operating
beyond its design lifetime, it is hoped that TOPEX/POSEIDON will continue to collect data until fall of
2000 when the follow-on mission, Jason-1, will be launched.
Scientists are using TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite data, accurate to within 4cm, to learn about ocean
circulation including phenomena such as the El NiŅo/La NiŅa cycle. Oceans are a key mechanism in
transporting heat from the sun around the globe. Researchers are working to improve the understanding of
the role of oceans in controlling seasonal variations and longer-term climate changes.
TOPEX/POSEIDON data are also used for operational purposes including ship routing, fisheries
management, hurricane forecasting and support of underwater activities such as cable laying.
The TOPEX/POSEIDON and Jason-1 projects develop and provide a wide variety of physical
oceanography materials to K-13 educators and students including CD-ROMs, posters, brochures and
videos. Many resources are available through the Web. TOPEX/POSEIDON satellite data are posted on
the Web and can be accessed for use in the classroom.
Contact: Susan Digby, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, M/S 263-355, 4800 Oak Grove Drive, Pasadena, CA
91109 USA; Phone: (818) 354-6036; Fax (818) 354-0368; Email: topex@jpl.nasa.gov
(Added: 18-Apr-2001 Hits: 1107) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8|9-12|K-2]
Tropical Twisters - Hurricanes: How They Work and What They Do - Hurricanes are what scientists call "strong Tropical
Cyclones". Tropical Cyclones are formed when large areas
of the ocean become heated and the air pressure over that
area drops, this in turn causes thunderstorms and strong
surface winds. Find out about how hurricanes work and
what they do.
(Added: 28-Jun-1999 Hits: 2165) [Spider search][grade levels: 3-5|6-8|9-12]
UARS - The Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite Video and Resource Guide - This videotape was created to be a resource for helping to understand stratospheric ozone. The instruments aboard the UARS and their measurements are described in the tape and how they help in studying humankind's influence on ozone.
(Added: 2-Nov-2001 Hits: 728) [Spider search][grade levels: 9-12|post-secondary]
