The Effects of Atmospheric Particles on Climate

ThinkTV, Teachers' Domain

This video illustrates how atmospheric particles, or aerosols (such as black carbon, sulfates, dust, fog), can affect the energy balance of Earth regionally, and the implications for surface temperature warming and cooling.

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Notes from our reviewers

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See Teaching Tips provided with video. Educators may want to have students view the video individually.
Dramatic images adapted from NOAA reveal the regions where atmospheric particles are concentrated, and their patterns of movement around the globe. Comment from expert scientist: The direct radiative impact of aerosols is well-described for this educational level, in my view. Black carbon absorbs, Sulfate reflects. The students will gain an understanding of atmospheric aerosols, that they are naturally occurring and man-generated, that they're not one kind, and they impact the climate. I also appreciate the effort to show that there are regional and local variations on aerosol impacts.
Background essay, teaching tips, and standards alignment provided with video. Well-structured explanation of the effect of aerosols on incoming solar radiation. Information is provided at a rapid pace, making the video content very dense. The lack of science jargon makes this video appropriate for middle school as well as high school and lower level college.