My NASA Data Lesson: Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean

Coral Bleaching in the Caribbean is a teacher-derived lesson available from My NASA Data which is a web-based resource designed with educators in mind. In this 50-minute activity, students use satellite data to determine when the sea surface temperature (SST) meets the criteria to induce coral bleaching. During late 2005, a major coral bleaching event occurred in the Caribbean Sea. Students collect SST data (time series plot) from the MY NASA DATA Live Access Server (LAS) to explore this event. The time series data can also be correlated with map analysis (see figure on above). The lesson includes easy to follow steps for accessing data from LAS as well as a teacher answer key (pdf).

If you have never used LAS, this is a great way to get familiar with how to use this resource as data sets are available for the following topics:
        Atmosphere
        Atmospheric Radiation
        Biosphere   
        Cryosphere   
        Land Surface
        Oceans   
        Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy


Alignment to NC Essential Standards  (grades 9-12)
Bio2.1.3 (mutualism between corals and symbiotic zooxantheallae)
Bio2.2.1
EEn.2.6.4