Our “The Sum of Its Parts: Earth as a System” page explores how these systems connect and how scientists observe them to see the bigger picture.
10.03.2026 20:50
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Our “The Sum of Its Parts: Earth as a System” page explores how these systems connect and how scientists observe them to see the bigger picture.
From forests and oceans to the atmosphere and glaciers, every part of Earth interacts with the others in surprising ways! 🌍 While it is important to understand each sphere on its own, it is just as important to understand the interactions between the spheres that make up the entire Earth system.
Satellite view of clouds over the continents
Earth is a system made up of many connected parts, often described as “spheres”: the atmosphere, biosphere, cryosphere, and geosphere. Studying these spheres helps scientists better understand how our planet works.
We're grateful for such an engaged and enthusiastic community—we hope to see you at the Mesa Lab again soon, sign up to be notified about our next event in Fall 2026!
We loved watching learners dive into hands-on activities, ask questions, and share their discoveries. Days like this remind us how powerful curiosity can be!
A group of six people standing outside taking measurements with weather instruments
A family of four working on an activity with pipe cleaners
Families spread out around tables in the Mesa Lab classroom working on activities
What a wonderful Homeschool Day last week at the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social Mesa Lab!
Thank you to all the homeschool families and groups who spent the day with us exploring wind, weather, and Earth science.
A promotional flyer for a seminar hosted by NSF and NCAR. It features a satellite in space. The text reads: "Keeping space safe: Understanding the impacts of space weather on satellite orbits." The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 11, 2026, from 7:00 to 8:30 PM MT at the NSF NCAR Mesa Laboratory, Boulder, CO. A QR code and headshot of the speaker, Nick Pedatella, are included.
To prevent collisions of satellites and other "space junk," we need to predict the weather in space, just like we predict the weather on Earth. Join the NSF NCAR Explorer Series (virtually or in-person) to learn more about how researchers do that: https://edec.ucar.edu/events/space-debris
Less common red auroras form from interactions with oxygen at higher altitudes! To learn more about what causes these dazzling light displays, auroras on other planets, and more, visit our Learning Zone!
The color of an aurora depends both on the type of gas involved and the altitude where the interaction occurs. Green auroras are the most common, forming when solar particles interact with oxygen at lower altitudes in the thermosphere.
Solar particles trapped there interact with gases, primarily oxygen and nitrogen, to produce colorful displays of light. Oxygen gives off green and red light, while nitrogen glows blue and reddish-purple.
A bright green aurora over dark trees at the bottom
Why are auroras different colors? 🌌
Auroras—called the aurora borealis in the Northern Hemisphere and the aurora australis in the Southern Hemisphere—occur in part of Earth's upper atmosphere, in a layer called the thermosphere.
Head to the Learning Zone to explore the science behind the colors of the sky, sundogs, and more.
Perfect for curious learners, educators, and anyone who loves looking up!
A dry field on sunny blue sky day with a few light clouds
Ever wondered why the sky looks the way it does?
From brilliant blue afternoons to colorful sunsets and even rainbows, the sky's changing appearance comes from how sunlight interacts with Earth's atmosphere!
Our booth will be located outside in the Outdoor Adventures area on the LSC Plaza. Find us and @ncar-ucar.bsky.social EdEc to learn about severe weather through interactive demonstrations and our "Weather that Spins" activities!
A crowd of people gathered outside for the science-magic demonstrations.
Come join us at the CSU Little Shop of Physics Open House💫
This event is FREE and open to the public, welcoming curious minds of all ages!
🗓️ Sunday, March 1, 2026, from 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
📍CSU Lory Student Center, Fort Collins, CO
Our booth will be located outside in the Outdoor Adventures area on the LSC Plaza. Find us and @ncar-ucar.bsky.social EdEc to learn about severe weather through interactive demonstrations and our "Weather that Spins" activities!
Fluffy clouds around mountain peaks in a fjord
A beach sunset with clouds
Curious about clouds? 🔎☁️
With our free Field Guide to Clouds app, you can identify different types of clouds, learn what they can tell us about the weather, and test your cloud knowledge with quizzes! Search "Field Guide to Clouds" in the Apple or Google Play store or scied.ucar.edu/apps/cloud-g...
The Learning Zone brings these ideas to life through free, engaging resources that are designed to support learning at all levels.
Whether you're a student, educator, or lifelong learner, there's always something new to discover!
A booth staff member smiling down at a student.
Today is National Science Day, a day to celebrate curiosity, discovery, and the science that helps us understand the world around us. From weather patterns and Earth's interconnected systems to the Sun and space weather, science helps explain how our planet works.
We'll also explore free K-12 teaching resources designed to help students connect science with real-world scenarios beyond the classroom. Participants will receive a certificate of participation and NSTA activity points.
📅 Feb. 19, 2026
🕔 5:00–6:00 pm MST
💻 Virtual
To learn more or register:
A photo of a snowplow plowing a snowy highway with two lanes of cars behind it. Text in the top left corner says "Innovations in Road Weather Science. Feb 19"
Final reminder for our February 19th virtual teacher professional development session "Innovations in Road Weather Science!"
Hosted by NSTA, this session dives into how scientists use weather data, modeling, and emerging technologies to better understand road conditions and improve traffic safety.
Our 360° virtual tour takes you inside the NWSC and through visitor center exhibits that connect this computing power directly to the research it supports. Step inside and explore how data, models, and technology are used to inform real-world situations.
Operated by @ncar-cisl.bsky.social, these powerful systems process enormous datasets and run complex models that allow scientists to explore patterns, test ideas, and push innovation forward!
The Derecho supercomputer at the NSF NCAR-Wyoming Supercomputing Center
How does a supercomputer help further research?
At the @ncar-ucar.bsky.social-Wyoming Supercomputing Center (NWSC), high-performance computing systems support data visualization, weather forecasting, and other critical space and Earth system research.
This lesson is part of a larger 8-lesson high school curriculum unit that uses the Gulf Coast as a cast study to examine how environmental systems interact with human communities, land use, and natural hazards. To explore this lesson or the full curriculum, visit:
A Focus on Estuaries has high school students explore features of these ecosystems and the roles they play for plants, animals, and people. Through hands-on investigation and real-world examples, students build observation, analysis, and systems-thinking skills while discovering why wetlands matter.
A wetland near a beach in Costa Rica
Estuaries are among the most productive ecosystems on Earth! Where rivers meet the sea, fresh and saltwater mix to create dynamic environments that support wildlife, protect shorelines, and help keep our water systems healthy.
During solar maximum, strong magnetic fields cause numerous sunspots and more frequent solar storms. During solar minimum, the Sun’s magnetic field weakens, resulting in fewer sunspots and less solar activity overall. Learn more about solar cycles and active Sun in our Learning Zone!
A coronal mass ejection happening from the bottom left side of the Sun
Our Sun is a very active place! ☀️
Scorching, swirling plasma and shifting magnetic fields create stunning solar phenomena, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections that drive solar storms. Solar activity also changes over time, cycling between a minimum and a maximum about every 11 years.
To our Boulder friends: The NSF NCAR Mesa Lab is closed to the public today, Monday, Jan. 26, due to a power outage.