Earth as a System

WGBH/Boston

This short video uses animated imagery from satellite remote sensing systems to illustrate that Earth is a complex, evolving body characterized by ceaseless change. Adapted from NASA, this visualization helps explain why understanding Earth as an integrated system of components and processes is essential to science education.

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Notes from our reviewers

The CLEAN collection is hand-picked and rigorously reviewed for scientific accuracy and classroom effectiveness. Read what our review team had to say about this resource below or learn more about how CLEAN reviews teaching materials.

Packed with information in a short period of time, it offers a "big picture" overview that will require "unpacking". This video could offer a good introduction to a climate change or an Earth System science unit. Audio is necessary to explain what you are seeing. Closed-caption available. Background info and discussion points are on the website.
This video offers a general overview of the complexities of the Earth System including climate; some details, such as the role of subduction and volcanism to the long term carbon cycle, are not included. Connections to human impacts on climate are embedded in the video. Comments from expert scientist: Highlights the interactive nature of Earth's systems, eg. the role the oceans play in weather. Mentions that Earth's atmosphere is affected by heat stored in Earth's oceans, and then goes on to discuss sea surface temperatures (SSTs) only. It should be made clearer that temperatures below the surface, and deeper currents, also play a role in the redistribution of heat around the planet, and subsequently weather systems.