GPM Overview

1
Water in the Atmosphere
GPM Education and Public Outreach NASA Goddard
Space Flight Center
2
ENGAGE
What do you think this drawing represents?
3
The Atmosphere

• is the envelope of gases that surrounds the
  Earth.

• has 5 layers that are held in place by gravity.

• keeps Earth warm and filters out harmful forms of
  sunlight.

• is made of nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor, carbon
  dioxide, and ozone.

• is important to study because it gives us our
  weather and climate.

4
The Atmosphere and the Water Cycle
Which components of the water cycle involve the
atmosphere?
5
The Water Cycle
The Water Cycle animation from NASA/GSFC SVS
10501
6
Weather and Climate
7
How much water is in the atmosphere?

• Quantitative
• Rainfall
• Air temperature
• pH of rain
• Relative humidity

• Qualitative
• Cloud type and cover

8
Data Collection
Group Rainfall pH Relative Humidity Cloud Type Cloud Cover
1
2
3
4
5
Explain Based on the data you collected, water
is _____ (not present, somewhat present,
highly present) in the atmosphere today.
Provide evidence to support your answer.
9
Evaluate
Label the parts of the water cycle that involve
the atmosphere and describe how the atmosphere is
an important part of the water cycle.
Hints evaporation, transpiration, precipitation,
clouds, plants, wind
10
GPM
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM)
Satellite will collect precipitation data from
around the world. Knowing where and how much
rain or snow falls globally is vital to
understanding how weather and climate impact both
our environment and Earths water and energy
cycles, including effects on agriculture, fresh
water availability, and responses to natural
disasters.
11
Video- Our Wet, Wide World