NSF NCAR & UCAR Science Education

06/23/2026

Earlier this month, our team headed to Salt Lake City for more National Ozone Garden Network site visits!

Our first stop was the Natural History Museum of Utah at the University of Utah, where we visited the Ozone Gardens located on NHMU's Life Terrace. With the second growing season underway and new leaves emerging, it was a great opportunity to check in on the plants and see how the gardens are developing.

Next, our staff met up with the National Park Service for a site visit at Timpanogos Cave National Monument. Protected places like national parks and monuments offer unique opportunities for long-term environmental monitoring, contributing valuable observations that help us better understand how ozone affects plants across different landscapes and ecosystems.

Thank you to everyone who made these visits possible; we look forward to seeing the gardens grow!

06/21/2026

Happy Summer Solstice! ☀️

Today marks the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere, when the Sun reaches its northernmost point in the sky, and we experience our greatest amount of daylight.

Whether you're spending the day outdoors soaking up a little extra sunshine, catching the sunset, or stargazing later tonight, we hope you find a moment to appreciate our closest star and enjoy the science of the season!

How are you celebrating the first day of summer?

06/18/2026

This June, we are thrilled to have the support of Friends of the National Center during Give Outdoor Learning—a statewide celebration of environmental and outdoor learning. It's your chance to help more kids, families, teachers, and communities connect with our planet, grow confidence, and discover the joy of learning outside.

Here at the UCAR Center for Science Education, we provide free programs and outdoor experiences for students, teacher resources, and community engagement opportunities that inspire curiosity and deepen our understanding of the planet. Your generosity allows us to share these experiences with even more learners.

🌿Please consider making a donation to UCAR SciEd today: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/UCARSciEd

💞 Spread the love and help other environmental education organizations thrive: https://www.coloradogives.org/GiveOutdoorLearning

Thank you for supporting the UCAR Center for Science Education!

06/17/2026

What makes a hurricane a hurricane?

In this Animated Atmosphere video, you'll meet one of Earth's most powerful storms and learn how hurricanes form, why they can be so dangerous, and the different hazards they bring.

Whether you're curious about weather or looking for a quick way to learn something new, this short animation breaks down the science behind hurricanes in a fun and digestible way for the whole family!

Want more bite-sized atmospheric science videos? Explore the full Animated Atmosphere playlist on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLKOf8qv7lwLbPj3Dfp7uIFV53NMH7xp9X&si=9d5MvyCvFNWW0rys?utm_source=sm

🎨: FableVision

06/17/2026

When we think of how extreme wildfires start, we may imagine hot and dry conditions, but new research challenges this assumption. A new study from NSF NCAR notes that most warm years don’t produce large wildfires. Rather, while hot and dry weather can prime conditions, extreme wildfires need brief-lived windows of opportunity: an unusual confluence of winds, certain terrain, dry vegetation, and so on. This information can help emergency planners and land managers.

For her analysis, NSF NCAR fire scientist Janice Coen synthesized statistical studies, fire weather classifications, and computer models that bring together weather conditions and wildfire behavior.

Learn more about what really influences extreme fires: https://news.ucar.edu/133075/why-only-few-wildfires-become-extreme

06/15/2026

What keeps ocean water moving around our planet? 🌊🌎

Beneath the waves, a vast network of currents is constantly at work. Known as thermohaline circulation, or the "great ocean conveyor belt," this system moves water around the globe based on differences in temperature and salinity.

As cold, salty water sinks near the poles and warmer water rises elsewhere, ocean waters are connected in a slow-moving cycle that helps distribute heat, transport nutrients, and support life throughout the ocean. Some water can even spend centuries traveling through the deep ocean before returning to the surface!

Ready to dive deeper? Explore our Learning Zone page and discover how the "great ocean conveyor belt" connects oceans around the world:
https://scied.ucar.edu/video/ocean-move-thermohaline-circulation?utm_source=sm

📸: CLIVAR

06/15/2026

It’s a bird. It’s a plane. It’s a laboratory ON a plane!✈️ 🐦‍⬛ Join us at the upcoming Explorer Series lecture to hear about recent discoveries from field projects using "labs in the sky."

🗓️: Wed., June 17 from 7-8:30 P.M. MDT
📍: NSF NCAR Mesa Lab & online

Register: https://bit.ly/4vQ2inI

06/11/2026

Today, we're celebrating the power of curiosity, exploration, and discovery through interactive learning—or simply, play!

Did you know our Learning Zone offers a collection of free games and simulations focused on weather, atmospheric science, and space weather? With more than 30 interactive activities to choose from, there's something for curious minds of all ages!

Ready to play and learn? Explore the collection here:
https://scied.ucar.edu/interactive?utm_source=sm

Happy !

06/10/2026

06/08/2026