KEY QUESTIONS FOR STUDENTS

QUESTIONS YOUR STUDENTS ARE LIKELY TO IDENTIFY AS THEY GO THROUGH THE PROBLEM SOLVING MODEL

• How do clouds form? How do Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) form?
• What does "Aeronomy" mean?
• What/where is the Mesosphere?
• What are the distinct layers of the atmosphere?
• What are the thermal characteristics (temperature changes), chemical composition, movement, and density of atmosphere layers?
• What are "noctilucent" clouds or NLCs?
• What are "polar mesospheric clouds", or PMCs?
• How do Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) form?
• What are the condensation particles found in PMCs/ NLCs?
• What is "cosmic dust"?
• What are "gravity waves?"?
• Do gravity waves have a role in the formation of Polar Mesospheric Clouds?
• Does man-made pollution affect the formation of ice in the mesosphere?
• What will the AIM satellite measure?
• What is climate change?

STUDENT AERSOLS AND POLLUTION PBL ACTIVITY OBJECTIVES

(some or all may be appropriate depending on your state's standards and the needs of your curriculum.)

• As a result of taking part in this activity, students should be able to:
• Discuss why Polar Mesospheric Clouds (PMCs) form and why they vary.
• Demonstrate understanding of PMCs and the thermal, chemical and dynamical environment in which they form.
• Begin to quantify the connection between these clouds and the meteorology of the polar mesosphere.
• Recognize the variability in the mesospheric climate and its relationship to global change.
• Identify PMC abundances, spatial distribution, particle size distributions, gravity wave activity, cosmic dust influx to the atmosphere and precise, vertical profile measurements of temperature, H₂O, OH, CH₄, O₃, CO₂, NO, and aerosols.
• Take into account past PMC changes and present trends as indicators of global change.

The AIM mission is a part of
NASA's Sun-Earth Connection Education Forum.