Earth Systems
US Census Bureau
A good source for social, demographic, and economic information.
Principles of Global Dynamics
An on-line course dealing with the quantitative study of the earth system as a whole, from the core to the upper
atmosphere.
A Geologist's Lifetime Field List
This site contains information about many of the interesting geological wonders of the world, with links for most
of them.
USGS: Ask-A-Geologist
You can email earth science questions to a USGS geologist.
The Great Globe Gallery
Views and maps of the world
Minerals
Smithsonian Gem & Mineral Collection
Images and descriptions of outstanding mineral specimens in the Smithsonian's collection.
ATHENA: Mineralogy
A searchable database with images for minerals by name or chemical composition.
USGS Mineral Resources Program
The Mineral Resources Program is responsible for providing and communicating current, unbiased information
on the occurrence, quality, quantity, and availability of mineral resources.
Ken's Fluorescent Minerals
Pictures of fluorescent minerals photographed under long wave (LW) or short wave (SW) ultraviolet light.
The Minerals Gallery
A constantly growing collection of mineral descriptions, images, and specimens that can be purchased.
Mineral Page
A list of about 100 minerals with images and descriptions of each mineral.
Rocks
Petrology Basics
University of British Columbia: Online class notes.
Rock Cycles
Description of the rock cycle with some links to other related sites.
Rob's Granite Page
All about granite.
Oman Virtual Field Trip
Field trip to one of the most famous igneous provinces. Lots of images.
Rockhounds Information Page
Index of places to find and purchase rocks and minerals.
Geologic Time
The Age of the Earth
Information on the many ways that geologists tell geologic time.
St. Louis Science Center's Geological Timeline
An exhibit on past life and environments at the St. Louis Science Center, Missouri.
The Hunterian Museum: Earth Life
Fossils at the Hunterian Museum, University of Glasgow, Scotland.
Radiocarbon WEB-info
Online information concerning the radiocarbon dating method.
Paleontology Without Walls
Phylogenic, geologic time, and evolutionary thought.
UC Museum of Paleontology
University of California, Berkeley Museum of Paleontology.
Tectonics
The PLATES Project
View of plate tectonics throughout Earth's history.
Active Tectonics
Current ideas about plate tectonics.
Tectonic Plate Motion
A site that allows you to estimate tectonic motions for points around the world using satellite technologies.
Plate Motion Calculator
This site computes the velocity and motion direction of relative tectonic plate motion for any two points in the
world.
Introduction to Plate Tectonics
A brief site that also describes types of plate boundaries.
Plate Tectonics USGS
The story of plate tectonics by the USGS.
Earthquakes
Plate Tectonics, the Cause of Earthquakes
A description of earthquakes and their causes.
USGS: National Earthquake Information Center
Earthquake Information for the World.
USGS: Latest Earthquake Information
Near-real-time Earthquake Bulletin provided by the National Earthquake Information Service (NEIS) of the U. S.
Geological Survey. This list includes the 21 most recent earthquakes.
Earthquake Engineering Research Institute (EERI)
News and information pertaining to earthquakes and earthquake research.
Earthquake-related Links
A variety of earthquake links maintained by the USGS.
Volcanoes
USGS: Learning about Volcanoes
Learn all about volcanoes. Lesson plans and teaching activities.
FEMA - Volcanoes
Federal Emergency Management Agency. What you need to know to protect yourself in the event of a volcanic
eruption.
Smithsonian Institution - Global Volcanism Program
Great resource on all aspects of volcanism.
Volcano World Starting Points
Great place to start to learn all about volcanoes.
Glossary of Volcanic Terminology
Glossary of volcanic hazards, features, phenomena, processes, events, topics, and terminology.
Volcanoes of the World
An alphabetical list of the world's volcanoes with links to more information about each volcano.
USGS Volcanoes
U.S. Geological Survey Volcano Hazards Program.
Structures, Mountains, Continents
Structural Geology on the Web
A collection of links to assorted structural geology and tectonics resources available on the World Wide Web.
Structural Geology - Cornell University
Cornell University image gallery and animations showing formation of different structures.
Geological Society of America
Structural Geology and Tectonics Division.
Crustal Dynamics Data Information Systems
A central data bank for NASA's Crustal Dynamics Project.
Weathering, Soil, Erosion
National Landslide Information Center
Information about landslides and recent landslide activity.
Landslides at Mount Rainier
History of Landslides and Debris Flows at Mount Rainier, Washington.
Geologic Hazards - Landslides (USGS)
Imagery, reports, and maps dealing with landslides.
PROJECT - California Landslide Monitoring
Real-time monitoring of an active landslide above Highway 50, California.
Soil Science Education Page
A NASA page containing lots of informative material on soils.
ESD Soil Survey
Ecological Sciences Division of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Streams, Groundwater, Wetlands, Lakes
American Rivers Home
A nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring America's rivers.
Hydrology Primer
Hydrology Primer by the USGS.
USGS - Water Resources of the United States
US Geological Survey information about surface and groundwater.
The Edwards Aquifer Home Page
The Edwards Aquifer is a unique groundwater system and one of the most prolific artesian aquifers in the world.
EPA's Office of Water Homepage
Access to EPA publications, databases, software, and regulations dealing with water quality issues.
Glaciers
Glaciers
A great site all about glaciers with a virtual field trip to Antarctica.
Glacial Geology at the University of Cincinnati
Lots of images and information on glaciers.
NSIDC Education Resources
Science research for scientists and educational resources for teachers and students.
National Snow and Ice Data Center
An information and referral center supporting polar and cryospheric research.
Satellite Images: Glaciers
Satellite Image Atlas of Glaciers of the World.
Ocean Basins
USGS Woods Hole Field Center
Marine and coastal geology, environmental quality and preservation, natural hazards and public safety, natural
resources, and earth-sciences information and technology.
OCEANIC
Information about ocean circulation/currents, ocean-atmosphere interactions, ocean research vessels, and other
oceanographic topics.
Interactive Marine Observations
National Weather Service: near real-time marine conditions along U.S. coasts.
NOAA National Oceanographic Data Center (NODC)
NOAA: world's largest collection of publicly available oceanographic data.
The National Marine Mammal Laboratory
Research on marine mammals with particular attention to issues related to marine mammals off the coasts of
Oregon, Washington, and Alaska.
Atmosphere
University Corporation for Atmospheric Research
Atmospheric information maintained by UCAR (a consortium of 63 member universities).
Hourly U.S. Weather Statistics Page
Current and archived statistics of the weather over the contiguous United States.
Atmospheric Pressure
A NASA-sponsored site which discusses the importance of air pressure with experiments to demonstrate its
effects.
ReMax - Hot Air Ballooning
A series of activities and exercises to learn all about the atmosphere and how lighter-than-air balloons are able
to "fly."
El Niño
The impact of El Niño on Midwest climate.
Weather
National Weather Service
Starting point for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The Martian Sun-Times
The current weather on Mars.
University of Washington Atmospheric Science
Information and links about weather and climate.
Storm Prediction Center
Information and forecasts on severe and non-severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and other hazardous weather
phenomena across the coterminous U.S.
The University of Michigan Weather Underground
Interactive weather maps and much more.
Climate
NASA Global Temperature Anomaly Data
Data from nine separate satellites providing a global record of temperature fluctuations in the lower troposphere
and lower stratosphere.
Ozone Action!
Access real time data on ozone levels for Michigan during the summer ozone season.
World Climate
Over 85,000 records of world climate data (historical weather averages).
NCDC: Climatic Extremes and Weather Events
Information dealing with tornadoes, hurricanes, extreme weather events, and temperature and precipitation
extremes.
Climate Data Product
Data tables of meteorological elements outlining the climatic conditions at major weather observing stations in
all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and Pacific Islands.
Climate Change
Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory: provides information to evaluate complex environmental issues, including
potential climate change associated with elevated levels of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Climate Processes over the Oceans
Earth Observing System, NASA, University of Washington: focuses on the role of circulation, clouds, radiation,
water vapor, and precipitation in climate change, and the role of ocean-atmosphere interactions in the energy
and water cycles.
A Simulation of Global Warming
Brief synopsis of the 1995 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
NCDC: Global Warming
A brief synopsis of the 1995 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
Joint Global Ocean Flux Study
The role of the oceans in global climate change.