LAB 1: GEOLOGIC PERSPECTIVES & PLATE TECTONICS
EARTH AS A DYNAMIC PLANETARY SYSTEM
The University of Delaware, Ocean Information Center provides information about ocean circulation/currents, ocean-atmosphere interactions, ocean research vessels, and other oceanographic
topics.
The GeoSphere Project describes their four-phase plan to develop new ways of looking at the world--as a dynamic global system.
SCALES OF OBSERVATION & RATES OF CHANGE
Geology & Geologic Time is a Berkeley site that introduces the concept of geologic time and describes the so-called geologic time scale.
Geologic Time Scale presents the basic scale with historical notes for each division of time.
USNO Master Clock is the official time keeper of the United States based on cesium atomic clocks and hydrogen masers. Check to see exactly how the U.S. Navy keeps Precise Time with the Master Clock and also check to see exactly what time it is.
The Geoindicators Page describes how geologic indicators of environmental change are identified, observed at various scales, and measured to obtain data that can be used to determine rates, magnitudes, and trends of change over periods of 100 years or less.
The Center for Advanced Spatial Technologies, University of Arkansas, site has information on some of the latest technologies used to portray and interpret spatial relationships among Earth
features; e.g.,the Global Positioning System (GPS) and geographic information systems (GIS).
PROCESSES & CYCLES OF CHANGE
Biological Diversity is a CIESIN Thematic Guide that discusses the importance of biodiversity, the current status of Earth's biodiversity, causes of changes in biodiversity, and the management of biodiversity.
The Rates & Processes of Environmental Change page uses examples of deforestation, desertification, mangrove destruction, and sea-level change, to show how knowledge of rates and magnitudes of environmental change are important to decision makers.
GEOLOGIC HAZARDS & HUMAN RISKS
ReliefWeb is a United Nations Department of Humanitarian Affairs site for news and information about disaster preparedness, prevention, and response. Check the Current Global Emergencies List to find out where the world's worst natural disasters have occurred recently.
USGS Natural Hazards Programs has good information about human risks, natural hazards, and recent disasters.
GAIA Alert of the New Civilization Network has outstanding information and hotlinks on natural hazards, disaster preparedness, and many prophecies of environmental change.
You may also be interested in browsing the New Civilization Network Homepage.
WWW Virtual Library has background information on natural hazards and some risks taken by humans.
The Natural Hazards Mitigation Group at University of Geneva describes how their group studies and mitigates natural hazards to reduce human risk
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has abundant information about natural hazards and about how to prepare for disasters and reduce human risk.
NASA's Asteroid & Comet Impact Hazards page is a reminder that natural hazards from outside of the Earth system may also present a significant risk to humans and other life on Earth.
RESOURCES FROM ROCKS & MINERALS
Mineral Commodity Summaries are provided by the U.S. Geological Survey. Commodities are listed alphabetically.
Minerals Under the Microscope describes how thin-sections of rocks and minerals are made and then viewed with a polarising microscope
FAULTS
How to make 3-dimensional cut-outs of faults is a site provided by the University of Kansas so that you can practice visualizing the different kinds of faults in three dimensions.
Airborne Hunt for Faults is a U.S. Geological Survey site on locating faults in the Portland-Vancouver area that pose an earthquake threat.
PLATE TECTONICS
Plate Tectonics, the Cause of Earthquakes is another nice introduction to
plate tectonics that includes satellite images and drawings.
Types of Plate Motion is a brief site that also describes types of plate boundaries.
Tectonic Plate Motion is a site that allows you to estimate tectonic motions for points around the world using satellite technologies.
LINKS ON SPECIFIC LOCATIONS DISCUSSED IN THIS LABORATORY
Greater Yellowstone Geology has hotlinks for abundant information on the geology of Yellowstone National Park and vicinity, courtesy of University of Wyoming.
Hawaii page from SOEST, has satellite images and videos of clouds and ocean environments in the Hawaiian Islands, an Ocean Atlas of Hawaii, and Maui Weather Today.
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