Plate tectonics theory, formulated in the 1960s and 70s, states that the Earth’s outer crust is composed of moving plates. For example, two hundred million years ago there was only one super continent named Pangaea. Plate tectonics also explains how …[Continue]
Earth Sciences Resources
Rivers
June is National Rivers Month. A river is a natural flow of water (usually freshwater) towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. They are an important part of our ecosystem as a source of water, food, transportation, defense, energy, …[Continue]
Sun Safety
Schools out! Summer sunshine is here. But don’t leave the house without your sunglasses, brimmed hat, and sunscreen. Why bother? Because despite the sun’s beneficial effects on our mood, even a small amount of daily exposure can lead to skin …[Continue]
The Ocean
Although it covers nearly three-quarters of the Earth, scientists call the ocean our planet’s last frontier, and say that we know more about the moon then we do the seafloor. While oceanographers are racing to learn more about the deep …[Continue]
Earthquakes
As a Californian, my life has been punctuated by earthquakes. My earliest temblor memory is the 1971 Sylmar quake. On that auspicious day I began my first job as a high school graduate. In the 1994 Northridge earthquake, my mother …[Continue]
Geologic Time Scale
The geologic time scale (GTS) is a system used by Earth scientists to organize the timing of events in Earth’s history. The largest defined unit is the supereon, which is composed of eons. Eons are divided into eras, which are …[Continue]
Rivers
A river is a natural flow of water (usually freshwater) towards an ocean, sea, lake or another river. They are an important part of our ecosystem as a source of water, food, transportation, defense, energy, and recreation. Learn more at …[Continue]
Water Cycle
A glass of water doesn’t seem very complicated. Yet water can be a fascinating topic, full of opportunities for hands-on learning. Today’s sites include dozens of activities and experiments for the young and curious ready to learn about the exciting …[Continue]
Clouds
A cloud is a visible mass of condensed water vapor floating above the earth. In 1802, amateur meteorologist Luke Howard named three principal categories of clouds: cumulus, stratus, and cirrus. These categories became the basis of today’s cloud classification system, …[Continue]
Static Electricity
Has your hair ever stood out from your head after pulling off a wool cap? That’s the result of static electricity. In their usual state, the atoms are electrically neutral because they contain an equal number of positive protons and …[Continue]
