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Science Seminar: Earth Science

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Encyclopedia for all levels.
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PBS Learning Media

National Park Websites for...

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United States
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If your national park is also a World Heritage Site, this site will give more information on your park, its resources, and its challenges.

Possible Topics and Focus Questions.

Glaciers What are glaciers? Where are they found? How are they changing? What are some implications of these changes?

Landslides What causes landslides? Where and when have some recent landslides occurred? What are some ways that science and technology are working to alleviate some of the problems caused by landslides?

What factors would you need to consider if you were going to forecast of describe the weather? What information can you learn from a weather map?

What conditions led up to the Great Rhode Island Flood of 2010 (or Central Europe in 2013)? What are some ways that science and technology are working to alleviate some of the problems caused by flooding?

What are tornadoes? Where, when and how do they form?

Hurricanes, Cyclones and Superstorms

What conditions led up to Superstorm Sandy (2012)? What were the results of this event? What can be done to limit damage from future events?

What conditions led up to Hurricane Katrina (2005)? Hurricane Andrew (1992)?

Droughts What is a drought? How has the current drought-affected California? What are some of the causes and effects? What are some ways that science and technology are working to alleviate some of the problems caused by droughts?

How has the Salton Sea changed over time?

How has the Aral Sea changed over time?

How did the Great Lakes form and how are they changing?

Watersheds and Rivers

What are watersheds? Why are they important?

Describe a specific river and watershed region (Narragansett Bay, Mississipi River, Colorado River and how it has changed over time)

Water Underground

What is groundwater? What are aquifers?

The Greenhouse Effect and Earth’s Energy Budget

What are greenhouse gases? What is the greenhouse effect? What is the difference between good ozone and bad ozone?

Ocean Tides and Waves

What are tides? What influences the size of a tide?

What are waves? What influences the size of waves? What are rogue waves?

Ocean Currents Are ocean circulation patterns predictable? What forces influence them? How do they impact living things (including humans)?

Sea Level Change

What is sea level, how is it changing, what can cause these changes and why does it matter?

What forces influence them? How do they impact living things (including humans)?

Sinkholes What causes sinkholes? Where and when do they occur? What are some ways that science and technology are working to alleviate some of the problems caused by sinkholes?

Climate Change

How has the climate changed in the last 50,000 years?

What is the greenhouse effect?

What is global warming and why should we care?

What is ocean warming and why should we care?

What are current concerns about climate change? What can be done to reduce the impact of climate change?