- WATER (THE HYDROSPHERE)
- Ocean
- Rivers
- Groundwater
- Ice
- Our Changing Planet
- Clouds
- Water Cycle
- Ocean Life
- Ocean Chemistry
- Water News
- Water Images
- Teaching Resources
Current Events
- Irish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather
A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong corr...Read morexIrish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather
A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong correlation between the occurrence of volcanic eruptions and extreme cold weather in Ireland over a 1200 year period. Data analyzed in this study cover the period from 431 to 1649, during which time up to 48 volcanic eruptions are identified in Greenland ice core records through deposition of volcanic sulfate in annual layers of ice. You can find the study (open access), published on 6 June 2013 in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, at http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/2/024035/article. Find out more about how volcanoes can influence climate. - EF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US
The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, acco...Read morexEF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US
The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, according to the National Weather Service in Norman Oklahoma. The tornado, which remained on the ground for 40 minutes and reached 2.6 miles across (4.2 km), took the lives of 18 people including storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young. For more information on the tornado, visit http://ow.ly/i/2hfDG. - Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read morexAtmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.
Water
Water is found in many places on Earth including on the surface of the planet, within rocks below the surface, and in the atmosphere. Water travels between different areas of the Earth through the water cycle. About 70% of the Earth surface is covered with water, and most of that is the ocean. Only a small portion of the Earth's water is freshwater, which is found in rivers, lakes, and groundwater. Freshwater is needed for drinking, farming, and washing. In addition to liquid water, water is also present on Earth in the form of ice. Without water, life as we know it would not exist.
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Explore Water
The Ocean
Earth's ocean covers more than 70% of our planet's surface. There are five major ocean basins. ...Read more
Rivers and Other Freshwater
Rivers are very important to Earth because they are major forces that shape the landscape. ...Read more
Groundwater
Most of the water we are aware of is in ponds, rivers, oceans, streams, lakes, puddles, and ...Read more
Ice: Frozen Water
The cryosphere includes the parts of the Earth system where water is in its frozen (solid) ...Read more
Our Changing Planet
When we look around us, we can see that our planet's climate is changing rapidly. The National ...Read more
Clouds: Water in the Sky
Clouds can come in all sizes and shapes, and can form near the ground or high in the atmosphere. ...Read more
The Water Cycle
Water is always on the move. Rain falling where you live may have been water in the ocean just ...Read more
Life in the Ocean
The ocean holds the largest of all biomes on Earth. It covers 70% of the planet’s surface. ...Read more
Ocean Chemistry
Earth's oceans are, of course, full of water. That water is not, however, simply pure H2O. ...Read more
Water News
Read about current science, happenings and discoveries related to water on Earth! ...Read more
Water Images
Access wonderful captioned photos and illustrations that will inspire and excite you. ...Read moreMore about Water
- Resources for Teaching About the Hydrosphere
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Historical Events
6/25 Hermann Oberth,a Romanian and German physicist, was born on this date in 1894 Details
6/28 Maria Mitchell, an American astronomer, died on this date in 1889 Details
6/29 George Hale, an American astronomer, was born on this date in 1869 Details
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Did you know?
Did you know that the Earth’s magnetic field protects us from radiation from space?Do you know what causes the different phases of the Moon?
Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day
Do you know what this word or phrase means?Loess
xLoess : An aeolian sediment formed by the accumulation of wind-blown silt and lesser and variable amounts of sand and clay that are loosely cemented by calcium carbonate. Loess is usually homogeneous, highly porous, and is traversed by vertical capillaries t
Click on the word to find out!
Research Highlights
A Star Is Born... But How?
Created in the first three minutes after the Big Bang, hydrogen and helium gave rise to all other elements in the universe. Stars made this possible. Through nuclear fusion, stars generated elements such...Read more
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