- 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
- 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. - Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read morexMassive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report. - Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read morexKansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.
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
Global locations of visitors using this page right now
Historical Events
5/30 7.5 magnitude quake hits Quetta, Pakistan in 1935
5/31 7.9 magnitude earthquake hits Peru in 1970
6/8 Giovanni Cassini, an Italian-French astronomer, was born on this date in 1625 Details
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Did you know?
Did you know that the majority of water on Earth is held in the Earth’s ocean?Did you know that there are many different names for the full Moon?
Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day
Do you know what this word or phrase means?Ooids
xOoids : Small (< 2 mm), spheroidal, layered sedimentary grains, usually composed of calcium carbonate, but sometimes made up of iron- or phosphate-based minerals.
Click on the word to find out!
Research Highlights
Pollution from Asia Circles Globe at Stratospheric Heights
The economic growth across much of Asia comes with a side effect: pollutants from the region are wafting up to the stratosphere during monsoon season. The new finding, in a study led by scientists at the...Read more
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Learn about planets outside our solar system through Exoplanets and Alien Solar Systems by Tahir Yaqoob, Ph.D., a book in our online store book collection.
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