This page contains resources and tools for understanding concepts in the earth and space sciences. Links to animations, videos, reference material, and tutorials are sorted by topic. Jump to a unit using the buttons below.
Animations & Visual Aids
Simulations & animations (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Miscellaneous
Claim, Evidence, Reasoning (CER) Video
Fact vs. Theory vs. Hypothesis vs. Law…
Online Chart Tool
Astronomy
General Astronomy Sites
+ Simulations & animations (University of Nebraska-Lincoln)
Reference
+ Cosmos Astronomy Encyclopedia
+ ISS Observation Info for NYC
+ Space Images (The Planetary Society)
+ Earthsky
+ Bruce Betts' Online Astronomy Course
+ Mooncalc.org (azimuth & altitude data)
Videos
+ Intro to Astronomy (Crash Course)
+ Formation of the Solar System
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Earth's Dimensions
Videos
+ How Eratosthenes calculated the Earth's circumference
+ Top 10 Reasons Why We Know the Earth is Round
Reference
+ Where did Earth's water come from?
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Rotation & Revolution
Interactive
Videos
+ How to find the North Pole Star; Polaris
+ Circumpolar Stars & Locating Polaris
+ Rotation of the planets (to scale)
Reference
+ Earth's Motions HMX
Sun's Path & Seasons
Interactive
+ Sun's Path Simulator (New)
+ Apparent Path of the Sun GIFs (iPad compaitable)
+ Sun's Path/Seasons (Simple)
Videos
+ Why December has the Longest Days
Reference
+ Earth's Motions HMX
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Solar System & Orbits
+ Astronomy Workshop (Solar system viewer, etc)
Videos
+ What Has New Horizons Taught Us About Pluto?
+ Russian Meteor Sonic Boom Explosion Compilation
+ Solar System Formation
+ Rotation of the planets (to scale)
+ Formation of the Planets (Nebular hypothesis)
+ Gravity - From Newton to Einstein
+ Inverse Square Law (of Gravity)
+ Space Rocks (asteroids, comets, meteoroids)
Reference
+ The Solar System HMX
Earth's Moon
+ Tides Simulator (with force vectors)
Videos
+ Tidal Locking: Why do we see only one side of the Moon?
+ Synchronous Rotation of the Moon
+ Total Lunar Eclipse in One Minute
+ The Moon's Inclination & Eclipses
+ Does The Moon Really Orbit The Earth?
+ Darkside (view all sides of the Moon)
Reference
+ The Moon HMX
+ Tides & Currents (Real time data)
+ Does the Moon look the same in different countries?
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Stars
Interactive
+ Elements and Spectral Analysis
+ The Sun at different Wavelengths
Videos
+ Creating Elements from "Nothing"
+ The Elements: Forged in Stars
+ Where Does The Sun Get Its Energy?
+ Where does the Sun get its Energy (Fusion)
+ Oldest Galaxy Ever Discovered
+ Picture of the Big Bang (CMB)
+ Big Bang, Cosmology: Crash Course Part 1
+ Beyond the Big Bang (1 hour 30 mins)
+ Betelgeuse Star Supernova View from Earth
Reference
+ Galaxies & Stars HMX
+ Sunspots
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The Universe
Videos
+ Stephen Hawking - The Expanding Universe
+ Measuring Gravitational Waves (LIGO)
+ Milky Way - Andromeda Collision
+ The Absurdity of Detecting Gravitational Waves
Reference
+ The Universe HMX
+ Astronomical Calendars
Meteorology
General Meteorology Sites
+ WW2010 Online Meteorology Guide
+ Jetstream Online School for Weather
+ Fundamentals of Meteorology Animations
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Structure & Composition
Interactive
+ 1976 Standard Atmosphere Calculator
Videos & Animations
+ Atmospheric Layers / Structure HMX
Reference
+ Earths Atmosphere HMX
+ Composition and Layers
+ Ozone Watch (Facts & Data)
Extras
+ Aurora
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Atmospheric Energy
Interactive
+ Monsoons
Videos
+ Convection Time-lapse (clouds)
+ How Do Greenhouse Gases Actually Work?
Reference
+ Transfer of Heat Energy and Energy Balance
Weather Variables & Field Maps
Reference
+ Wind
+ Relative Humidity & Dewpoint
+ Current Surface Maps (WW2010)
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Clouds & Precipitation
Videos
+ Relative Humidity & Dewpoint Explained
+ Why are there clouds? (How they form)
+ The Fastest Way to Defog Your Windows
+ How the Clouds Got Their Names
+ Difference between Sleet & Freezing Rain
Interactive
Reference
+ Cloud Intro, Formation, Color
+ Cloud Types: Cloud Chart, Core Four, Basic Ten
+ Precipitation and Precip Types
+ The Parcel Theory & Stability/Instability
+ Cloud Spotting Guide (Met Office)
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Air Masses, Fronts, Maps
Interactive
+ Fronts / Cold Front / Warm Front
Reference
+ Fronts
+ Air Masses, Fronts, Advection
Hurricanes
Interactive
+ Historical Hurricane Tracks (Interactive Map)
Videos
Reference
+ Tropical Cyclones Intro, Structure, Classification, Hazards, Safety
+ Tropical Cyclone Hazards
+ Tropical Cyclones Page
Reference for Lab Activity
+ Tropical Cyclone Climatology
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Thunderstorms & Tornadoes
Videos
+ Anatomy of a Tornado (Jim Cantore)
+ Oklahoma's Deadliest Tornadoes
Reference
+ Thunderstorms Intro / Ingredients
+ Hail
+ US Tornado Climatology (NCDC)
+ EF Scale Explained (wxbrad.com)
+ Storm Prediction Center (Maps & Data)
Lake Effect Snow
Videos
Geology & Mapping
Reference
+ Rock-Head Sciences
+ GeoMapApp Learning Activity Collection
+ Structural Geology Animations
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Rocks & Minerals
Interactive
Videos
Reference
+ Rocks & Minerals HMX
+ How to Classify Igneous Rocks Into (Ultramafic, Mafic, Intermediate and Felsic)?
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Local Geology (NY State)
Reference
+ Evolution and History of the Central Pine Barrens
+ Long Island's Dynamic South Shore
Geography & Topographic Maps
Interactive
+ Latitude, Longitude Interactive
+ Long Island Digital Elevation Maps
+ NY State Digital Elevation Map
+ NY State 7.5 Minute Topo Maps
+ National Map (Interactive Topo)
+ CalTopo
+ The True Size of (compare countries)
Videos
+ Latitude, Longitude (degrees, minutes) ESRT
Reference
+ Fields & Isolines HMX
+ Paleo Digital Elevation Model
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Weathering & Erosion
Interactive
+ University of Kentucky Tutorials (full list)
+ Coastal Processes Learning Module
Stream Deposition Links
Videos
+ How do glaciers shape the landscape?
+ Climate 101: Glaciers (NatGeo)
+ Landforms of coastal deposition
Reference
+ National Water Information System: Mapper (USGS)
Plate Tectonics
Videos
+ Plate Tectonics (Full Review)
+ How the Earth was Made: Iceland
+ How the Earth was Made: Hawaii
Reference
+ Plate Tectonics HMX
+ EarthScienceinMaine Online Textbook
+ Plate Tectonics Story (USGS)
+ Seafloor Spreading (magnetism animation)
+ Layers of the Earth- What is the MOHO?
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Earthquakes & Volcanoes
Interactive
+ Global Earthquake Explorer (GEE) / IRIS Earthquake Browser
+ Current Volcano Hazards (USGS)
Videos
+ Mount St. Helens Video
+ Perspective: a graphical comparison of earthquake energy release
+ Japan 2011 Tsunami Documentary
+ How does the Richter Scale work?
Reference
+ Earthquakes HMX
Extras
+ Inge Lehmann: Discoverer of the Earth's Inner Core
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Earth's History
Interactive
+ Pages 8 & 9 (Zoomable/Color)
Videos
+ Putting Earth's history into perspective
+ Geologic History of NY State ESRT p. 2, 3, 8, 9
+ The 6 Craziest Extinctions Ever
+ Radioactive Decay
+ Radioactive Decay (BozemanScience)
Climate & Hydrology
Videos
+ Understanding Trend and Variation
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Climate Factors
Videos
+ Why Does Earth Have Deserts?
Interactive
+ Ocean Currents (NWS interactive)
Reference
+ Effect of the Sun's Energy on the Ocean and Atmosphere
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El Nino/Southern Oscillation
Interactive
Videos
+ El Nino (Met office explainer)
+ El Nino and La Nina Explained
+ How it Happens/ El Nino
Reference
+ El Nino (definition, processes, impacts)
Data
Global Climate Change
Videos
+ In Search of the Science Behind Climate Change (20 min)
+ What If All The Ice Melted On Earth?
+ Why renewables can’t save the planet
Reference
+ Climate Change Overview (NCAR/UCAR)
+ Paleoclimate (Climate History)
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Water Cycle & Groundwater
+ The Hydrologic Cycle NWS
Climate Data
Atmospheric Data
+ Atmospheric CO2 Concentration
Solar Data
+ Sunspots
Cryosphere Data
+ Arctic Data archive System (ADS)
+ Global Sea Ice (Cryosphere Today)
+ Greenland Surface Mass Budget
+ Polar Climate Figures (Zach Labe)
Ocean Data