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Web resources about the atmosphere, and the American Chemical Society's celebration of Earth Day.

Atmosphere: Electronic Resources

This is a collection of Electronic Resources (websites, software, etc.) about the atmosphere. A separate collection of Print Resources is also available.

Key: E = Elementary (K-5), I = Intermediate (6-8), HS = High School (9-12), C = College, G = General Public

Characteristics of the Atmosphere

Chemistry Now - Chemistry of the Atmosphere. (PDF) from Royal Society of Chemistry. (HS)
This booklet looks at the way that the earth's present atmosphere may have evolved from possible earlier atmospheres. Some of the available evidence for different scenarios that may have caused our atmosphere as we know it today is presented and critically discussed. One of a series of booklets – Chemistry Now – is designed to present modern aspects of chemistry in a way that is accessible to school students and directly usable by teachers.
URL: http://www.chemsoc.org/pdf/LearnNet/rsc/Atmos.pdf
The Atmosphere - A Delicate Situation. from Rice University. (I)
The lessons at this website were prepared to introduce students to the fundamental principles of the earth's atmosphere: history, composition, and structure. Included is information and links to allow for exploration and expansion of current knowledge as well as activities to develop performance skills. These lessons were developed for 5th-8th grade students but can be easily adapted to fit other age groups.
URL: http://teachertech.rice.edu/Participants/louviere/atmos.html
The Earth's Atmosphere. from Enchanted Learning. (E, I)
This page is part of the Enchanted Learning Website. Enchanted Learning produces children's education web sites and games that are designed to capture the imagination while maximizing creativity, learning, and enjoyment.
URL: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Atmosphere.shtml
Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. from Manchester Metropolitan University. (HS, C, G)
This encyclopedia is a one-stop source of information on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion.
URL: http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/
Frank Potter's Science Gems – Earth Science II. Frank Potter and Jim Martindale. (E, I, HS, C, G)
Contains links to earth science websites. Web pages are grouped by subject and by age group within each subject. Subjects covered include: Atmosphere & Weather, Land & Geology, Oceans & Dynamics; Water & its Effects, and Resources.
URL: http://www.sciencegems.com/earth2.html
Interactive Atmosphere Simulator. from U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (E, I, HS)
This interactive simulation on the web lets you study how the properties of the atmosphere change with altitude. It uses mathematical models of the standard atmosphere of the Earth and Mars. From The Guided Tours of the BGA (Beginners Guide to Aeronautics) (http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/guided.html).
URL: http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/atmosi.html

Heating of the Atmosphere

Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. from Manchester Metropolitan University. (HS, C, G)
This encyclopedia is a one-stop source of information on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion.
URL: http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/
Today From Space: The Earth's Atmosphere: Near Real-Time Research Imagery. from U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (G)
Real-time geostationary satellite data is updated every 30 minutes.
URL: http://science.nasa.gov/newhome/essd/atmosphere_today.htm

Atmospheric Pressure and Winds

Destination Earth: For Kids Only. from U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (E, I)
Earth Science isn't just for grownups anymore! See how we make Earth science fun for kids of all ages. Covering people, land, air, water, and natural hazards, kids can play games, send a postcard, or check out the hot links. Teacher guides are also available.
URL: http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/
The Earth's Atmosphere. from Enchanted Learning. (E, I)
This page is part of the Enchanted Learning Website. Enchanted Learning produces children's education web sites and games that are designed to capture the imagination while maximizing creativity, learning, and enjoyment.
URL: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/astronomy/planets/earth/Atmosphere.shtml
Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. from Manchester Metropolitan University. (HS, C, G)
This encyclopedia is a one-stop source of information on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion.
URL: http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/
Interactive Atmosphere Simulator. from U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (E, I, HS)
This interactive simulation on the web lets you study how the properties of the atmosphere change with altitude. It uses mathematical models of the standard atmosphere of the Earth and Mars. From The Guided Tours of the BGA (Beginners Guide to Aeronautics) (http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/guided.html).
URL: http://www.lerc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/airplane/atmosi.html

The Air We Breathe

Atmosphere: Breathing Room. from Miami Museum of Science and the Science Learning Network. (I)
Take a breath! You've got a piece of the atmosphere in your lungs. We breathe about 20 times a minute. Our lives and the lives of most living things depend on the atmosphere that encircles the earth. Part of EcoLinks, the goals of this web site are to add to the body of inquiry science education resources available on the web, provide a forum for issues and ideas related to environmental education and environmental science, and communicate ideas, activities, and research in such a way that this information is accessible to students in grades four through eight. There are four spheres in EcoLinks (biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere); each has links to classroom activities, web sites, and special highlights.
URL: http://www.miamisci.org/ecolinks/atmosphere.html
Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment. from Manchester Metropolitan University. (HS, C, G)
This encyclopedia is a one-stop source of information on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion.
URL: http://www.doc.mmu.ac.uk/aric/eae/
Oxygen Symposium (PDF) (G)
URL: http://www.scifun.org/OxygenSymposium/OxygenSymposium_Program.pdf
The Birth of Oxygen: Untangling the Web. (PDF) Alan J. Rocke, presented at the Oxygen Symposium Madison, WI, 29 March 2003. (G)
Who actually discovered oxygen? This apparently simple question is a surprisingly tricky one to answer.
URL: http://library.stanford.edu/depts/swain/hosted/ncw/2003/oxygen.pdf

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