The following is a list of links to reading material from a variety of sources. Use of some of this material is password protected and restricted to use by students currently enrolled in Environmental Science 102. This material may only be used for the purpose of completing the required reading assignments. All copyright laws apply. Electronic copying and distribution of this material is prohibited.

Some of the articles below are password protected on Blackboard. To access this material, login to myBlackHawk. Once into myBlackHawk go to My Courses and click on the Descriptive Astronomy course link, then click on the Reading link.

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Section I: Atmosphere, Weather and Climate

• The Atmosphere - National Weather Service web page
• Evolution of the Atmosphere - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

• Layers of the Atmosphere - National Weather Service web page

• Humidity - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Clouds - National Weather Service web page
• Clouds - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

• Precipitation - National Weather Service web page
• Precipitation Types - National Weather Service web page
• Precipitation - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

• Coriolis Force - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Air Masses and Fronts - National Weather Service web page
• Norwegian Cyclone Model - National Weather Service web page

• Climate - National Weather Service web page
• Climate Classification - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

Section II: Pollution, Global Warming and Hydrosphere

• Air Pollution - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Air and Radiation Basic Information - Environmental Protection Agency web page (pay particular attention to the information under the following headings - "Smog, Particles, and Other Common Pollutants", and "Toxic Air Pollutants")

• The Earth-Atmosphere Energy Balance - National Weather Service web page
• Greenhouse Effect - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration web page (PDF file)

• Climate Change 2007: Synthesis Report - IPCC Fourth Assessment Report on Climate Change 2007
• Relationship between Climate and Weather - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• How are Temperatures on Earth Changing? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• Is Sea Level Rising? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• Is the Amount of Snow and Ice on the Earth Decreasing? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• What Caused the Ice Ages? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• How do Human Activities Contribute to Climate Change? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• Is the Current Climate Change Unusual? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)
• Can the Warming of the 20th Century be Explained by Natural Variability? - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (PDF file)

• The Hydrologic Cycle - National Weather Service web page
• Hydrologic Cycle - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Hydrosphere - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

Section III: Surface Water and Erosion

• Streamgaging - U.S. Geological Survey (PDF file)
• What is a watershed? - U.S. Geological Survey web page
• Questions and Answers About Floods - U.S. Geological Survey web page
• 100-Year Flood–It’s All About Chance - U.S. Geological Survey (PDF file)
• How much water flows during a storm? - U.S. Geological Survey web page

• Lakes (and Ponds) - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)

• National Geographic video "Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest". This video is available for viewing through the public libraries (check your local library). The entire video is also available through YouTube at the following link: Amazon: Land of the Flooded Forest. (This video will be shown in class)
• Amazon River and Flooded Forests - a National Geographic Society and World Wildlife Fund web page.
• Journey into Amazonia - a PBS web page.
• Deforestation of the Amazon Rainforests and CO₂ - a University of Michigan web page.

• Groundwater - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Water Pollution - Encyclopedia Britannica (BHC Database Article - requires student login)
• Iowa Water Pollution - Iowa Association of Naturalists publication (PDF file)

• Types of Erosion - New South Wales, Australia, Department of Primary Industries (PDF file)
• Indicators of Erosion - New South Wales, Australia, Department of Primary Industries (PDF file)
• Gully Erosion - New South Wales, Australia, Department of Primary Industries (PDF file)
• The Erosion Process - Iowa Stormwater Partnership web page
• Stream Processes, Part I: Basics - by George Zaimes & Robert Emanuel, University of Arizona Master Watershed Steward Program (PDF file)
• Natural Stream Processes - Ohio Stream Management Guide, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (PDF file)

Section IV: Soil, Natural Resources, Recycling and Energy

• Soil - Fundamental Concepts - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service (PDF file)
• What is Soil? - Fundamental Concepts - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service web page
• Soil Formation and Classification - Fundamental Concepts - U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Resource Conservation Service web page
• NSEFP Fact Sheet: Soil Conservation Practices - Nova Scotia Environmental Farm Plan web page

• Nature Resources Management - World Bank (PDF file)
• Reduce, Reuse, Recycle - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency web page
• Puzzled About Recycling’s Value? Look Beyond the Bin - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (PDF file)

• Energy Explained: Your Guide to Understanding Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration web page
      On this site, pay particular attention to the following articles (linked on the left side menu):
            • What Is Energy?
            • U.S. Energy Facts
            • How We Use Energy
            • Energy and the Environment
            • Nonrenewable Sources: Oil and Petroleum Products
            • Nonrenewable Sources: Natural Gas
            • Nonrenewable Sources: Coal
            • Nonrenewable Sources: Nuclear
            • Renewable Sources: Hydropower
            • Renewable Sources: Biomass
            • Renewable Sources: Biofuels
            • Renewable Sources: Wind
            • Renewable Sources: Geothermal
            • Renewable Sources: Solar
            • Secondary Sources: Hydrogen
• Energy in Brief: What Everyone Should Know About Energy - U.S. Energy Information Administration web page
      On this site, pay particular attention to the following articles:
            • What are the major sources and users of energy in the United States?
            • What is the role of hydroelectric power in the United States?
            • How dependent are we on foreign oil?
            • What is the role of coal in the United States?
            • Who are the major players supplying the world oil market?
            • What is the status of the U.S. nuclear industry?
            • How much of our electricity is generated from renewable sources?
• Total Energy: Annual Energy Review Summary - U.S. Energy Information Administration data and graphs (PDF file)
• International Energy Outlook 2011 - U.S. Energy Information Administration web page

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