Rainforests are defined and created by rainfall: more than eighty inches per year. Tropical rainforests are located near the equator, a majority of them in Latin America. Temperate rainforests are found in coastal areas, such as the 1,200 miles of …[Continue]
Glaciers
A glacier is a large flowing ice mass. Some glaciers move at a snail’s pace, just a few inches a day, while others advance more than a hundred feet a day. Glaciers are formed as large amounts of snow accumulate …[Continue]
Rocks and Minerals
Encouraged by one of my girlfriends, my son began collecting rocks and minerals three years ago. Last week I allowed his collection to spill out of his room and into the living room. Claiming equal sibling rights, now my daughter …[Continue]
Caves and Caverns
We just returned from a family vacation that included a walking tour through the California Caverns in Mountain Ranch. For the rest of the week we pondered the question “What is the difference between a cave and a cavern?” As …[Continue]
Fall Color
Here in coastal San Diego we don’t get a very showy display of fall colors. But the Internet provides a window onto the world, and I can watch the Eastern leaves fall from my desktop. Whether you’re planning a road …[Continue]
Hurricanes
The official Atlantic, Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico hurricane season starts on June 1st, ends on November 30th , and averages seven named storms. Once a tropical storm exceeds wind speeds of thirty-nine miles per hour, the National Hurricane Center …[Continue]
Wind Power
From the windmills of yesterday, to the wind turbines of today, the wind has long been harnessed as an energy source. In fact, because it is a clean and renewable resource, the use of wind energy is increasing worldwide. In …[Continue]
Ecology Games
Traipsing around the Internet, in search of a topic for Earth Day (April 22), I found these games, quizzes, exercises, simulations and derbies. Each of them deals with ecology: the relationship we have with our environment. Enjoy!…[Continue]
Endangered Species
Since the Endangered Species Act was enacted in 1973, many species have been saved from extinction, including the bald eagle, the humpback whale, and the American bison. Sometimes, however, despite enormous investments of time and money, efforts to save a …[Continue]
Underwater Web Cams
Live cameras connected to the Web can be either incredibly fascinating or amazingly dull. What do you think of a Web cam aimed at a blank wall? Or inside a refrigerator, aimed at the door? Bypassing the absurd, I’ve assembled …[Continue]
