General Resources

Paleontology and Geologic Time

• University of California Museum of Paleontology:  Geology Wing:  Part of the rich and useful UCMP site.  Includes geologic timelines, accounts of the fossil record, a brief introduction to plate tectonics (with animations of continental movements), etc.  The Geological Time Machine is an easy way to explore the site.  

• Paleontology at the U.S. Geological Survey:  Useful site for general audiences.  Includes introductions major fossil groups, access to online versions of USGS booklets, a well-selected and fairly extensive links page, a simple geologic timeline, etc.  

  • Geologic Time:  Online version of a general-audience booklet from the U.S. Geological Survey.  Covers geological dating techniques, the history of attempts to establish geologic time scales, etc.  Provides very simple overview.

  • Glossary of Terms:  Useful reference for terms used in paleontology, including names of geologic eras, etc.

• Paleomap Project:  Beautifully rendered site with maps of the earth during various geologic eras.  Covers information on climate, atmosphere, plate tectonics, etc.  Includes maps, animations, brief explanatory text, etc.

• Global Earth History:  Nicely designed map-based site by Ronald Blakey (U. of Northern Arizona).  Includes dozens of maps of various geologic eras, as well as explanatory text.  Also see Blakey's other sites on the Department of Geology's Departmental Links Page.

• Life Through Geologic Time:  Site designed for younger school-children.  Simplistic, but well designed and rich in images.  (Seaborg Institute)

• Formation of the Earth's Atmosphere and Oceans:  Series of lecture notes from an online astronomy course at the University of Oregon.  Provides good, non-technical overview of early planetary development and the foundations of early life.

• Geologic Timelines

  • Geological Time Scale:  Clear html presentation of geological eras in chart format, by Andrew McRae.  Includes useful brief textual commentary.  More recent eras are enlarged and presented separately to allow finer division.

  • Geologic Time Scale:  Very useful and detailed presentation of geological eras in chart format, from the Geological Society of America.  Printable pdf file.  Includes fine divisions in all eras.

  • Geologic Time Scale:  Html presentation of geological eras in chart format, from the Cascades Volcano Observatory (USGS).  Covers the Phanerozoic Eon (from the Cambrian on).  Includes fairly fine divisions, with brief textual tags to accompany each.

Plate Tectonics, Volcanology, Earthquakes, etc.

• Plate Tectonics

  • The Dynamic Earth:  General-audience introduction to plate tectonics from the USGS.  Online version of a print booklet.  Well-designed, useful, non-technical overview.

  • Plate Tectonics:  General-audience introduction to plate tectonics from the University of California Museum of Paleontology.  Part of the museum's Geology Wing.  Includes a brief overview of the history of plate tectonic theory, a short introduction to plate tectonics, and a series of animations of plate movements.

  • A Plate Tectonic Primer:  Useful, largely non-technical introduction to plate tectonics from James Madison University.  See also the introduction to the Wilson Cycle.  Intended to help in the preparation of grade-school teachers.  (Lynn S. Fichter)

  • Platetectonics.com:  Partly a product site (for a Tectonic Globe).  Non-product resources include browsable ocean-floor maps, a collection of popular-audience articles, news items, and a general-audience online booklet on plate tectonics. 

  • Global Earth History:  Nicely designed map-based site by Ronald Blakey (U. of Northern Arizona).  Includes dozens of maps of various geologic eras, as well as explanatory text.  Also see Blakey's other sites on the Department of Geology's Departmental Links Page.

• Volcanoes

  • USGS Volcano Hazards Program:  Resource and portal site.  Includes links to the five USGS Volcano Observatories.  Main sites and subsidiary sites include a wealth of information on volcanolgy and related earth sciences.  Well worth exploring.

  • Electronic Volcano:  Portal and resource site from Dartmouth College.  Includes links to datasets, catalogues of volcanoes, images, maps, and an archive of historically important textual material.  Excellent site for access to more technical material.

  • Volcano World:  Extensive web site from the University of North Dakota.  Includes basic information on hundreds of volcanoes world-wide, extensive background on current or recent eruptions, educational resources (K-12), etc.  The glossary of Volcanic and Geologic Terms can be a useful reference; the instructional sequence on Plate Tectonics is a clear, non-technical introduction to the subject.

  • How Volcanoes Work:  NASA-sponsored undergraduate educational site from San Diego State University.  Well-designed and attractive site.  Includes considerable depth while still remaining largely non-technical.  An excellent introduction to volcanology for non-specialists. 

  • Volcanoes:  Online version of a print booklet from the USGS.  Written for general audiences.  Good, simple introduction.

  • Volcanoes.com:  Portal site.  Includes links to a variety of volcano sites, volcano tour programs, etc.  (Meg Weston)

• Earthquakes and Tsunamis

  • USGS Earthquake Hazards Program:  Portal and resource site.  Includes links to regional earthquake hazards sites, as well as a rich array of other resources and links.  Very useful starting point for earthquakes and seismology.  

  • NOAA:  Tsunamis:  Resource site from NOAA.  Includes useful FAQs, a tsunami database, etc., as well as a link to the International Tsunami Information Center. 

  • Tsunami!:  Useful resource site from the University of Washington.  Includes good basic introductions to tsunamis, historical information, etc.

Petrology and Mineralogy

• Geologic Web Sites (James Madison U.):  Particularly useful set of resources for petrology and mineralogy.  Includes sections on igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, on the rock cycle, etc., as well as on plate tectonics.  Intended to help in the preparation of grade-school teachers.  (Lynn S. Fichter)

• Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rock Info.:  Introductory modules on the basic types of rock, designed for an introductory course at the University of British Columbia.  Well designed and non-technical. See also the Global View page for a very brief introduction to the rock cycle and a basic description of petrology. 

• Mindat.org:  Very extensive database of minerals.  Searchable, as well as browsable in a variety of ways.  Includes extensive technical information on each entry, as well as information on localities of origin, images, etc.  (Jolyon Ralph)

• Webmineral.com:  Extensive database of minerals.  Searchable, as well as browsable in a variety of ways.  Provides quite a bit of information on each entry; perhaps not quite as technical as Mindat.org. 

• Mineral and Gemstone Kingdom:  Well organized database of minerals and gems, with emphasis on precious and semiprecious stones and on "collectible" mineral specimens.  Flexible navigation,  with quite a bit of information on each variety.  Much less technical than Mindat.org or Webmineral.com.  (Hershel Friedman)

Atmosphere and Oceans

• Atmosphere, Weather and Climate

  • NOAA:  Weather Theme Page:  Portal page for NOAA activities relating to weather.  Includes access to weather forecasts, hazard warnings, space weather conditions, etc.

  • National Weather Service:  Home page for the NWS.  Includes forecasts, satellite images, a Glossary of Weather Terms, etc.  (NOAA)

  • National Climatic Data Center:  Data resource site from NOAA.  Includes access to meteorological, climatological and paleoclimatological datasets.

  • Encyclopedia of the Atmospheric Environment:  Self-described as "a one-stop source of information, for younger and older users alike, on a range of atmospheric issues, including air quality, acid rain, global warming and ozone depletion."  Useful resource for general audiences, with articles categorized by age level.  Sponsored by U.K. Dept. for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

• Oceans

  • NOAA:  National Ocean Service:  Clearinghouse for NOAA's ocean science and monitoring activities.  Includes access to tidal data, deep-sea exploration, maps and charts, and more.

  • About Water Levels, Tides and Currents (NOAA):  A group of general-audience online booklets on tides, tidal measurement and prediction, etc.

  • NOAA Ocean Explorer:  NOAA public outreach page on its deep-sea exploration program.  Covers hydrothermal vents systems, methane seeps, shipwrecks, undersea volcanoes, etc.  Includes images, mission logs, etc.

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Images, Maps and Cartography

• USGS Geography Information:  Main page for U.S. Geologic Survey maps and geographic data.  A very resource-rich site.

  • The National Map:  Self-described as "a consistent framework for geographic knowledge needed by the Nation. It provides public access to high-quality, geospatial data and information from multiple partners."  Includes downloadable viewers for displaying and manipulating the maps and geospatial data in a variety of ways.

  • Viewing USGS Maps and Aerial Photo Images Online:  Links to USGS "partner" sites, which offer downloadable maps which can be viewed in a standard web browser.

  • National Atlas of the United States:  Digital archive for generating maps.  Includes interactive features which allow users to generate their own custom maps.  Displays "environmental, resource, demographic, economic, social, political, and historical" information.

• Maps @ nationalgeographic.com:  Rich array of map resources from National Geographic.  Includes searchable map archives, printable maps, and a Map Machine that allows users to create custom maps.

• Geomorphology from Space:  Online version of a 1986 NASA book.  Includes "237 plates, each treating a geographic region where a particular landform theme is exemplified. Commentary, photographs, locator maps, and sometimes a geologic map accompany each plate."

• NOAA's National Ocean Service:  MapFinder:  Searchable database of nautical charts, hydrographic surveys, etc. 

• National Geodetic Survey (NOAA):  Web site for the agency which manages the National Spatial Reference System.  Includes access to extensive datasets, as well as a useful list of Other Geodetic Resources.  

• Earth Science World ImageBank:  Searchable database of images from the Education page of the American Geological Institute.  Image categories include volcanoes, impact structures, glaciers, minerals, beaches, etc.

Earth Sciences:  Instructional Sites and Textbooks

• DoGS Courses on the Web:  Web site for University of Oregon Geological Sciences courses.  Content of individual course sites varies, but many include lecture notes, exercises, and other useful resources.

• Introduction to Petrology:  Web site for a University of British Columbia course in petrology (basically, the study of rocks).  Has a variety of well-organized resources, including a very good brief explanation of the rock cycle.  

• Geology Rocks:  Web site for geology educational resources.  Includes tutorials, images, and other resources.  Tutorials are categorized by age level and include a sizeable proportion of college-level material.

• Physical Geology:  Web site for course at Indiana University.  Includes useful and well-designed exercise sets and an assortment of images.  The exercises may also be accessed through the Talon Learning Objects site at IU.  

• Physical geology Online at Georgia Perimeter College:  Course web site.  Includes lecture notes and a wealth of links to additional resources for each lecture.

• Geology 8 - Earth Science:  Introductory earth science course from the University of California/Sacramento.  Designed to be taught entirely online.  Includes interesting assignments and a wealth of links.  Relies heavily on off-site resources.

• Introduction to Geophysical Exploration:  Very well designed web-based course from the Colorado School of Mines.  Covers techniques and technical background involved in applications of the earth sciences for development, resource exploration, etc.

• Geology 202:  Earth's Interior:  Introductory course from Northwestern University.  Covers the origin, structure and composition of the earth.  Includes complete lecture notes, lab exercises, links, etc.

• Courses and Course Web Sites of L.S. Fichter (James Madison U.):  Links to a number of geology and interdisciplinary courses taught by Lynn Fichter at JMU.  Course resources vary somewhat, but typically include lecture notes, extensive handouts, exercises, review sheets, links, etc.  Covers paleontology, geological development, etc.  Includes introductory through senior-level undergraduate courses.

• Matthias Tomczak (Flinders U. of South Australia) has several useful instructional resources for oceanography, including two very well-designed introductory course pages and a full online textbook.

  • Shelf and Coastal Oceanography:  Very extensive lecture notes and figures.  Almost an online text.  

  • Introduction to Physical Oceanography:  Very extensive lecture notes and figures.  Almost an online text.  

  • Regional Oceanography:  An Introduction:  Full pdf version of a print textbook by Matthias Tomczak and J. Stuart Godfrey.

Chemistry:  General Sites, Resource Sites and Portals

• WWW Virtual Library Chemistry Section:  Extensive portal page from the WWW Virtual Library.  Covers all areas of chemistry.  Browsable by category and searchable.

• Martindale's Reference Desk:  Chemistry Center:  Very extensive portal for chemistry resources of all kinds.  Part of the Martindale's Reference Desk resource site.  

• BUBL Link:  540 Chemistry:  Portal page from the BUBL Link catalogue.  Organized according the the Dewey Decimal System.  Browsable by category and searchable.  Not as extensive as the WWW Virtual Library, but still useful.

• Royal Society of Chemists:  Home page for the British Society.  Includes educational resources,  a useful links page, general Society information, etc.  Also includes a very good e-zine with feature stories on "hot" topics in chemistry research and one of the best periodic tables on the web.

• Information Retrieval in Chemistry:  Useful portal from the Institute of Physical Chemistry,
  NCSR 'Demokritos' in Athens, Greece.  Covers all areas of chemistry.  Browsable by category.

• Chemistry.about.com:  Information  resource page from about.com.  Not very technical.  Covers a wide range of areas in chemistry.  Includes short, easy-to-read articles on specific topics, as well as other resources.  Heavy on advertising and pop-ups.

• Chemical Education Resources:  Useful portal for education-related chemistry sites, from Ralph Logan, Jr.  Logan's home page also includes other resources. 

• ChemExper:  Database of commercially-produced chemicals.  Includes "more than 100 000 chemicals from an international range of suppliers."  Searchable "by molecular formulas, IUPAC names, common names, CAS numbers, catalogue numbers, substructures or physical characteristics."

Chemistry:  News and Journal Articles

• ChemBytes E-zine:  Online magazine from the Royal Society of Chemists (UK), which "collects together articles of specific interest to the chemistry community, and those of general interest, from a variety of sources."  Includes well-written feature articles on a wide variety of topics.  Intended for general audiences.

• Chemical & Physical Sciences News Resources:  News page from the American Chemical Society.  Set up as a portal, with links to several ACS news pages.  Covers a wide range of topics in research, chemistry-related business, etc.  Provides access to articles from the popular press, as well as some from research journals.  

• CAS Science Spotlight:  Online access from the Chemical Abstracts Service.  Offers free access to a sizeable number of abstracts of chemistry and chemistry-related journal articles.  Accessible categories include Most Requested, Most Intriguing, and Most Cited documents.

Chemistry:  Special Topics

• Introduction to the Electronic Structure of Atoms and Molecules:  Course module on electron structure and the nature of chemical bonds, from McMaster University.  Includes extensive explanatory material, some problems, etc.

• Valence Shell Electron Pair Repulsion:  Chapter from a textbook on chemical bonding by Mark J. Winter (Oxford U. Press).  Provides explanations of electron shell structure, valence characteristics, etc.

• Chemical Bonding:  Course module on chemical bonds, from Oklahoma State University.  Includes explanatory material, lab exercises and demonstrations, etc.

• Introduction to Organic Nomenclature:  Course module from Okanagan University College.  Explains the IUPAC system of naming organic compounds.  Clear and useful.

• Internet Chemistry:  Oxidation/Reduction:  Simple and straightforward introduction to oxidation/reduction reactions from two community college centers of the University of Hawaii.

• The Second Law of Thermodynamics:  Non-technical explanation of the second law, with an emphasis on chemistry and chemical reactions, from Frank Lambert (Occidental College).  Includes consideration of Murphy's law as a sound scientific principle.  See also the associated site, Entropy and the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which resulted from questions sent by users of the first site.

• Martindale's Reference Desk:  Materials Science Center:  Not strictly a chemistry site, but contains a vast array of resources on the nature and properties of materials.  Part of the Martindale's Reference Desk resource site. 

Periodic Tables

• WebElements Periodic Table:  Well designed periodic table with excellent depth of material on each element.

• Visual Elements Periodic Table:  Visually appealing site from the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK).  Well designed, with good depth of material on each element.

• WWW Virtual Library:  Periodic Tables:  Links to over 50 online periodic tables.

Chemistry:  Instructional Sites and Textbooks

• Virtual Chemistry:  Oxford University site with a variety of online chemistry text, tutorials, animations, and interactive exercises.  Well designed and very useful site.

• HordeNet:  Web page for the James K Hardy's research group at the University of Akron.  Includes extensive sets of course materials from a variety of chemistry courses, ranging from introductory undergraduate to advanced graduate; presentation format looks like PowerPoint slides.  Not a substitute for course texts, but very useful as overview and supplement.  Also includes a searchable database of hazardous chemicals, a basic periodic table, etc.

• General Chemistry Online:  Online supplement for general chemistry courses.  Not a complete chemistry text in itself, but very useful.  (Frostburg State U.)

• Tanner's General Chemistry:  Tutorials and supplementary materials for for a variety of topics in introductory chemistry.  (Tanner McCarron)

• Erik's Chemistry:  Notes and study guides for general, AP, organic and physical chemistry..  (Erik Epps)

• Chemistry Tutor:  Described as "web pages to help you get through your chemistry homework."  Includes basic explanations, lists of common molecules, online conversion calculators, etc.  A ThinkQuest Internet Challenge site. 

This page developed and maintained by James Hunter
Edgewood College, Madison, WI
Comments and suggestions: hunter@edgewood.edu
Last updated: 09/11/2007

Image credits for top banner:  
Left panel:  Lunar Excursion Module Simulator, NASA (Langley)
Right panel:  3-D Protein Structure, U.S. Department of Energy Human Genome Program, http://www.ornl.gov/hgmis
Middle panel background:  Blurred version of portion of Wired Cell, U.S. Department of Energy Genomes to Life Program, http://doegenomestolife.org