ARCTIC LIBRARY
Check out the ENVIRONMENT / ATMOSPHERE section. There's just about everything in this library that you'd ever need to know about the Arctic, listed both ALPHABETICALLY and by CATEGORY. Ideal for students. (Double-click any word on these pages for a "pop-up" definition.)
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The Arctic sun hovers
on the horizon.
Photo: National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration
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ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS IN THE ARCTIC
The arctic is a unique setting in which ecological activity is both accelerated and slowed down. Biological activity during the short summer season is heightened, while cold weather during the rest of the year slows other biological processes such as decomposition and absorption.
GLOSSARY OF METEOROLOGY
This is the electronic version of the Glossary with more than 12,000 terms - a leading reference source in meteorology (the study of the physics, chemistry, and dynamics of the earth's atmosphere, including the related effects at the air-earth boundary over both land and the oceans) and related sciences.
IS THE ARCTIC SEA ICE THINNING?
Some great graphics to show you what is happening to the Arctic sea ice. This doesn't look good. The Throps and Squallhoots are getting a bit jittery.
Also see Athropolis NEWS - A Canary in the Cold
COLD REPORT
Daily weather reports for locations within the Arctic Circle (Igloolik (Nunavut), Tuktoyaktuk (NWT), Resolute (Nunavut), Pond Inlet (Nunavut), Barrow (Alaska), Hammerfest (Norway), Murmansk (Russia), Tiski (Russia), Pevek (Russia) and Thule (Greenland).
Also see the Athropolis Maps of the Arctic Area with pop-up weather reports.
WWF ARCTIC PROGRAMME
The Arctic has recently been recognised as an important indicator of the state of global well-being and climatic change. Through campaigns, environmental education, lobbying, press releases and newsletters, WWF increases the awareness of decision makers and the general public regarding the global significance of this area.
ALL ABOUT SNOW
If you want to know why snow is white, or why forecasting snow can be so difficult, this is the site for you.
SNOWCRYSTALS.COM
Your online guide to snowflakes, snow crystals, and other ice phenomena. This site is all about snow crystals and snowflakes - what they are, where they come from, and just how these remarkably complex and beautiful structures are created, quite literally, out of thin air.
HAVE SNOW SHOVEL, WILL TRAVEL
A whole bunch of stuff about snowstorms.
DEFENDERS OF WILDLIFE
Dedicated to the protection of all native wild animals and plants in their natural communities and the two most serious environmental threats to the planet: the accelerating rate of extinction of species and the related loss and destruction of habitat. Check out the excellent KIDS' PLANET section.
THE ENVIRONMENT - A GLOBAL CHALLENGE
With 400 articles and 811 pages, this site covers almost every aspect of the environment and provides many interactive features. Go to:
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS for information on Acid Rain, Air Pollution, Global Warming, Hazardous Waste, Ozone Depletion, Smog, Water Pollution, Overpopulation, and Rain Forest Destruction.
FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
A national environmental organization dedicated to preserving the health and diversity of the planet for future generations. As the largest international environmental network in the world with affiliates in 63 countries, Friends of the Earth empowers citizens to have an influential voice in decisions affecting their environment.
TEN PRINCIPLES FOR ARCTIC TOURISM
Representatives from local communities, governments, different sectors of the tourism industry, conservation organisations and scientific institutions used their experience to create these guidelines for arctic tourism.
Make tourisn and conservation compatible.
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR ARCTIC TOURISTS (.pdf)
CODE OF CONDUCT FOR TOUR OPERATORS IN THE ARCTIC (.pdf)
AVALANCH AWARENESS
Mountains attract climbers, skiers and tourists who scramble up and down the slopes. Yet, to do this they must enter the timeless haunt of avalanches.
THE ARCTIC IS AN ECOSYSTEM
The Arctic Ecosystem grades into warmer Southern regions of the world and interacts with them.
GREENPEACE
Greenpeace exists because this fragile earth deserves a voice. It needs solutions. It needs change. It needs action.
Greenpeace is a non-profit organisation, with a presence in 40 countries across Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific.
EARTH 911 - MAKING EVERY DAY EARTH DAY
A site to empower the public with community-specific resources to improve their quality of life. Through a single toll-free phone call to 1-800-CLEANUP or the use of this Web site, you can access several sections of community-specific environmental information at no cost to the user or taxpayer.
OCEANA - PROTECTING THE WORLD'S OCEANS
Oceana is a new non-profit, international advocacy organization created with the sole purpose of protecting the world's oceans to sustain the circle of life.
U.S. EPA'S EXPLORERS' CLUB
A clubhouse full of interesting things to read and do related to the environment.
EARTH SHARE
A federation of America's leading non-profit environmental and conservation organizations, works to promote environmental education and charitable giving through workplace giving campaigns. Check out the excellent
EARTH SAVING TIPS.
CHILDREN OF THE EARTH UNITED
An Adventure in Environmental Education - for kids who care about our future.
GLOBAL RESPONSE
The Earth is NOT dying - it is being killed. The people who are killing it have names and addresses - and this site gives them to you. Your letters can help stop the destruction.
NASA'S EARTH OBSERVATORY
See what's happening - you can examine monthly snapshots (or global datasets) of the Earth's surface and atmosphere.
THE OZONE HOLE TOUR
This tells you about what an ozone hole is and what causes it.
KID'S PAGE - MINNESOTA POLLUTION CONTROL AGENCY
Games and fun stuff to teach you about pollution.
WHAT'S UP WITH THE WEATHER?
The overwhelming majority of scientists agree: Earth's temperature has risen during the past century. A topic of MAJOR importance to every Throp and Squallhoot!
WARNINGS FROM THE ICE
Explore how Antarctica's ice has preserved the past going back hundreds of thousands of years, and then see how the world's coastlines would recede if some or all of this ice were to melt.
HELP SAVE ANIMALS AND THEIR HABITATS
None of us set out to place wild animals on a fast track headed for extinction. In fact, we would save them if we could. Wouldn't we? Here's 101 things you can do to help.
HELPFUL HINTS FOR PLANET EARTH
The first graders in Mrs. Rollman's class would like to help you with A great story they wrote just for kids like you!
ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY COUNCIL
Great sections on Climate, Air, Food, Energy, Water, Waste, Population, Forests...
EXPLORING THE ENVIRONMENT
This module from NASA's Classroom of the Future, provides basic information about climate change.
GREENHOUSE - GREEN PLANET
Of all the planets in our solar system, the Earth is the only one that - as far as we know - supports life. So why is our planet alone so hospitable?
THREATENED SPECIES
Get the facts on endangered animals: African Elephant, Asian Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Bonobo, Brown Bear, Cetaceans (Whales), Chimpanzee, Giant Panda, Gorilla, Indian Rhinoceros, Javan Rhinoceros, Spectacled Bear, Sumatran Rhinoceros, Tiger, Orangutan, White Rhinoceros.
ASK A SCIENTIST
Is there a question that you, your parents or teacher can't answer? Ask a scientist or Professor Polarbear. The team will answer questions related to global warming, radiation, weather, ARM, or the environment.
PLAY THE WATER QUIZ
Discover fascinating facts about everyone's favorite liquid.
ACID RAIN
Acid rain is considered by many people to be one of the most serious environmental problems of our time. It is a global problem that is gradually affecting our world.
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
On a bright, sunny day, you park your car in the sun and lock it. When you come back later, what has happened? Have you ever been inside a greenhouse when the sun was out? How did it feel? This phenomenon is called the greenhouse effect.
DIRTY AIR IN COLD PLACES
Ice core records of atmospheric pollutants.
LIGHT IN ICE CRYSTALS
some great photograohy here. Take a look!
THE ARCTIC MIRAGE
The arctic mirage causes the light from distant objects to be optically refracted downward so that it becomes possible for objects lying beyond the normal horizon to be seen. They even appear, at times, to rise up over the horizon.
GLOBAL CHANGE DICTIONARY
The Center for the Study of Carbon Dioxide and Global Change welcomes you to its web site, and its dictionary of global change terms.
OFFICE OF RESPONSE AND RESTORATION
Here are tools and information for emergency responders and planners, and others working to understand the effects of oil and hazardous materials in our waters and along our coasts. A great kids' section too.
MAPS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SENSITIVITY TO INTRUSION
a collection of environmental sensitivity maps representing those areas in the Arctic which are especially sensitive to disturbance from ships and aircraft.
MEASURES FOR SHIP OPERATORS TO LIMIT ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE
Routing, speed reduction, helicopter operations, waste handling, and other steps.
Also see:
POLLUTION AND RECYCLING
