The NSDL Scout Report for Physical Sciences -- Volume 1, Number 11

June 14, 2002

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison




In This Issue:

Research

Education

General

Topic In Depth




Research

GRASS GIS
http://grass.itc.it/index2.html
The GRASS GIS Homepage Web site offers the free Geographical Information System (GIS) software that was originally created as a tool for land management and environmental planning for the military. Geographic Resources Analysis Support System (GRASS) is used for data management, image processing, graphics production, spatial modeling, and visualization of many types of data with a wide range of applications in many different areas of scientific research. It has continually evolved since 1982 with help from a large number of federal US agencies, universities, and private companies. It is available free from the site, along with add-ons, sample data, manuals, and more. [JAB]
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Institute of Physics
http://www.iop.org/
The Institute of Physics is a "leading international professional body and learned society with over 37,000 members, which promotes the advancement and dissemination of a knowledge of and education in the science of physics, pure and applied." The site offers news such as a recent article entitled "Gas Molecule Adsorption in Carbon Nanotubes and Nanotube Bundles" and other information on a wide range of topics that any professional working in a related field will find valuable. [JAB]
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Kimberlite Indicator Database
http://www.gov.sk.ca/enermine/geomines/saskkimb.htm
Provided by the Saskatchewan Department of Industry and Resources, the Kimberlite Indicator Database contains more than 27,000 microprobe analyses of heavy mineral grains from over 1600 discrete sampling sites. Searches can be done by geographic, mineralogical, or chemical parameters, and can be exported for use in spreadsheet programs for additional use. [JAB]
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The Radiation Chemistry Data Center
http://allen.rad.nd.edu/
The Radiation Chemistry Data Center is an information resource provided by the Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory that is "dedicated to the collection, evaluation, and dissemination of data characterizing the reactions of transient intermediates produced by radiation chemical and photochemical methods." The main page offers links to Compilations of Chemical Property Data, Kinetics Databases, a Bibliographic Database, and Recent Papers in Radiation Chemistry and Photochemistry. [JAB]
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State and Tribal Water Quality Standards [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/ost/wqs/
The State and Tribal Water Quality Standards Web site, from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), contains EPA's compilation of the State, Territory, and authorized Tribal water quality standards effective as of November 30, 2001. By clicking on a state, for example, Wisconsin, visitors can view documents that include Water Quality Standards for Wisconsin Surface Waters, Surface Water Quality Criteria and Secondary Values for Toxic Substances, Variances to Water Quality Standards, Stream Classification Guidelines for Wisconsin, and more. [JAB]
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Astronomical Data Center
http://adc.gsfc.nasa.gov/
Maintained by NASA, the Astronomical Data Center "specializes in archiving and distributing collections of data that have been published by professional astronomers." Data can be searched by keyword, author, or year, and can be browsed by several criteria. Most of the data sets are in the form of computer-readable tables of numbers called astronomical catalogs and tables published in the professional journals called journal tables, all of which can be freely downloaded. [JAB]
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To Science Databases
http://www.internets.com/sciencedata.htm
The Internets mission is "to be the Internet's largest, fastest, and most recognized global link to on-line resources which include news feeds, archives, libraries, research databases, catalogs, and statistical data." The Science category page contains databases organized into twenty-two subjects that include astronomy, chemistry, energy, geography, geology, oceanography, and physics. A science Web site link is also provided, as well as pages to non-physical science databases and sites; in short, Internets is an excellent resource for those seeking subject specific science information on the Web. [JAB]
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The USGS Bedform Sedimentology Site [QuickTime]
http://walrus.wr.usgs.gov/seds/
The USGS Bedform Sedimentology Site offers materials that are companions to the book: Cross-Bedding, Bedforms, and Paleocurrents, by D. M. Rubin of the USGS Pacific Science Center. Visitors can read an online version of the book, read about bedform initiation, view QuickTime and MPEG movies of bedforms and cross-bedding, download bedform simulation software, and find out how to identify low-dimensional deterministic systems (chaos) in time series or spatial patterns. [JAB]
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Education

Astro-Venture [Flash, Shockwave]
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/projects/astrobiology/astroventure/
Astro-Venture, by NASA's educational Web site NASA Quest, is a wonderfully done interactive multimedia activity for students in grades 5-8. Consisting of nine modules, the activity takes participants through the process of training for and building a planet with the necessary characteristics for human habitation. They learn the astronomy, geology, atmospheric science, and biology needed to complete individual missions and ultimately build a planet. Students will enjoy spending the time needed to complete the sensory rich activities and learn a tremendous amount along the way. This site is also reviewed in the June 14, 2002 Scout Report. [JAB]
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Science Quizzes
http://www.explorit.org/quiz.html
Offered by Exploit, a nonprofit and independent California Corporation, the Science Quizzes site contains more than forty quizzes in various science subjects. Topics include astronomy, physics, weather, chemistry, water, cold, mars, and other physical and biological subjects. Each quiz allows users to choose from among several answers and then check to see how many they got right. Although fairly short and lacking correct answer explanations, the questions should definitely spark the interest of students and get them to explore the subjects further. [JAB]
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EdiFun
http://www.nps.gov/edis/edifunpage.htm
The National Park Service offers the EdiFun Web site, which teaches kids about Thomas Edison and his inventions. The Grades 4 and Up section contains a timeline of Edison's life, a brief biography, a FAQs and Fables page, and an area that highlights three of his most famous inventions. The high school link has similar but more in-depth descriptions, as well as additional offerings such as a list of all his 1,093 US patents. [JAB]
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For Kids Only
http://kids.earth.nasa.gov/
The For Kids Only Web site of NASA's Earth Science Enterprise division contains several excellent learning pages for students. Four sections include air, natural hazards, land, and water, all of which provide additional links that show how NASA studies these topics. For example, the water page has information about oceans, tropical rain, and El Nino, while the land page looks into continental drift and the "color" of data. [JAB]
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Physical Geology Lecture Online
http://www.gpc.peachnet.edu/~pgore/online/physical2.php
Maintained by Dr. Pamela J. W. Gore of Georgia Perimeter College, the Physical Geology Lecture Online is a complete online interactive course. Through descriptions, photographs, and illustrations, students can learn the basics of minerals, rocks, volcanoes, soils, earthquakes, erosion, mass wasting, and more. Although the site was created for a specific college course, any student can browse and learn about the many topics covered. [JAB]
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Kids Stuff
http://www.uwsp.edu/water/portage/kid/index.htm
The Kids Stuff page of the Portage Wisconsin Groundwater Web site offers fun ways kids can learn about groundwater and the water cycle. The site has activities and games such as crossword puzzles and mazes, pages to download and color, and a ground water basics page that has original information and links to similar online topics. [JAB]
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The How Far Does Light Go? Debate
http://www.kie.berkeley.edu/KIE/web/hf.html
From the Knowledge Integration Environment Project of the University of California Berkeley comes the How Far Does Light Go? Debate Web site. Geared for advanced students, the lesson "is a debate project that engages students in an examination of the scientific properties of light by engaging them with relevant evidence from the Web." Teachers should first visit the Teacher Information link to get instructions and download the necessary documents. Once started the project takes approximately six fifty-minute periods to complete with 30 students and covers light reflection, diffuse reflection, light absorption and energy conversion, energy conservation, light intensity over distance, light detection equipment, and vision. Although the site is a bit difficult to navigate, the overall lesson is comprehensive and well worth attempting. [JAB]
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Remote Sensing and Image Analysis
http://www.cnr.berkeley.edu/~gong/textbook/
Assistant professor Peng Gong in the Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management at the University of California Berkeley has created the Remote Sensing and Image Analysis online textbook. Students can learn about the physical basis of remote sensing, remote sensing systems, integrated analysis of multisource data, and many other subtopics. A bit advanced, college and some high school students will find the information provided a good resource. [JAB]
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General

2000 TRI Data Release [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/triinter/tridata/tri00/index.htm
Recently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released the 2000 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) Data online. The report "is a publicly available database that contains information on toxic chemical releases and other waste management activities reported annually by certain covered industries as well as by federal facilities." The report can be downloaded or viewed online, as well as searched by various criteria. [JAB]
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Climate Action Report 2002 [.pdf]
http://www.epa.gov/globalwarming/publications/car/index.html
Another release from The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is the Climate Action Report 2002, found on their Global Warming site. The report is subtitled The United States of America's Third National Communication under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The introduction, all nine chapters, and appendixes are available for viewing and download via Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) files. [JAB]
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Stormwater Manager's Resource Center
http://www.stormwatercenter.net/
Created by the Center for Watershed Protection, "the Stormwater Manager's Resource Center is designed specifically for stormwater practitioners, local government officials and others that need technical assistance on stormwater management issues." The Web site contains a watershed library of more than 600 online references, a stormwater slideshow, a stormwater design manual toolbox, a fact sheet, and much more. [JAB]
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Perspectives on Plasma
http://www.plasmas.org/basics.htm
Originally conceived and launched by consultant and Senior Research Associate Dr. Timothy E. Eastman at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado, the Perspectives on Plasma Web site represents all aspects of plasma science and technology. Visitors can explore the basics of plasma, its applications, view a photo gallery, and much more. [JAB]
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Rocking the Parks: Geological Stories of the National Parks [.pdf]
http://www.e-education.psu.edu/courses/geosc010/textbook/toc.html
Rocking the Parks: Geological Stories of the National Parks is an online book by Richard B. Alley of Penn State Universities e-Education Institute. The site contains thirty chapters that relate geology and the US National Parks, such as plate tectonics and Death Valley, volcanoes and Yellowstone, and glaciers and Yosemite. Each Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) file can be downloaded and viewed free of charge. [JAB]
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Light Measurement Handbook
http://www.intl-light.com/handbook/index.html#TOC
Provided by International Light, Inc., the Light Measurement Handbook contains over sixty pages of information on the physics of light. Chapters include What is Light, How Light Behaves, Light Sources, Principles of Light Measurement, etc. The Handbook is free to download after registering, or can be viewed online. [JAB]
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Women Exploring the Oceans
http://www.womenoceanographers.org/
WomenOceanographers.com "features the careers of remarkable women in oceanography. Each woman has followed a different path to her career and has gathered unique insights about her profession. Learn how these women are contributing to our understanding and appreciation of the ocean and how they go about their daily work." The site currently contains biographies, interviews, and photographs of eleven women such as technical illustrator Jo Griffith. [JAB]
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Fire Wise
http://www.firewise.org/
Provided by the National Wildlife/ Urban Interface Fire Program, the Fire Wise Web site contains information for people who live near fire prone areas and "will help them to become a firewise individual, and acquaint them with the challenges of living around interface/intermix wildfire." One unique feature of the site is the dynamics of wildfire interactive activity, which allows users to learn about the fuel, heat, oxygen triangle, fire behavior, fuels and fire path, topography and weather, and fire types. [JAB]
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Topic In Depth

Temperature
1. About Temperature
http://www.unidata.ucar.edu/staff/blynds/tmp.html
2. Conversion Calculator for Units of Temperature
http://www.ex.ac.uk/cimt/dictunit/cctemp.htm
3. Temperature: Is it Hot or Cold?
http://www.askeric.org/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Process_Skills/SPS0034.html
4. Surface Temperature: Animations
http://www.giss.nasa.gov/data/update/gistemp/
5. The History Behind the Thermometer
http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/blthermometer.htm
6. Science Shack
http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/scienceshack/backcat/experiments/mathermometer.shtml
7. Temperature Extremes and Drought
http://lwf.ncdc.noaa.gov/oa/climate/severeweather/temperatures.html
8. Temperature World
http://www.temperatureworld.com/
This topic in depth begins with the About Temperature (1) Web site, written by Beverly T. Lynds of Unidata, which is a program that works to enable university researchers and educators to acquire and use atmospheric and related data. The one-page site explains what temperature is, the development of thermometers, heat and thermodynamics, and other related topics. The second site is maintained by the University of Execter's Centre for Innovation in Mathematics Teaching. Actually an online tool called Conversion Calculator for Units of Temperature (2), the site allows users to type in any value, choose a significant figure, press "convert it," and get that value in Kelvin, Celsius, Fahrenheit, raumur, and rankine units. The next site is a lesson plan from AskEric.com entitled Temperature: Is it Hot or Cold? (3). Written for 2nd graders, the lesson demonstrates to how to read thermometers, determine their rise or fall, record temperatures, and take temperatures of various items. The fourth site, Surface Temperature Analysis (4), is presented by NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies. Here, visitors can view graphs, maps, animations, and station data of global surface temperatures. For example, the animation covers 12-month means from 1971 to 1999. The History Behind the Thermometer (5) Web site, from About.com, explores what a thermometer is, how it works, and how it came into being. The sixth site, entitled Science Shack (6) and offered by the BBC, answers the question, Why do we have two different temperature scales, Celsius and Fahrenheit? The site explains how to create your own thermometer like Galileo's, tells how it works, and why we use other types today. The next site is provided by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and presents US State temperature extremes and drought information (7). Visitors can see all-time temperature maximums and minimums by state, monthly temperatures by state, and more. The last site is an all-inclusive temperature site called Temperature World (8). Everything from news, science, organizations, general interest, games, and more -- all related to temperature -- can be found here. [JAB]
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From The NSDL Scout Report for Physical Sciences, Copyright Internet Scout Project 1994-2002. http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/

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Copyright Susan Calcari and the University of Wisconsin Board of Regents, 1994-2002. The Internet Scout Project (http://scout.cs.wisc.edu/), located in the Computer Sciences Department of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, provides information about the Internet to the U.S. research and education community under a grant from the National Science Foundation, number NCR-9712163. The Government has certain rights in this material. Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of the entire Scout Report provided this paragraph, including the copyright notice, are preserved on all copies.

Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, or the National Science Foundation.




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