Earth Science: Unearth the Best Web Sites
Earth science, also known as geoscience, is the study of Earth as a system and all its component parts. Geophysics, oceanography, atmospheric science, geology, and more all fall within its purview. There’s no need to be overwhelmed, however. Earth science inspires some of its brightest minds to share their enthusiasm and expertise online. This Web guide showcases the best sites to explore the sky above you and the depths beneath your feet.
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Expand All Guide SectionsWhat is Earth Science?
The broadness of Earth science as a discipline invites much confusion, lending to the erroneous ... read more »
Earth Science School Resources
Earth science is a great way to introduce young children to the scientific process as well as the ... read more »
Earth Science News and Blogs
Earth science is an extremely active field, with many of its fundamental discoveries having taken ... read more »
Earth Science Organizations
Despite its interdisciplinary nature, the world of Earth science has a surprising number of professional and academic organizations. These national and local societies exist to bring together professionals, students, academics, and educators from all corners of the Earth science field.
Dulcinea's Insight
- Many professional organizations’ Web sites tend to offer little content unless you’re a registered member. However, many do publish journals and magazines that can often be found online as well.
- Earth science research often involves enormous amounts of data, and thus Earth scientists tend to share a great deal of their observations and research. Below we’ve included some useful tools to find data on almost any Earth science phenomenon or topic.
- One of the first obstacles to advancing your career in Earth science might be confusion as to what opportunities and careers are available. Check out American Geological Institute’s Guide to Human Resources in the Geosciences for a primer on the types of opportunities available.
- For a host of tips and Web sites related to finding employment, visit the findingDulcinea Job Hunting Web Guide.
Dulcinea's Picks
For government organizations and sites …
The National Science Foundation
is not specifically an Earth science organization, but this Web site is a crucial resource to anyone in the scientific world. News, publications, funding information, and lots of resources for professionals and students are all easily accessible from the top navigation bar.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
acts as the United States’ steward of the seas and air. The site is neatly organized by the ecosystems and activity NOAA regulates and the types of research it conducts, with each section accessible by a button near the top right of the page. Besides research information, you’ll find links to the services the administration provides, such as the National Weather Service.
For Earth science professional and academic organizations …
The American Geological Institute
has one of the best-looking and informative sites of all the professional organizations listed here. This federation of 44 separate organizations has its hands in every pot, dealing with education, professional development, and policy. Look for links to all its activities and the many online resources it offers, including an “Earth Science World Image Bank,” data repositories, and resources and materials for educators.
The Association for Women Geoscientists
doesn’t have the best-looking site, but despite the lack of flair there is a good amount of content to be found here, including information on all the programs AWG offers. Addressing the longtime problem of a lack of encouragement of and engagement with minorities and women in the scientific world, this organization seeks to promote the presence and success of women in geoscience and help bring in a new generation of female scientists.
The Geological Society of America’s
site can be a bit crowded but a few clicks bring you to a bevy of resources. Students will find information on a large number of grants, intern and employment opportunities, and mentoring. There are also many tools on the site for educators and professionals. Membership costs $30 for students, teachers, and affiliates (nonscientists); and $70 for professionals. Rates are sharply discounted for those living in countries classified as other than high-income by the World Bank.
For databases and data resources …
Global Change Master Directory
is a powerful tool to access data sets on Earth science from a large number of different sources. Easily browse or search the directory; every entry includes a description of the data set, a summary, and links to the original source.
NASA’s
Earth Observatory is a very user-friendly data resource for the student, teacher, amateur earth scientist, or just those curious about the world. The site has a wealth of data from which you can build time-lapse animations, as well as features on different phenomena, problems, and news from around the world. Don’t miss the glossary feature near the top of each page; turn it on to get definitions of technical words.
National Geophysical Data Center
is a no-nonsense source of global data. Not designed for an amateur audience, the site has a lot of technical information and esoteric but powerful data sets.
Nationalatlas.gov
brings you all kinds of maps of the United States full of historical, geophysical, and other types of data. Customize the maps, make them interactive, and order wall-size versions. Also download data from the site for use in your Geographic Information System (GIS) applications, programs designed to create and exploit layered interactive maps. It’s a shame the site’s data covers only the United States, as the tools here are easy to use and very powerful.
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