Alaska Tsunami

In this video adapted from Alaska Sea Grant, discover why multiple tsunamis resulted from the Great Alaska Earthquake of 1964.

Anatomy of a Tsunami

Using visual models and other graphics, this interactive activity from NOVA Online reveals details of the December 26, 2004 tsunami that collided with coasts around the Indian Ocean.

Antarctica: Sea Ice

This video segment adapted from NOVA uses microwave images to reveal how sea ice doubles the size of Antarctica each winter. Rare footage shows how sea ice crushed the famous ship Endurance in 1914.

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Antarctic Ice: Sea Level Change

What would happen if a portion of the Antarctic Ice Sheet were to melt? This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animations to show the effect of a 6-meter sea-level rise on coastal cities across the world.

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Arctic Climate System

Learn how the Arctic is a part of a global climate system in this video segment adapted from the National Film Board of Canada.

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Coral Kid

In this video segment, ZOOM guest Cassie takes us on a tour of the coral reef near her home in Key Largo, Florida, and points out some of its unique features.

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Deep-Sea Vents and Life's Origins

Deep-sea vents are home to life forms that do not rely on the Sun's energy. They depend instead on energy from volcanoes on the ocean floor. This video segment adapted from NOVA hypothesizes that life on Earth may have begun in this extreme environment.

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Earth as a System

This visualization adapted from NASA maps progressive global changes onto a rotating globe. Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, and biosphere are shown to be dynamic and interconnected.

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Earth's Cryosphere: Antarctica

Learn about the different features of snow and ice in Antarctica using satellite imagery in this video segment adapted from NASA.

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Examine Global Surface Currents

This visualization from McDougal Littell/TERC visualizes the relationship between global wind directions and the direction of ocean surface currents.

The Fierce Humboldt Squid

Historically, the Humboldt squid has roamed the waters of the Humboldt Current, ranging from the southernmost tip of South America to California. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, find out how they have been able to survive and thrive in their expanding range.

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Global View of the Seasons

This interactive activity produced for Teachers' Domain features satellite data of Earth's seasonal cycles. Visualizations and comparative still images reveal how successfully plants are photosynthesizing at different times of the year.

Great Ocean Conveyor Belt: Part II

A substantial increase in freshwater running into the northern Atlantic Ocean could dramatically affect climate and global ocean currents. This audio segment from National Public Radio presents viewpoints from scientists studying changes in ocean circulation.

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Ice Shelf and Ice Sheet Simulation

In this interactive activity adapted from Texas A&M University, a block of melting ice simulates ice shelves and ice sheets and their differing effects on global sea level.

Journey to the Farallones

The Farallon Islands aren’t just a unique habitat, they’re also a bellwether for climate change. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, find out how unexpected, recent climate change is affecting life on and around the Farallon Islands.

La Niña and Tornado Outbreaks

This video excerpt from NOVA looks at how La Niña’s cool ocean temperatures may influence tornado outbreaks.

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Observe an Animation of Wave Motion

This animation from McDougal Littell/TERC visualizes what happens when wave energy passes through water.

Observing Antarctica

Take a unique trip through Antarctica in this interactive activity, adapted from NASA, which uses high-resolution satellite images from the Landsat Image Mosaic of Antarctica (LIMA).

Ocean Temperatures and Climate Patterns

This animation from The New Media Studio illustrates how the atmosphere and ocean together shape wind, current, and rainfall patterns in the tropical Pacific.

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Oil Spill: Exxon Valdez, 1989

This video segment adapted from NOVA follows the clean-up effort after the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill off the coast of Alaska. Also featured is a marsh where an oil spill occurred 20 years earlier; analysis suggests that environmental damage may last for decades.

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