Earthquakes: The Prehistoric Record

In this video segment adapted from NOVA, a geologist digs a trench along the San Andreas Fault to reveal three thousand years of earthquake history. Information from the layers of sediment may help geologists to predict earthquakes.

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Earthquakes: The Seismograph

This video segment adapted from NOVA uses historical illustrations, photographs, and animations to explain how seismographs work, the difference between P and S waves, and the Richter scale.

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Explore Alaska's Volcanoes

In this interactive activity adapted from the University of Alaska, explore four of Alaska's many volcanoes using photographs, computer simulations, and three kinds of satellite images.

Exploring the Arctic Seafloor

In this interactive activity adapted from NOVA scienceNOW, learn what some of the first imagery ever shot on the Arctic Ocean seabed tells us about life in extreme environments.

Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!

In this Nature lesson, students will learn about different types of volcanoes, how and why they erupt and the physical impact of volcanic eruptions.

Forecasting Volcanic Eruptions

This media-rich essay from NOVA Online describes the challenges of forecasting volcanic eruptions and includes information about specific cases.

Geology of Death Valley

This video segment from NatureScene examines the landforms of Death Valley and how they came to be.

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Geology of North Dakota Badlands

See how the geology of the North Dakota badlands has changed over time in this video segment from NatureScene, featuring the landscape at Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

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The Grand Canyon: How It Formed

This video segment adapted from NOVA uses animation to present the theory of how the Grand Canyon was formed and features rare footage of a phenomenon known as debris flow.

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The Hayward Fault: Predictable Peril

The Hayward Fault, which ruptures on average every 140 years, last ruptured 150 years ago. In this video from QUEST produced by KQED, learn about the work being done to prepare for what may be the next big one.

The Hayward Fault: A Tectonic Timebomb

Earthquakes are part of the geologic fabric of California. In this audio report from QUEST produced by KQED, find out why one East Bay fault line has geologists particularly worried.

Health Risks of the BP Oil Spill

In this video segment adapted from Need to Know, learn about the possible short- and long-term health risks for workers involved in cleaning up the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

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How Caves Form

This interactive activity from NOVA Online shows four different ways in which caves are formed: by rainwater, waves, lava, and bacteria.

How Did Life Emerge Here?

This video segment adapted from NOVA describes the emergence of life on the islands of Hawaiʻi from a barren volcanic platform under the ocean waves to the rich explosion of life that covers the many climate zones of the islands today.

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Karst Topography and Mammoth Cave

This video from KET shows karst topography in the Mammoth Cave region of Kentucky, illustrating how caverns and sinkholes are formed from water dissolving limestone underground.

Lava Sampling on Kilauea Volcano, Hawaiʻi

In this video segment adapted from NOVA, scientist Mike Garcia draws lava samples at the foot of the active Kilauea volcano to see if it is related to its neighboring volcano, Mauna Loa.

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Living With Earthquakes

Students will use some of the modern principles and ideas found in architectural design to create unique structures capable of withstanding the simulated forces of an earthquake.

Making a Seismometer

In this video segment adapted from ZOOM, cast members make a seismometer and experiment with different ways to make it register movement.

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Mountain Maker, Earth Shaker

This interactive activity adapted from A Science Odyssey Web site helps you visualize different types of plate tectonic activity and shows the impact this activity has on Earth's surface.

Mount Pinatubo: Predicting a Volcanic Eruption

This video segment adapted from NOVA relates the dramatic story of vulcanologists trying to predict the timing of the cataclysmic eruption of Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines.

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