"The Day the Mesozoic Died" - Free Video is Excellent!

As I was thumbing through a recent NSTA publication, I came across an advertisement for a video titled, "The Day the Mesozoic Died"; a 33-minute program produced by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI). I went online to watch the video as I was eating breakfast this morning. Wow, this is a GREAT video! . . . and it's free. Here is the web site where you can watch it and/or order a DVD to show your classes: The Day the Mesozoic Died

The video focuses on geologic clues that led to acceptance of the theory that an asteroid impact killed of the dinosaurs. I ordered the video and plan to use it after my students learn how geologists interpret rock layers (superposition, cross-cutting, inclusions, etc.)

The HHMI site also provides several classroom ready resources to complement the video, including a quiz, as well as teacher guidelines and student handouts for several activities. To access those, CLICK HERE.

Learn more about the impact theory here: K-T Boundary in Montana

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.

Lightning Strike Captured in Super-Slow Motion

The video was featured as the July 23, 2012 "Astronomy Picture of the Day". Video Credit and Copyright: Tom A. Warner, ZTResearch, www.weathervideoHD.TV

Tom's camera was able to take 7,207 frames per second (actual time is shown at the bottom of the video). The 33-second video represents about .12 seconds of real time.

Jupiter-Moon Conjunction on Christmas Night

IF the skies are clear at your location, this should be worth a look. Merry Christmas! CLICK HERE to view NASA's ScienceCast video about the event.

USA at Night

If you haven't seen this recent "USA at Night" image, be sure to check it out. You can click on the image to the right to make it bigger, or go to this web site for more information: NASA Earth Observatory

See if students can identify cities in your area. Initially, I was confused by the large area of lights in western North Dakota - until I realized there were due to activity in the Bakken Oil Fields. In most cases more light means more people. Challenge students to identify the Earth Science factors that draw people to specific areas (rivers, lakes and other water resources, harbors, soil, warm sunny climates, transportation/travel routes, mineral resources, etc.).

In the long history of mankind geology, hydrology, and meteorology have played important roles in the development of communities and cultures. An important aspect of every culture is the story of how that group of people adapted to their environment - how they figured out how to feed themselves, build shelters, clothe themselves, make weapons, even how they developed values and beliefs, etc.

To learn more about the lights in the Bakken Oil Fields in North Dakota, CLICK HERE.

EXTRA: ScienceCasts Christmas Sky Show

To view a convenient list of all the resources that have been posted on this "Earth Science Guy" blog site, CLICK HERE.

Storm Surges - Animations and Much More!

The National Hurricane Center has a nice web page that explains storm surges. The site includes explanations, diagrams, and an impressive animation. CLICK HERE to go to the site or HERE to go directly to the animation. The site also includes hour-by-hour graphics that illustrate famous storm surges of the past. The link is titled, "Noteable Surge Events". I especially liked Camille (1969 - Category 5) animation. CLICK HERE to view it. Advance it one frame at a time. As you do, notice where the worst surge area is in relationship to the eye of the storm.

Another great source is the animation provided by The New York Times, which explains and shows the sequence of events that caused New Orleans to flood in 2005. It is very impressive! CLICK HERE to see it. The animation created by graphic artist Dan Swenson and researched by Bob Marshall.

Map of Tornado Deaths Through the Years

The graph shown here helps show the deadliest kinds of weather in the USA. Over the past 10 years, "heat" has caused the most deaths, but in 2011 tornadoes caused over 550 deaths. CLICK HERE to see a larger version of the graph shown on the right.

In fact 2011 was the deadliest tornado year in decades. How does it compare to other years in the past several decades? This week's resource is an interactive map that allows you to find out. CLICK HERE to view the interactive, which is provided by The New York Times. You can select any year on the scroll bar above the map (beneath bar graph) to look at a certain year, or you can let run (and pause it).

Also, The NY Times also has a page that features before and after aerial photos of the Joplin, Missouri tornado. CLCICK HERE to see that. Below those photos you will find a link to street-level before and after photos - pretty impressive!

Here is a link to NOAA's 2012 Severe Weather Summaries. Choose "large hail", "wind damage", or "tornadoes" at the top of the map to see where these different types of severe weather happened.

What causes jet streams?

Jet streams are one of the most interesting phenomena that people never see, never experience, and probably don't understand. Yet, seldom does a TV meteorologist make it through a broadcast without mentioning them. So, what's all the fuss about? What causes them? How do we know where they are? I've tried to find answers to these questions AND figure out ways to make jet streams interesting to my students. This week's resource is a PowerPoint presentation that I put together based on what I learned. CLICK HERE to check it out. For best results, download the presentation to view it.

The key that helped me understand why there are jet streams was a "pressure block" activity that I did while taking the DataStreme (online) Course offered by the American Meteorological Society. Although I don't have students do the activity, I use photos of the blocks in my presentation. The topics covered in the PowerPoint are . . .

1. Jet Streams: What and where?

2. How do we know where they are?

3. Why are they important?

4. What causes them?

NOTE: The presentation is posted on www.slideboom.com - a free site that allows you to post up to 100 presentations, which students or colleagues can view or download. To view other presentations that I've posted type "rod benson" into the search box.