Environmental Science Website Database
An online resource--over 100 rated sites pertaining to the environment
How this website works:
There are over 100 sites on this page that deal with an area of environmental science. Many of these sites contain actual environmental data from research agencies, links to environmental information, or impressive articles that groups have written about environmental issues.
Rankings:
Homepages to prominent government environmental agencies are not ranked, but special directories within those homepages are.
All other sites receive two ratings, on a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest. The ratings are relative, meaning that each site was compared to all the other sites on this page, and was assigned ratings based on how the site compared to the others. These ratings are Information and Usability. The Information rating is determined from the amount of helpful information that can be found on the site. The Usability rating is developed from several factors in a website. These factors are, in order of importance:
The best websites found have been boldfaced to aid in quicker website selection.
This website is divided into two sections. Section 1 contains websites that have been listed in Living in the Environment, the textbook by Miller that was used in NCSSM's first Environmental Science class (1999). Each website listed in that book has been visited, and based on the valuability of the website to our environmental science class, the website was ranked according to the ranking procedure above.
Section 1: Environmental Websites from Living in the Environment by Miller (see Site Index below)
Section 2: Environmental Websites found through Internet searches
Section 2:
Environmental Websites found through Internet searches --almost complete.
Section 1: Environmental Websites from Living in the Environment by Miller |
||
Site |
Summary |
URL |
1. Environmental Problems and their Causes (back to top) |
||
National Library for the Environment: click on Your Neighborhood |
General source of environmental information. Information: 6Usability: 7 |
|
Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory |
Can get ocean buoy, tsunami, hydrothermal vent, and atmospheric chemistry trace gas data. Information: 7Usability: 4 |
|
Envirolink |
Online environmental community. Info on animal rights, sustainable businesses, "green" lifestyle center. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
Environmental Resources (Sonoma State University) |
A wealth of environmental links--good for finding information to use in projects, research papers, etc. Information: 9Usability: 7 |
|
World Population Clock |
JavaScript clock that displays world population increase and allows one to compare today's population with previous years' populations (since 1970). Information: 6Usability: 8 |
|
Yahoo's Environmental Index |
Basic, thorough index of environmental webpages. Information: 10Usability: 5 |
http://www.yahoo.com/Society_and_Culture/Environment_and_Nature/ |
2. A Brief History of Resource Use and Conservation (back to top) |
||
John Muir Exhibit |
Talks about the life of John Muir, an American naturalist, and offers information about his work. Sponsored by the Sierra Club. Information: 4Usability: 5 |
|
WWW Virtual Library (University of Virginia) |
A searchable index of over 1,000 environmental resources arranged alphabetically and by category. Information: 10Usability: 9 |
|
3. Critical Thinking: Science, Models, and Systems (back to top) |
||
Earth from Space |
Perhaps hundreds of images of the Earth's features (cities, landscapes, bodies of water, crop fields, weather patterns, etc.) Information: 10Usability: 9 |
|
4. Matter and Energy Resources: Types and Concepts (back to top) |
||
The Chemistry of Carbon |
Explains the properties of carbon, and shows how the atoms of carbon are bonded together. Information: 6Usability: 6 |
http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/modules/carbon/carbon1.html |
Mathematics and Molecules
|
Database of molecular structures and properties, including those of water and organic compounds. Best section: Click on Library of 3-D Molecular Structures.Information: 10Usability: 10 |
http://www.nyu.edu/pages/mathmol/
Library of 3-D Molecular Structures: |
Periodic Table Exploration |
Easy-to-access information about the elements, all the way up to element 112 Information: 8Usability: 7
|
http://www.shef.ac.uk/chemistry/web-elements/main/index-nofr.html
|
5. Ecosystems and How They Work: Connections in Nature (back to top)6. Ecosystems: Niche, Species, Interactions, Succession, and Stability |
||
The Carbon Cycle |
Large black-and-white JPEG image of the carbon cycle. Information: 5Usability: 4 |
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/SEAWIFS/LIVING_OCEAN/carbon_cycle.jpeg/ |
Studying Ocean Color from Space |
Information on phytoplankton, why the ocean is blue, the carbon cycle, activities, and discussion questions for classes. Information: 7Usability: 8 |
|
The National Environmental Data Index |
Direct access to government environmental data and information descriptions. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
7. Climate, Weather, and Biodiversity (back to top) |
||
Interactive Weather Information |
This is the best website on weather seen yet. Pristine maps of all types of weather conditions across the country can be seen here, in full color, as if rendered in 3-D. Information: 9Usability: 10+ |
|
NOAA's Pacific Marine Environment Laboratory |
Data on ocean phenomena (El Nino, tsunamis, hydrothermal vents). Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
GIS Data Depot |
This is the place to go to download free geospatial data. Information: unknown (did not download anything)Usability: 5 |
|
8. Population Dynamics, Evolution, and Human Impacts (back to top) |
||
Big Bang Simulator |
Looks like this might be a good site, but must download a plug-in to view VRML (virtual reality markup language) images. Information: UnknownUsability: Unknown |
|
UC Berkeley Museum of Paleontology |
A wealth of information on taxonomy--go to On-Line Exhibits. Information: 8Usability: 8 |
|
Environmental Change Network (Data) |
Environmental data for the UK. Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
The UK Environmental Change Network's Online Tutorials |
Pages designed as on-line weather and climate tutorials for students in the UK. Information: 6Usability: 7 |
|
Landscape, Cataclysms, and Population Explosions |
An Australian professor's research paper on the topics of landscapes, cataclysms, and population explosions. Information: 6Usability: 4 |
|
The Tree of Life |
"...a project containing information about the diversity of organisms on Earth, their history, and characteristics. The information is linked together in the form of the evolutionary tree that connects all organisms to each other." Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
9. Geologic Processes: The Dynamic Earth (back to top) |
||
Earthquake Information (USGS) |
Database of resources on earthquakes. Information: 6Usability: 6 |
http://info.er.usgs.gov/network/science/earth/earthquake.html |
Geological Surveys and Natural Resources Departments |
Listing of state and foreign geological surveys, about halfway down the page. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
Geologic Information (USGS) |
Geology homepage of the USGS (not the actual homepage). Information: 7Usability: 7 |
|
Geologic Hazards |
Images and information on earthquakes, geomagnetism, interactive maps, landslides. Information: 7Usability: 9 |
|
US Geological Survey |
Homepage of the US Geological Survey. unranked |
|
10. Risk, Toxicology, and Human Health (back to top) |
||
Animal Rights |
Animal rights links from Envirolink, an online environmental community. Information: 4Usability: 5 |
|
Biotechnology and Food (FDA) |
Biotechnology and food information from the Food and Drug Administration. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
Environmental Health Standards |
Must register first and log in with a user name and password, but this site looks promising as a database of environmental issues for "environmental professionals and businesses." Information: UnknownUsability: Unknown |
|
Environment, Safety, and Health (DOE) |
Searchable library of environment, safety, and health information from the Department of Energy. Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
The Envirofacts Warehouse's Toxic Chemicals Site |
Searchable and browsable index of all chemicals currently monitored by the EPA's Major Program Systems: Air (AFS), Water (PCS), Hazardous Waste (RCRIS), Superfund (CERCLIS) and Toxics Release Inventory (TRIS). Information: 8Usability: 8 |
|
National Center for Health Statistics (CDC) |
Health statistics page put out by the CDC. Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
Particulates and Premature Death |
Article about how "thousands of early deaths could be averted with cleaner air standards." Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
World Health Organization (WHO) |
Homepage of the World Health Organization. Very thorough listing of diseases and great articles on family, reproductive, and environmental health. Information: 10Usability: 8 |
|
11. Population Dynamics: Influencing Population Size (back to top) |
||
A National Survey of Families and Households |
Downloadable results of a large national survey. This site is not yet complete; abstracts of the survey questions are available, but the statistics will not be posted until ~7/21/99. Information: 7Usability: unknown |
|
Internet Resources for Demographers |
Very thorough listing of demographic resources. Information: 8Usability: 5 |
|
POPLINE |
The "world's largest bibliographic population database," according to the site. Free population information and family planning CD-ROM available. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
Population Index on the Web |
Searchable database allowing access to population and demographic literature. Hosted by Princeton University. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
Population Reference Bureau |
Easy-to-use database of population growth and demographic articles. Wallcharts, posters, educational materials available for on-line use or order. Information: 8Usability: 8 |
|
United Nations Population Information Network (POPIN) |
Data on world population trends. Links to MEDLINE, a heavily-used medical database, and bibliographic resources. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
US Census Bureau Home Page |
unranked |
|
12. Population Distribution: Urban Living and Sustainable Cities (back to top) |
||
Conservation Design for Subdivisions |
Information on how to plan environmentally-friendly subdivisions, and how to select the proper lands for construction. Information: 6Usability: 7 |
|
Noise Pollution Law |
Cornell University-based website featuring the actual U.S. noise pollution law. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
OneWorld Development Education Online |
An original resource on environmental education. Includes educational activities for younger and older kids, including recycling projects and estimating the size of one's environmental impact. Information: 7Usability: 8 |
|
US Dept. of Housing and Urban Development |
Homes and Communities section of the US HUD. Information on the homeless, buying new homes, and HUD at work in communities. unranked |
|
US Dept. of Transportation |
Information about modes of transportation, road construction, traffic safety, airline safety, etc. unranked |
|
13. Deforestation and Loss of Biodiversity (back to top) |
||
Brazilian Tropical Databases |
This is the English version of the site. It contains information on species diversity, tropical ecosystems, and development; however, the articles are all written in Spanish. If a window appears for downloading Bitstream, Inc, click on No and close window. This appears to be a recurring problem. Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
National Resources of Canada |
Available in both English and French. Very easy to navigate. Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
Rainforest Action Network |
Original resource for rainforest information, and things we can do to learn more about and to protect the rainforests. Information: 7Usability: 7 |
|
ForestWorld |
Claims to be the "Yahoo of the forest products industry." The site has been shut down for repairs, and should be working by ~7/21/99. Information: UnknownUsability: Unknown |
|
14. Global Warming and Ozone Loss (back to top) |
||
EPA and Ozone Depletion |
A wealth of information on ozone depletion. Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
Ocean Planet (an online Smithsonian exhibition) |
This site contains lessons, activities, and other educational material for learning about the ocean. Information: 10Usability: 8 |
http://seawifs.gsfc.nasa.gov/OCEAN_PLANET/HTML/search_educational_materials.html |
Ozone Depletion and Global Warming |
A collection of links from the University of Oregon on alternative energy sources, energy efficiency, and environmental organizations. Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
Paleoenvironmental Data of Past Climate Change |
Contains a database of paleoclimatic data from the NOAA Paleoclimatology Program. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
15. Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (back to top) |
||
Bioenergy Information Network |
"A gateway to information about fuels and power produced from biomass: fast-growing trees, grasses, residues, and wastes." Information: 6Usability: 4 |
|
Essential Information |
A listing of "essential," somewhat related organizations. Information: 5Usability: 4 |
|
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network (DOE) |
The Department of Energy's online resource for renewable energy and energy efficiency. Information: 8Usability: 10 |
|
Energy Information Administration (DOE) |
The Special Features section of this page contains interesting links to energy resources, including a kid's page and an energy quiz. Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
National Energy Foundation |
Nonprofit source of educational materials and programs related to energy, resources, and the environment. Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) |
Contains links to alternative fuels sites and basic facts on renewable energy and resources. Information: 8Usability: 9 |
|
CalStart |
Source for "advanced transportation news and information," including news on alternative fuel vehicles and emerging technology. Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
Sandia National Laboratories Renewable Energy Technologies |
Technical information on solar cell creation, wind, and geothermal energy. Information: 7Usability: 7 |
|
Sustainable Energy Resources |
Filled with information on all types of energy sources, resources, and efficient living. Information: 10Usability: 9 |
|
Wind Energy Investigations |
Simple activities designed to allow kids to investigate wind energy. Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
16. Nonrenewable Energy Resources (back to top) |
||
Fossil Fuel Issues |
The historical price of gas and the changing amount of energy consumption of the US. Information: 4Usability: 3 |
|
Nuclear Information WWW Server |
All one needs to know about nuclear power, research, and organizations. Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
Radioactive Waste: Transmutation |
Information on how to "deactivate" nuclear waste. Information: 8Usability: 7 |
|
Table of the Nuclides |
Easy-to-navigate information about all the known nuclides (isotopes, or atoms with varying mass numbers) Information: 10Usability: 8 |
|
Sustainable Fusion--US Fusion Energy Sciences Program |
Links to fusion labs in the US and information on fusion. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
US Department of Energy |
unranked |
|
US Department of Energy--Office of Fossil Energy |
unranked |
|
US Nuclear Regulatory Commission |
unranked |
|
(back to top) | ||
Acid Rain FAQs |
Things to know about acid rain. Information: 7Usability: 5 |
|
Clean Air Act |
Cornell University-based website featuring the actual U.S. Clean Air Act law. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
Indoor Air Quality |
This site has information on common indoor air pollutants, and offers ways to improve the quality of air in an indoor environment. Free educational videos can be obtained from a section in this site. Information: 8Usability: 8 |
|
National Pollution Prevention Center for Higher Education |
Contains educational materials and resources on pollution prevention. Information: 8Usability: 6 |
|
Radon Home Page |
Information on radon, hosted by the US Geological Survey. Information: 6Usability: 5 |
|
(back to top) | ||
Columbia River |
|
|
Hydrology Web |
|
|
Texas Environmental Center Encyclopedia of Water Terms |
|
|
Water Data (USGS) |
|
|
The Water FAQ |
|
|
Water on Line |
|
|
Water Web Home Page |
|
|
Water Wiser |
|
|
(back to top) | ||
Clean Water Act |
|
|
Global Rivers Environmental Education Network (GREEN) |
|
|
Great Lakes |
|
|
Groundwater Pollution |
|
|
Ocean Planet |
|
|
Pesticide Movement in Groundwater |
|
|
Soil and Water Science Handbook |
|
|
US Drinking Water Regulations |
Cornell University-based website featuring regulations on US drinking water. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
Water Pollution |
|
|
Water Quality Information Center |
|
|
(back to top) | ||
Cornell Composting |
|
|
Mineral Resources Survey (USGS) |
|
|
Minerals and Energy Resources |
|
|
National Soil Erosion Research Laboratory |
|
|
Rotweb: Home Composting |
|
|
Soil Science Links |
|
|
Soil/Water Relationships |
|
|
Soil and Water Science Handbook |
|
|
(back to top) | ||
CERCLA Superfund Law |
Cornell University-based website featuring the actual Superfund law. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
Chemical Fact Sheets |
|
|
Econet's Ecojustice Resources |
|
|
Ecowatch |
|
http://www.cadvision.com/Home_Page/accounts/vut/ecowatch.htm |
Global Recycling Network |
|
|
Green Design and Manufacturing |
|
|
Hazardous Exposure |
|
|
Hazardous Materials Management |
|
|
Incineration and Environment |
|
|
Integrated Sustainable Management of Wastes |
|
|
Library of Toxic Substances |
|
|
National Materials Exchange Network |
|
|
Recycler's World |
|
|
Recycling Resources |
|
|
Reduce, Reuse: Cygnus |
|
|
Waste Management Education and Research Consortium |
|
|
(back to top) | ||
Agricultural Economics Virtual Library |
|
|
Aquaculture |
|
|
Food and Nutrition Web Sites |
|
|
Food Labeling |
|
|
Food Safety (FDA) |
|
|
Hunger Web |
|
|
National Agricultural Library |
|
|
National Agriculture Safety Database |
|
|
Seafood Net Information Center |
|
|
Sustainable Agriculture, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program |
|
|
United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) |
|
|
US Department of Agriculture (USDA) |
|
|
USDA General Information |
|
|
US Fisheries Protection |
|
|
World Crisis Network |
|
|
23. Protecting Food Resources: Pesticides and Pest Control (back to top) |
||
Biocontrol Network |
|
|
Food Additives (FDA) |
|
|
Insecticides Law |
|
|
24. Sustainable Ecosystems: Forests, Rangelands, Parks, and Wilderness (back to top) |
||
Biosphere Reserves (Man and the Biosphere) |
|
|
National Wildlife Federation |
|
|
UN List of National Parks and Protected Areas |
|
|
(back to top) | ||
Botanical Conservation |
|
|
Cetaceans Home Page |
|
http://kingfish.ssp.nmfs.gov/tmcintyr/cetacean/cetacean.html |
Earth Wise Journeys |
|
|
Endangered Species Act |
Cornell University-based website featuring the actual U.S. Endangered Species Act. Information: 7Usability: 6 |
|
International List of Endangered Species |
|
|
National Audubon Society |
|
Section 2: Web Sites for the Environment, found through Internet Searches |
||
Site |
URL |
Summary |
United Nations 1998 Revision of the World Population Estimates and Projections |
||
United States Popclock |
From the U.S. Census Bureau. Lists how many births and deaths take place each second. |
|
World Popclock |
From the U.S. Census Bureau. Gives previous monthly population counts. |
|
World Population |
The JavaScript-based population clock that shows how many people are added to the world's population per second, and allows the user to compare the current population with previous world populations. |
|
World-Village Project, The |
"If we were to reduce the world population to a village of 1000 inhabitants; then this would be our reality..." Very informative website-it shows on a smaller scale (of 1000 people) how the world population is split up into economic, ethnic, and religious groups, etc. |
|
Latent Energy Environments By Filippo Menczer and Rik Belew |
An artificial life model and simulator of controlled complexity, using endogenous fitness. Software and documentation available for Unix and Macintosh. |
|
Unit converters, statistics, maps from PlanetDiary |
||
PlanetDiary |
||
Radiation at PlanetDiary |
||
The Nine Planets |
Multimedia tour of the solar system |
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/nineplanets.html |
Neptune's dark spot has disappeared! |
Planetary environmental science page. |
http://seds.lpl.arizona.edu/nineplanets/nineplanets/neptune.html |
EPA Envirofacts Warehouse- |
Similar to Scorecard. |
|
EPA Center for Environmental Information and Statistics |
Has county-level data and the ability to produce maps. |
|
Consumer Recycling Resources Guide |
An excellent starting point for those consumers searching for recycling information Includes listing of local recycling information by state. |
|
Environmental Education on the Internet |
||
Envirolink |
An online environmental community. Animal rights, sustainable businesses, green living center (how to live more nature-friendly). |
|
Environmental Defense Fund Worldwide |
||
Environmental Information Center |
Site on environmental law |
|
The online energy resource |
||
EPA online |
||
Geoindicators: Tools for assessing rapid environmental changes |
Wonderful resource for environmental/ecological monitoring and environmental reporting. |
|
GCDIS: Gateway to Global Change Data and Information |
||
The GW Green University Initiative |
look under environmental information resources for all these things and more: |
U.S. Environmental Resources by Name http://www.gwu.edu/~greenu/oga.html By Subject |
International Environmental Resources by Country |
||
The site I last visited |
||
|