Materials presented here outline basic concepts related to groundwater, answering questions like "What is groundwater?" and "What is an aquifer?" More detailed topics include groundwater quality, sources of contamination, engineering problems presented by groundwater, and safeguards to the groundwater supply. A bibliography and links to other water-related sites are included. A French translation ... Full description.

This resource is a 43 page pdf document on the principals of optical mineralogy. Topics include light, the polarizing light microscope, the refractive index, optical classes and indicatrix theory, the relationship of optical properties to crystal chemistry, and advanced methods in optical mineralogy. The website features both text and figures. Full description.

This site describes the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which stretches across six states including New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, Virginia and West Virginia and also the District of Columbia. Also included in the Bay watershed are several subwatersheds, smaller systems that drain into the streams and rivers that flow into the Chesapeake. More than 64,000 square miles of land drain into the ... Full description.

This innovative course introduces undergraduate and graduate students in ocean science related majors to inquiry-based instructional strategies for communicating their passion for their subject area. These strategies, combined with college students' content knowledge and enthusiasm for sharing it, equip them to introduce ocean science to K-8 students and teachers in local schools. The site provides ... Full description.

This guide provides a brief introduction to the hydrologic cycle and related concepts. Users can choose from a set of links to pages which explain the distribution of water among the oceans, land, and atmosphere, and the mechanisms by which water is moved between its various sinks and sources. Full description.

This brief description of the rock cycle is for younger students. They will learn about the processes by which the three types of rocks can be changed into one another. Full description.

This description of a ground-water aquifer has a graphic representation to accompany it. It is part of the U.S. Geologic Survey's Water Science for Schools website. Links to other parts of the site, such as definitions and types of wells, are included. Full description.

This site from SERC's Starting Point describes how to develop site-specific maps that relate to lecture, discussion, lab, or exercise topics. The creation of site-specific maps can help students better understand spatial relationships. This page also provides links to a variety of GIS and map resources. Full description.

This website provides an easy-to-understand introduction to the basics of optical mineralogy. Topics include the polarized light microscope, mineral shape and cleavage, relief, color and pleochroism, interference colors, extinction angles, twinning, opacity, vibration directions and mineral identification. The site features short, clear descriptions accompanied by photographs and drawings. This website ... Full description.

This site explains the hydrologic cycle and interactions of ground water with surface water, streams, lakes, and wetlands. There are sections about chemical interactions of ground water and surface water; evolution of water chemistry in drainage basins; and interaction of ground water and surface water in different landscapes. Mountainous, riverine, coastal, glacial and dune, and karst terrain are ... Full description.