Described is physical oceanography as analyzed by seven dependent variables, (three components of velocity, the pressure, density, temperature and salinity) as a function of three space variables and time. Topics discussed include the heat balance of the earth, current patterns in the ocean, heat transport, the air-sea interaction, and prospects…

Two hundred students in an undergraduate physical geography course were assigned to a group which received either factually oriented quizzes or quizzes which stressed higher level behaviors such as application and analysis. Evaluation of the results indicated that the variation in testing procedures had no discernable effect on student scores in…

Defines and describes the various functional parts of a beach. Provides a diagram of a shore profile and identifies major beach regions. A list of reference readings for teachers is included. (ML)

Provides background material and laboratory procedures for an activity which requires students to compare (in quantitative terms) fossils from 10 localities and to objectively define provinces, regions, and realms. These paleobiogeographic relationships are then used to reconstruct the drift histories of the three continents on which the 10…

To prevent increasing personal injuries and property loss, teachers need to educate themselves and their students about geological hazards. The author discusses earthquakes, downslope movement, dam failures, shoreline erosion, and other geologic hazards. Information on suggested teacher resources is provided. (DS)

Summarized in chart form are data regarding published geologic maps for the 50 states and Puerto Rico. Information provided by state geologists includes scale, availability, and ordering instructions for both bedrock and surficial maps. (CS)

Discusses the formation, types, and climatic characteristics of deserts. Includes maps showing major deserts on every continent. (MLH)

Discusses efforts to determine the future of arid lands using climatic data of the past and present. (MLH)

Presents an interpretation of geological and geophysical data, which provides a summary of the structural and sedimentary history of the United States Atlantic Margin. The importance of an understanding of the development of the outer continental shelf to future hydrocarbon exploration is detailed. (BT)

Intended as a supplement to undergraduate college geography courses, this resource paper describes the science of geomorphology, the study of landforms. The general aim of this paper is to review the developments which have made geomorphology what it is today, to indicate its present character and status, to demonstrate its increasingly close…

Discusses the meaning of sea level change and identifies the major factors responsible for this occurrence. Elaborates on the theory and processes involved in indirect measurement of changes in sea volume. Also explains how crustal movement affects sea level. (ML)

Intended to supplement undergraduate college geography courses, this resource paper investigates several concepts which are prerequisite to the study of physical geography. The student is provided with a "systems" approach to physical geography, which combines the underlying principles of physics with the contextual application of these principles…

Describes how to construct models of contour lines from flexible, colored bell wire. These models are used to illustrate three-dimensional terrain characteristics represented by contour lines printed on a flat map. (MLH)

Discusses some of the ways that rocks can be used to enhance children's creativity and their interest in science. Suggests the creation of a dramatic production involving rocks. Includes basic information on sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks. (TW)

Designed to serve as a complement to the Unesco Technical Papers in Marine Science, this report concentrates on theoretical and practical problems of geological mapping of the sea floor. An introduction is given to geological mapping procedures at continental margins as well as some practical recommendations taking as an example the African region…