RESEARCH GUIDE: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
Topics On This Page:
In the Library
The Atlas of Coasts & Oceans : Ecosystems, Threatened Resources, Marine Conservation
by Don Hinrichsen
Highlights the effects of human civilization and climate change on coastal areas and oceans around the world
Dire Predictions : Understanding Global Warming
by Michael E. Mann and Lee R. Kump
Presents the findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in graphic, visual formats
Physical Geography : A Landscape Appreciation
by Tom L. McKnight and Darrel Hess
Introduces the study of physical geography
Online
Earth Revealed | Annenberg Learner
This free online video series on geology, with 26 half-hour videos, covers the Earth's interior, tectonic plates, the creation of mountains, sedimentation, erosion, earthquakes, volcanoes, minerals, rocks, soils, mass wasting, water features, glaciers, waves, beaches, coastal areas, and more
Meteorology Online Guides | WW2010 | University of Illinois
Each online guide provides a clear, basic explanation of a topic related to atmospheric science, such as clouds and precipitation, air masses and fronts, severe storms, and El Niño. Although the look of the site is dated, the content is very good
NOAA : National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Provides information about weather, storms and natural disasters, and also ecology, fisheries, climate change, and more
USGS : U.S. Geological Survey
Provides information about climate and climate change, ecology and ecosystems, land use, agriculture, fisheries, forests, oceans, rivers, coastal areas, natural disasters, oil and gas, minerals, and other natural resources. Includes images, maps, and tutorials about basic concepts in geography
WERC : Western Ecological Research Center | USGS : U.S. Geological Survey
Provides research results and information about fire ecology, climate change, marine ecology, natural resources, invasive species, and wildlife in the Pacific Southwest (California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona)
Online
Bird-Friendly Design | Green Building Alliance
Provides a brief overview of the danger buildings present to birds, what design strategies can mitigate that danger, and the pros, cons and costs of those strategies
Bird-Friendly Guidelines | The City of Toronto
This detailed guide to best practices covers the building envelope, awnings and overhangs, and glass options, and also lists strategies that been proven ineffective at preventing bird collisions
*Glass Collisions | American Bird Conservancy
Resources on this page include brief information on the problem of bird collisions, a detailed Bird-Friendly Building Design guide, and products that have been tested and shown to decrease bird collisions *Faculty recommendation
*LEED Bird Collision Deterrence Credit | USGBC
Details the pilot LEED credit for bird collision deterrence in new construction *Faculty recommendation
*Urban Bird Treaty | Migratory Bird Program | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Provides extensive information on bird habitats, reducing hazards to birds, and bird conservation, with a detailed design guide to Reducing Bird Collisions with Buildings and Building Glass *Faculty recommendation
In the Library
Fire, Chaparral, and Survival in Southern California
by Richard W. Halsey
Focuses on the chaparral ecosystem in southern California, and the effects of wildfires on that ecosystem
Introduction to Fire in California
by David Carle
Explores the behavior and effects of wild and controlled fires in California
Online
Fire & the Environment | Fire Safe Council of San Diego County
Provides links to resources that discuss the links between wildfire and climate change
Fire Science | Pacific Southwest Research Station | US Forest Service
Scientific information, written for a general audience, about wildfires and forest fires in California and Hawaii
Managing Fire | US Forest Service
Scientific information, written for a general audience, about wildfires and forest fires, including the impacts of climate change and invasive species, predicting and fighting fires, and the effects of fire on people, animals, plants, and the land
Wildfire | KQED Science
News, opinions, maps, videos, and more related to wildfires in California and the western United States, from the public media organization KQED
In the Library
Coastal Design : A Guide for Builders, Planners, and Home Owners
by Orrin H. Pilkey
Provides design and construction guidelines for building safe, resilient, and environmentally sensitive single-family, multi-family and mobile homes
Designing the Sustainable Site : Integrated Design Strategies for Small-Scale Sites and Residential Landscapes
by Heather Venhaus
Features design solutions to minimize damage to, and even restore, the natural environment as well as human health and well-being
Mobile : The Art of Portable Architecture
edited by Jennifer Siegal
Highlights modern movable and portable dwellings
Portable Houses
by Irene Rawlings
Features traditional movable dwellings from around the world, from houseboats to yurts to homes on wheels
Sea Cliffs, Beaches, and Coastal Valleys of San Diego County : Some Amazing Histories and Some Horrifying Implications
by Gerald G. Kuhn and Francis P. Shepard
Focuses on the coastal areas of San Diego County and threats from erosion, landslides and flooding
Sustainable Housing Reconstruction : Designing Resilient Housing After Natural Disasters
by Esther Ruth Charlesworth and Iftekhar Ahmed
Explores 12 housing reconstruction projects after earthquakes, tsunamis, cyclones, floods or fires with the goal of designing a community more resilient to future disasters
Urgent Architecture : 40 Sustainable Housing Solutions for a Changing World
by Bridgette Meinhold
Features 40 emergency and long-term housing projects, including rapid shelters, transitional shelters, affordable housing, prefab housing, and adaptable houses
Xtreme Houses
by Courtenay Smith and Sean Topham
Profiles 45 unusual homes including floating, underground, and transparent structures
Online
*Buoyant Foundation Project
Provides information on amphibious architecture, including examples of projects and academic theses on buoyant housing *Faculty recommendation
*Coastal Climate Resilience: Designing for Flood Risk
This publication by the City of New York examines strategies for coastal areas for making buildings more resilient to the effects of flooding
Coastal Climate Resilience: Urban Waterfront Adaptive Strategies
This report by the City of New York covers strategies for new construction and retrofitting existing buildings
Global Flood Initiative
This initiative of the Columbia Water Center includes studies of flood-prone areas
Resilient Design | BuildingGreen
Includes articles on resilient housing, including specific examples
*Retrofitting Buildings for Flood Risk | New York City
This New York City report analyzes retrofit options for buildings in the New York City floodplain
*Severe Weather 101 – Floods | NOAA
The National Severe Storms Laboratory, a federal research laboratory, provides an overview of areas vulnerable to floods
World Disasters Report 2015 | International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies provide annual reports on world disasters, and one focus of the 2015 report is the prevalence of floods
World Flood Handbook
This comprehensive guide to urban flood risk management, from Baca Architects and The World Bank, is an operational guide to taking effective steps to managing the risks of urban flooding
Online
*The Aftermath of the Gold Rush: Mining and Mercury in the Bay | Saving The Bay Education*
Includes a video describing the impacts of gold mining on the San Francisco Bay *Faculty recommendation
*Environmental Impact in the Gold Rush Era | Calisphere
Provides a brief summary of the impacts of gold mining, with many old photos of gold mining and hydraulic mining *Faculty recommendation
*Gold | USGS
Provides an introduction to gold throughout history *Faculty recommendation
*Mercury Contamination from Historical Gold Mining in California | USGS
Provides background information on the use of mercury in historical gold mining and processing operations in California, and describes projects that address the potential risks associated with mercury contamination *Faculty recommendation
*Mining Techniques of the Sierra Nevada and Gold Country | Journal of Sierra Nevada History & Biography
Describes various gold panning techniques used in California *Faculty recommendation
In the Library
Moby-Duck : The True Story of 28,800 Bath Toys Lost at Sea and of the Beachcombers, Oceanographers, Environmentalists, and Fools, Including the Author, Who Went in Search of Them
by Donovan Hohn
Explores the phenomenon of floating garbage in the Pacific Ocean
Online
Adrift: Tracking the Global Ocean Circulation
This interactive map allows users to explore how all kinds of objects drift through the ocean
*Garbage Patches | NOAA
Includes several pages of information and FAQs on garbage patch areas *Faculty recommendation
*Great Pacific Garbage Patch | National Geographic Society
Explains the phenomenon of floating patches of garbage in the Pacific Ocean *Faculty recommendation
Great Pacific Garbage Patch | National Ocean Service | NOAA
This podcast explores the garbage patch areas in the Pacific Ocean
Trash Talk: What is the Great Pacific Garbage Patch? | Marine Debris Program | NOAA
This video provides an overview of garbage patch areas in the Pacific Ocean
*Trashed: Across the Pacific Ocean, Plastics, Plastics, Everywhere | Natural History Magazine
Explains the phenomenon of floating patches of garbage in the Pacific Ocean *Faculty recommendation
*What We Know About the “Garbage Patches” | Marine Debris Program | NOAA
Presents the basic facts about garbage patch areas in the Pacific Ocean *Faculty recommendation
Online
*Mississippi Delta | Union of Concerned Scientists [via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine]
Explores the climate and changing environment of the Mississippi Delta region *Faculty recommendation
*Mississippi River Delta | National Wildlife Federation
Explores the economy, wildlife and habitat loss in the Mississippi Delta *Faculty recommendation
*The Mississippi River Delta Basin | Louisiana CWPPRA
Provides information about the geography of the Mississippi Delta and current restoration efforts *Faculty recommendation
Issues | America’s Wetland Foundation
Provides a brief explanation of the problems facing the Mississippi River Delta and coastal wetlands in Louisiana, with much more information on the rest of the site about the delta, the environmental problems, and projects to restore and conserve the wetlands
DELTAS2010: World Delta Dialogues | America’s Wetland Foundation
Includes findings from a conference about river deltas and their restoration around the world, with specific recommendations for restoring the Mississippi River Delta
*Sediment and Nutrient Tradeoffs in Restoring Mississippi River Delta: Restoration vs Eutrophication (2009) | Journal of Contemporary Water Research & Education
Examines some of the environmental problems related to the Mississippi River Delta *Faculty recommendation
Online
Certification of Tropical Forests | FSC International
Provides information on the Forest Stewardship Council’s certification system for tropical forests
*Certified Tropical Wood LEED Credit | USGBC
Provides information on the LEED credit available for the use of certified tropical wood. Requires free registration to access the Guide and Resources *Faculty recommendation
*How Does Deforestation Affect Orangutans? | Scientific American
Examines the impact of deforestation on this endangered primate *Faculty recommendation
*The Root of the Problem: What’s Driving Tropical Deforestation Today (2011): Executive Summary | Union of Concerned Scientists
This brief executive summary discusses the factors that contribute to deforestation and highlights successful efforts to reduce deforestation *Faculty recommendation
*The Root of the Problem: What’s Driving Tropical Deforestation Today (2011) | Union of Concerned Scientists
This full report provides in-depth information regarding the factors that contribute to deforestation and successful efforts to reduce deforestation *Faculty recommendation
*Solutions for Deforestation-Free Wood Products (2012) | Union of Concerned Scientists
Provides a summary of the environmental issues related to wood products, highlights successful efforts to promote more sustainable wood products, and includes a link to the full report “Wood for Good” *Faculty recommendation
*Tropical Deforestation (2007) | NASA Earth Observatory
Examines the causes and impacts of tropical deforestation *Faculty recommendation
*What’s Driving Deforestation? | Union of Concerned Scientists
Provides a brief summary of the factors that contribute to deforestation around the world *Faculty recommendation
*Wood for Good: Solutions for Deforestation-Free Wood Products | Union of Concerned Scientists
Provides in-depth information about logging and deforestation, the environmental issues related to wood products, and efforts to promote more sustainable wood products *Faculty recommendation
Online
Tutorial on Earth/Sun Relations and Seasons
Covers the inclination of the Earth's axis; why we have seasons, equinoxes and solstices; and related topics
Tutorial on Humidity
Covers properties of water, latent heat, ways to express humidity (including relative humidity), adiabatic processes, and what happens to air rising up the side of a mountain
Online
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EMAIL DR. J. R. THORNGREN
For physical geography questions, email Dr. Thorngren
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