
- HOME
- LIBRARY
- RESEARCH GUIDES
- PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY
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
NOAA Fisheries | NOAA - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Information about habitats, species, and fishing
Sacramento Valley Salmon Resiliency Strategy | California Natural Resources Agency | State of California
Information on California’s native salmon and steelhead species
Aquaculture | NOAA Fisheries
Information about aquaculture across the U.S.
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
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
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
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
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
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
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
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
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
Online
San Diego County Wetlands
Originally created by SeaWorld and now archived on the Internet Archive, this site includes an information page on each of the wetland areas in San Diego county
General Wetlands Information | Southern California Wetlands Recovery Project
Provides information about the different types of wetlands and the role they play in ecosystems
San Dieguito Lagoon Wetland Restoration Project | San Diego River Park
Provides information about the restoration project, its goals and its progress, from the agency responsible for creating and maintaining natural open space in the San Dieguito River Valley
Wetland and Aquatic Research Center | USGS
Information about understanding, managing, conserving, and restoring wetlands and other aquatic and coastal ecosystems
Coastal Ecosystem Response to Sea-level Rise | USGS
Information about how coastal ecosystems vary in their ability to keep up with sea-level rise
Dynamic coastlines along the western U.S. | USGS
Information about coastal areas on the U.S. Pacific coast
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
Online
Lahar - River of volcanic mud and debris | USGS
This 2018 fact sheet from the U.S. Geological Society provides an explanation of lahars and how risk can be minimized
Lahar | Volcanic Hazards | GNS Science
Information on lahars on the Ruapehu Volcano in New Zealand
Lahars | Volcano Hazards Program | USGS
Information on the behavior and causes of lahars, as well as links to information on specific active mountains
Volcanoes and Lahars | Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Information on Washington volcanoes and lahar risk
Catastrophes! Earthquakes, Tsunamis, Tornadoes, and Other Earth-Shattering Disasters (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
Mount Rainier: Active Cascade Volcano (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
The Eruption of Nevado Del Ruiz Volcano Colombia, South America, November 13 1985 (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
Online
Earthquake Engineering for Structural Design (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
Earthquakes and Engineers: An International History (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
The Appendix: Earthquake Engineering History as Delineated by Significant Earthquakes might be particularly useful
Practical Lessons from the Loma Prieta Earthquake (ebook)
Available through ProQuest eBook Central (login required)
Fact Sheets: Earthquakes | USGS Publications
Earthquake science in plain language from the U.S. Geological Society
Progress Toward a Safer Future Since the 1989 Loma Prieta Earthquake | USGS
Information about progress made in making infrastructure safer
More resources on OneDrive
Use your DI email address and password to log into your Microsoft 365 account
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
-
EMAIL DR. J. R. THORNGREN
For physical geography questions, email Dr. Thorngren
- LIBRARY HOURS
- DI EMAIL
- VIA ePORTFOLIOS
- BOOKLIST
- DI LIBRARY CATALOG
- ARTICLES ON PROQUEST
- EBOOKS ON PROQUEST
-
BUILDINGGREEN
Articles and product info
-
KRAVET’S WEBSITE
Fabrics, wallcoverings and more)
-
MEDLINE PLUS
Health and medical information
- EMAIL THE LIBRARY
Close
Recommend a book, magazine or website
Please fill out as much information as you can to recommend a resource. If you are recommending a book, feel free to include an Amazon or Google Books link.