The NSDL Scout Report for Physical Sciences -- Volume 3, Number 6

March 19, 2004

A Publication of the Internet Scout Project
Computer Sciences Department, University of Wisconsin-Madison




Research

Education

General

Topic In Depth




Research

University of Wisconsin - Madison - AERI: Atmospheric Emitted Radiance Interferometer [gif]

http://cimss.ssec.wisc.edu/aeri/

Housed at the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies (SSEC) at the
University of Wisconsin - Madison, the atmospheric emitted radiance interferometer (AERI) "measures downwelling infrared radiation from 3-25 m at less than one wavenumber resolution every ten minutes." Users can learn about the instrument's many applications including atmospheric profiling and cloud data collecting. The website features an informational slideshow about the instrument radiometric calibration. Researchers can view real-time and archived data and graphs on temperature, water vapor, and more for sites within United States such as Madison, Wisconsin and Lamont, Oklahoma. [RME]



Louisiana State University: Earth Scan Laboratory [gif, jpeg]

http://www.esl.lsu.edu/

Louisiana State University's earth station for NOAA polar orbiting and geostationary satellites collects, analyzes, interprets, and distributes earth environmental data. Researchers can view abstracts of the many publications authored by people associated with the laboratory. The web site offers a large quantity of detailed imagery from GOES, MODIS, and other remote sensing equipment as well as a series of hurricane animations. Because the files are fairly large, users may want to access this web site with a fast internet connection...or be patient. [RME]



The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Deep-Sea Sample Repository

http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/res/fac/CORE_REPOSITORY/RHP1.html

The Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Deep-Sea Sample Repository archives sediment and rock deep-sea core data for marine geology and oceanographic research and education. Students can learn about the process of taking the cores, the characteristics of the specimens collected, and their benefits. Researchers can search over 300 datasets for cores sites, mineralogy, micropaleontology, and other core data. Scientific investigators can find out how to obtain samples from the cores. This expansive website features a large variety of research projects including the influence of the sun on climate variability and the chemistry of the ocean based on the thickness of microfossil shell walls. [RME]



OCMIP: Ocean Carbon-Cycle Model Intercomparison Project [postscript, Microsoft PowerPoint, pdf]

http://www.ipsl.jussieu.fr/OCMIP/

The Ocean Carbon-Cycle Model Intercomparison Project (OCMIP) goal is "to develop an international collaboration to improve the predictive capacity and accelerate development of global-scale, three-dimensional, ocean carbon-cycle models through standardized model evaluation and model intercomparison." Visitors to the site can learn about the objectives, reports, and other details about the two finished phases, OCMIP-1 and OCMIP-2, as well as details about the new phase, OCMIP-3. The website offers detailed information about data visualization and analysis tools such as Ferret. While a few links are intended for OCMIP participants, users are able to obtain lots of information about the project. [RME]



The European Space Agency: International Gamma-ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL) [pdf, txt, postscript, zip, tar]

http://astro.estec.esa.nl/SA-general/Projects/Integral/integral.html

The European Space Agency mission, International Gamma-Ray Astrophysics Laboratory (INTEGRAL), was developed to gather the Universe's energetic radiation in order to better understand the most violent processes in the Universe. After reading the in-depth descriptions about INTEGRAL, users can learn the latest INTEGRAL news and view the monthly and archived image. Visitors will find plenty of help, information on workshops and conferences, and downloadable publications. The website provides details about the approved targets and sky maps and the long term observation plan. [RME]



USGS Suspended-Sediment Database

http://co.water.usgs.gov/sediment/

This USGS website provides daily and periodic sediment data mainly for hydrologists and geomorphologists. The database includes station metadata, drainage basin area, geographic parameters, data anomalies, streamflow discharge, suspended-sediment discharge, and more. Users can find maps of average concentration of suspended sediment and of the many gaging stations located all around the United States. After obtaining the data from this website, researchers can analyze the data using their own analysis tools. [RME]



Purdue University: Division of Organic Chemistry [pdf, Microsoft Word]

http://www.chem.purdue.edu/orgdiv/index.htm

Purdue University created this website to promote its organic chemistry department's diverse research initiatives. This expansive website provides links to materials on twelve of the faculty's chemistry research groups. Research includes NMR imaging of micellar solutions, hydride fuel cell examinations, dimerization inhibitors of transcription factors, and gas phase synthesis. Users can find lists of the many publications and view images and photos of the division's work and facilities. Visitors can learn about the many instruments used by the division such as mass spectrometry, continuously rotated cellular reactor, and an ozone generator. [RME]



Education

Wonderful World of Weather [Microsoft Word]

http://www.k12science.org/curriculum/weatherproj/index_NEW.html

Created by the Stevens Institute of Technology, the Wonderful World of Weather is a standard-based real time data module for elementary students to explore weather phenomena locally and globally. Teachers can find many fun classroom activities divided into three sections: introductory activities, real time data activities, and language arts activities related to weather. The website features an abundance of links to real time weather data. Students can learn how to have their work published on the website. Users can find additional materials about children's books related to weather, guidelines for data collection, and curriculum standards. [RME]



From a Distance: An introduction to remote sensing / GIS / GPS

http://education.ssc.nasa.gov/fad/default.asp

From a Distance provides educators with straightforward lesson plans dealing with the remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and global positioning system (GPS) applications. Teachers can search the 107 lesson plans by grade level -- including kindergarten through twelfth grade -- by national educational standards including science, mathematics, technology, and geography, or by keyword or phrase. Activities include using satellite imagery to investigate the community, discovering the history of remote sensing, and exploring El Nio. Users can also submit their lesson plan ideas to the website. [RME]



Steve Marsden's Chemistry Resources for students and teachers [pdf, Chime, RealOne Player, QuickTime, Macromedia Shockwave Player, Macromedia Flash Player, Windows Media Player]

http://www.chemtopics.com/

Steve Marsden, a teacher in Studio City, California, provides a variety of helpful supplemental chemistry materials for high school chemistry students and teachers. At the Elements link, users can find a periodic table that provides images and descriptions of elements categorized into families. Within the Lecture link, visitors can find assistance in a variety of topics including chemical reactions, stoichiometry, chemical kinetics, and chemical equilibrium. Users will find an extensive number of links to other educational websites within the materials. Although a few visuals are copyrighted and only available to the author's students, all users will be able to obtain an extensive amount of valuable tutorials. [RME]
[RME]



FEMA for Kids [pdf, RealOne Player]

http://www.fema.gov/kids/index.htm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) educates children about natural disasters and how kids can help prevent damage. The website features educational materials on the causes of catastrophes such as tornadoes, hurricanes, and earthquakes. Visitors to the site can find out the natural disasters that affect each state in the United States. Students can read stories, play a variety of fun games, view disaster images, and more. By becoming a certified FEMA Disaster Action Kid at the website, a user can become disaster prepared by receiving exciting FEMA news and information. [RME]



EPA: NonPoint Source Kids Page [pdf]

http://www.epa.gov/owow/nps/kids/index.html

At this website, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) educates children about the United States' largest source of water contamination - non-point source pollution. Students can learn how they can prevent non-point source pollution in their homes and when taking part in recreational activities. Users can find a variety of educational games and activities such as developing a rain gauge. The website offers basic information on stream morphology, water quality, surface runoff, and more. Users can learn how to take part in the adopt-a-stream program where they can become Streamkeepers. [RME]



Science Activities Manual K - 8

http://www.utm.edu/departments/ed/cece/SAMK8.shtml

The University of Tennessee at Martin provides hands-on science materials in order to "bring students physically and mentally into touch with the science they are studying." This website offers many lesson plans for grades kindergarten through eighth in various science fields including physics, meteorology, geology, oceanography, and space science. Students can learn about the process of scientific research from observing to analyzing and explaining the data they collected. The website also covers topics in societal perspectives of and the unifying concepts of science. Each module is well organized into appropriate sections so that instructors can easily implement the activities into their classrooms. [RME]



Thin Layer Chromatography [Macromedia Shockwave Player]

http://www.usm.maine.edu/~newton/TANES/TLC.HTML#top

Developed by the University of Southern Maine for college level chemistry students, this website offers instructive modules dealing with topics related to thin layer chromatography. Using Macromedia Shockwave, these interactive modules incorporate questions within the informative materials to advance users in their problem solving abilities. Topics covered at the website include RF Factor, hydrogen binding, visualization, and stationary phase. With the extensive use of diagrams and figures and the inclusion of a helpful glossary, students seeking assistance in chemistry can learn a great deal at this educational web site. [RME]



General

AEIC: Arizona Earthquake Information Center [gif]

http://www4.nau.edu/geology/aeic/aeic.html

The Arizona Earthquake Information Center (AEIC) conducts research and distributes information about Arizona earthquakes in order to increase the knowledge about the causes and hazards of earthquakes. The website provides recent seismographs for many places including the Grand Canyon and Flagstaff along with a map of the fault system. Researchers can find a catalog of Arizona Earthquakes for the period of 1830 to 1998. Users can view an index map of recent earthquakes in the Intermountain West region of Utah as well. [RME]



MIX: Marshall Image Exchange (jpeg)

http://mix.msfc.nasa.gov/index.html

This Marshall Space Flight Center website presents images that "represent America's past, present, and future space programs." The images are organized into seven categories: benefits from NASA, International Space Station, Space Shuttle Projects, Space Transportation, Around Marshall, History, and Science. After reading the summary for a group, users can select a sub-category in order to view the images available. By clicking on an individual image, users are presented with additional information as well as an opportunity to download the image in three resolutions. [RME]



GCN: The Green Chemistry Network [pdf, Microsoft PowerPoint]

http://www.chemsoc.org/networks/gcn/index.htm

The Green Chemistry Network (GCN) was created "to promote awareness and facilitate education, training, and practice of Green Chemistry in industry, academia, and schools." Researchers can learn about upcoming and past conferences and meetings. The website provides details for green chemical technology award winners. Students can find educational opportunities and course offerings. The website highlights success stories and issues about the application of green chemistry in industries. Although journal issues and discussion board are only available to members, users can discover the goals, successes, and endeavors of the network. [RME]



Solar Cells 2004 [pdf]

http://www.formatex.org/scell2004/scell2004.htm

The website Solar Cells 2004 promotes the International Conference on the Physics, Chemistry, and Engineering of Solar Cells (SCELL-2004), which will be held at Badajoz Trade Fair Institution May 13 through the 15th 2004. Scientists can find out about abstract and full paper submissions and registration for SCELL-2004. The particular topics covered at the conference will include solar cells; photothermal, photoelectrochemical, and photochemical devices; and optical properties. At the website, visitors can find information on accommodations and tourism. Researchers working on topics related to those covered at the conference but unable to attend can learn about the virtual participation modality that will be established. [RME]



Pictures of famous physicists

http://www.th.physik.uni-frankfurt.de/~jr/portraits.html

Joachim Reinhardt at the German Institut fr Theoretische Physik provides an online gallery of the famous physicists from before the twentieth century to the present. Users can view the images by selecting various categories such as Nobel Prize winners, theoreticians, experimentalists, and group photographs. The website features sixty three images of Albert Einstein and 803 physics-related postage stamps from all over the world. Users can also view 53 black and white drawings of physicists created by Iutta Waloschek. [RME]



History of Science Society

http://www.hssonline.org/main_pg.html

At this website, the History of Science Society promotes its efforts to foster the interests of science in a historical context and its social and cultural relations. Users can find information on jobs, fellowships, grants, and prizes. Scientific historians can learn about upcoming conferences and colloquiums. Prospective students can search the Guide to the History of Science to learn about academic programs, publications, organizations, and prominent people in the field of science history. Interested users can discover how to become members of the society and gain access to the definitive international bibliography for the history of science. [RME]



The Bruce Medalists

http://www.phys-astro.sonoma.edu/BruceMedalists/

The Astronomical Society of the Pacific (ASP) "has awarded its highest honor, the Catherine Wolfe Bruce gold medal, for lifetime contributions to astronomy most years since 1898." This website exhibits photos, short biographies, and links to more information for each medalist. Visitors can discover the astronomical objects named after the winners and the papers they published. The website allows users to search the list by name or date. Users can find a list of the nominations through the years chosen by directors at six observatories. [RME]



Topic In Depth

Photoelectrochemistry

1 Photoelectrochemistry [pdf]
http://www.iupac.org/goldbook/P04607.pdf
2 University of Bath - Electrochemistry Group [pdf]
http://www.bath.ac.uk/chemistry/peter/
3 The University of Oxford - The Compton Group: Photoelectrochemistry
http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/~rgc/research/photoel/photomicroel.htm
4 Photoelectrochemistry at New Mexico Tech
http://www.nmt.edu/~burleigh/photochem.htm
5 Mineral Surface Photoelectrochemistry to Reduce Inorganic Carbon and Form the Prebiotic Soup [jpeg, pdf]
http://www.deas.harvard.edu/environmental-chemistry/projects/prebiotic.htm
6 Photoelectrolytic Production of Hydrogen
http://www.eere.energy.gov/hydrogenandfuelcells/hydrogen/iea/tasks/task14.html
7 Photoelectrochemical Generation of Hydrogen
http://atom.ecn.purdue.edu/~vurade/PEC%20Generation%20of%20Hydrogen/Main01.htm
8 Electrochemical and Photoelectrochemical Properties of Organic Semiconductors - Dye-Sensitization in Nanostructured Hybrid Materials
http://www.chemie.uni-oldenburg.de/pc/al-shamery/schl_EC_PEC.html

First, for users not familiar with photoelectrochemistry, the International Union of Pure and Applied Chemistry provides a concise, educational definition of the hybrid field of chemistry (1). Users can find additional information about photoelectrochemical, photogalvanic, and photovoltaic cells. Next, Professor Laurence Peter at the University of Bath discusses his group's research on light simulated reactions occurring in solid/solution interfaces (2). Users can discover the methods utilized to investigate the kinetics and mechanisms of photoelectrochemical reactions. In the third website, the Compton Group at Oxford University provides detailed, comprehensible explanations of photoelectrochemistry's benefits and mechanisms with an extensive use of diagrams and figures (3). Users can learn about the many methodological approaches including channel electrode experiments and photo-transient experiments. The fourth website, created by Dr. T. D. Burleigh at New Mexico Tech, educates users about the characteristics and advantages of photocurrent spectroscopy (4). Students and educators can learn about the photoelectrochemical apparatus used to quantify photocurrents and photovoltages. Next, the Environmental Chemistry Group at Harvard University illustrates its research utilizing mineral surface photoelectrochemistry to shed light on the beginnings of life (5 ). Visitors can find links to additional information about the main members of the group and can download published and submitted papers. In the sixth website, U.S. Department of Energy addresses the process of splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen with the use of light (6). Users can learn the many accomplishments of photoelectrolytic production of hydrogen. Next, Vikrant Urade at Purdue University provides a detailed description of the use of photoelectrochemistry in the production of hydrogen fuel (7). Users can find instructive descriptions and diagrams explaining photoelectrochemical cells, photon energies, and more. Lastly, the University of Oldenburg discusses its research using electrochemical measurements to study how substituents impact the position of electronic levels (8). Students and researchers can learn about the optimization of nanostructured semiconductors and dye hybrid materials. [RME]






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