Weather & Disasters
General Weather / Disaster Sites
FACTS ON FILE : SCIENCE ONLINE - Presents a broad range of scientific disciplines through extensive definitions, essays, diagrams, biographies, and experiments. If you're using this resources on your home computer, you'll have to enter your name, library card barcode, and PIN to begin.
EBSCOHost Science Reference Center - Easy access to a multitude of science-oriented content, including full text for nearly 640 science encyclopedias, reference books, periodicals, etc. Covers biology, chemistry, earth & space science, environmental science, health & medicine, history of science, life science, physics, science & society, science as inquiry, scientists, technology and wildlife. If you're using this resource on your home computer, you'll have to enter your name, library card barcode, and PIN to begin..
EBSCOHost GreenFILE - A collection of scholarly, government and general-interest titles covering all aspects of human impact to the environment. Includes content on global warming, green building, pollution, sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, recycling, and more. If you're using this resource on your home computer, you'll have to enter your name, library card barcode, and PIN to begin.
Billion Dollar U.S. Weather Disasters - A chronological list of weather-related disasters occurring since 1980, with overall damages and costs of $1 billion or more at the time of the event. Includes a short paragraph describing each disaster. Updated through 2011. (National Climatic Data Center)
Climate - A brief overview of what climate is, and the difference between climate and weather. Includes selected links to additional climate and weather resources. (2002 - 2008, Environmental Literacy Council; site includes advertisements)
Climatic Extremes and Weather Events - An archive of U.S. weather data (such as amounts of precipitation, temperatures, and costs of damage) for various kinds of severe weather, including hurricanes, droughts, and tornadoes. High school and up. (National Climatic Data Center)
Disaster : Know the Facts [UPDATED LINK!] - This site for kids provides basic descriptions for a variety of disasters; middle school and up (2004, FEMA). See also Wild Weather; age level varies (National Center for Atmospheric Research).
Disaster Research
- Describes methods used to forecast disasters, assess damages, and attempt to minimize their effects, as well as research into new technologies that may help. High school and up. (National Science Foundation)
Disasters - Ongoing news about disasters and their aftermath. Covers disasters in the U.S. and around the world, with archived articles going back to 1981. (New York Times; site includes advertisements)
Discover Our Earth 
- Basic information plus activities and data on earthquakes, volcanoes, topography, and plate tectonics. Includes interactive mapping tools. High school and up (2008, Cornell University). For more on plate tectonics, see the
Earth, Geology, Rocks & Minerals section of our SCIENCE, MATH & TECHNOLOGY page.
Discovering Geology : Hazards - An in-depth look at earthquakes, volcanoes, and landslides - what they are, why & where they happen, how they are measured, and more. High school and advanced middle school students. (British Geological Survey)
Emergency Preparedness - The basics about many different types of disasters and how to prepare for and protect yourself from their effects (2011, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The U.S. National Library of Medicine offers links to additional information on Disaster Preparation & Recovery. High school and up
Environment Glossary : Words to Know - Brief definitions of more than a hundred terms related to earth science, weather and environment. (Gale / Cengage Learning)
Forces of Change - Examines the forces driving current changes in climate, ecology, and culture, their origins, and how we might adapt to deal with them. Topics covered include Earth's atmosphere, soil, the Arctic, and El Niño. (2006 - 2010, Smithsonian)
Global Disaster Information Portal 
- Information on all kinds of disasters, natural and synthetic (including war and terrorism). Explains how disasters happen, consequences, responses, past incidents, and case studies. High school and up; includes a glossary of terms. Site may be slow to load. (2006, ThinkQuest Library)
Jetstream Online Weather School - Lessons about weather, arranged by subject. Covers the basics of large scale weather patterns, thunderstorms, lightning, tropical weather, and more; includes review quizzes for each topic. High school and up. (2010 - 2011, National Weather Service)
Natural Disasters in the News 
- In-depth, ongoing news coverage of current or recent disasters and their aftermath, including the
Japan Earthquake & Tsunami of 2011,
China Earthquake &
Myanmar Cyclone of May 2008, the
Indian Ocean Tsunami of 2004, and
Hurricane Katrina. Also covers some earlier historic disasters. High school and up. (Guardian News and Media Limited, UK; site includes advertisements)
Nature Unleashed - Explores the science, history, and human impact of tornadoes, hurricanes, volcanoes, and earthquakes. Includes an excellent photo gallery. (2008, Field Museum)
NOAA Education Resources - Portal for resources on topics including Climate and Weather & Atmosphere. Materials and activities are not grade specific but resources are labeled for grade appropriateness where applicable. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration)
Riding the Winds with Kalani : A Weather Adventure - This site explains basic weather concepts, including earth movements, seasons, temperature, clouds, precipation, and more; for elementary school students. Treehouse Weather Kids provides basic information on weather topics such as winds, moisture, air pressure, seasons, and storms; for middle school students. (University of Illinois Extension)
SciJinks : Weather - Colorful site teaches you about weather, hurricanes & storms, clouds, water, & ice, tides & oceans, atmosphere, seasons, and more. Middle school and up (NASA).
Severe Weather & Natural Disasters - Online lessons about volcanoes, earthquakes, hurricanes, winter storms and tornadoes. Includes information, experiments, eyewitness accounts and more. For middle school students. (Scholastic Inc.; site includes advertisements)
USGS Primary Education Resources - Earth studies resources for teachers and students, grades K-6. Covers climate change, earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, volcanoes, wildfires, floods and more; use the left-hand menu to choose a topic. For grades 7-12, see USGS Secondary Education Resources. (2011, U.S. Geological Survey)
Virtual Courseware for Earth & Environmental Sciences - Interactive tutorials, animations, and photographs teach students about earthquakes, global warming, and other earth science topics. High school and up. (1996 - 2007, California State University)
Weather Channel for Kids : Weather Encyclopedia - In-depth information about floods, heat waves, hurricanes, tornadoes, winter storms, and more. (The Weather Channel; site includes advertisements)
Weather Satellites [UPDATED LINK!] - Weather satellites produce images and data that are important for predicting where and when tropical storms, hurricanes, floods, ocean storm waves, and forest fires may strike. This site offers information about the different types of environmental satellites and how they work; high school and up (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). See also SciJinks : Satellites and Technology; middle school and up (NASA).
What Forces Affect Our Weather? - Explore the forces behind the weather and learn more about the earth's atmosphere & water cycle, powerful storms, ice & snow, and weather forecasting, with this instructional text and interactive activities. Includes a page of links to related resources. High school and up. (Annenberg Media)
Why Disasters Are Getting Worse - Article examining why disasters are not only getting more common, but why they seem to be affecting us in worse ways. Includes links to related articles and other information. High school and up. (2008, Time Magazine; site includes advertisements - scroll down past the ads to see the article)
Wild Weather Adventure! - 'Play the Wild Weather Adventure game. Your weather research blimp will explore Earth and its weather. With luck, skill, and strategy, you will race other weather research blimps to be first to travel all the way around the world and win the game. You can play with your friends or by yourself with a computer opponent.' Middle school and up. (2006, NASA)
Weather Warehouse - 'Historical monthly weather data for over 18,000 current and former United States weather stations for every year that each station reported.' High school and up. (Weather Source, LLC)
Global Climate Change
Climate and Global Change - What climate is, how it works, climates of the past, climate change today, and more. Choose beginner, intermediate, or advanced version from the top menu bar. (2000 - 2011, National Earth Science Teachers Association; site includes advertisements).
Climate Change : An Introduction - A brief overview of climate change, for elementary and middle school students. (EcoKids / Earth Day Canada)
Climate Change Student Guide - Explains the basics of climate and climate change, possible impacts of global warming, and actions individuals can take to slow global warming (2011, U.S. EPA). See also
Climate Kids (NASA) and 'Ology: Climate Change for Kids (American Museum of Natural History). Middle school and up.
Climate Connections - A collection of articles, radio reports, and other materials on different aspects of climate change. High school and up. (2007 - 2009, National Public Radio / National Geographic; site includes advertisements)
Climate Literacy - Printable (PDF) guide explains the basic principles of climate science, the impacts of climate change, and approaches for adapting to and mitigating change. Also offers a summary of Key Findings on Climate Change. For high school and advanced middle school students (2009, U.S. Global Change Research Program, a government initiative which coordinates the climate research of thirteen federal departments and agencies). The PDF guide is also available from Climate Literacy Network.
Climate Science News - Pulls together recent climate science articles, abstracts and news from around the web. For some articles, only a summary or excerpt is available; search EBSCOHost Web for full text if needed. High school and up. (2011, U.S. Global Change Research Program)
The Discovery of Global Warming / Climate Change - 'A history of how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to cause climate change.' This overview includes links to more detailed information. High school and up. (2007, Scientist/Author Spencer Weart and American Institute of Physics)
Dimming the Sun - Examines new evidence that air pollution has masked the full impact of global warming, suggesting the world may soon face a heightened climate crisis. Includes articles, timeline, video clip, and a slide show on clean air technologies that can help. High school and up. (2006, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements)
Global Climate Change - Recent news and analysis on climate change from New Scientist magazine, with FAQs and other background material on the issue. Some articles are available only to subscribers. Also offers a free special report, Climate Change : A Guide for the Perplexed which addresses common myths and misconceptions about climate change. High school and up (2006 - 2011, New Scientist; site includes advertisements). See also Climate Change FAQ (Scripps Institution of Oceanography).
Global Warming Facts & Our Future - Explains the Greenhouse Effect, the carbon cycle, the causes of climate change, past and predicted changes, impacts of change, and more, with interactive / multimedia online activities. High school and up. (National Academy of Sciences)
Global Warming: The One Degree Factor - Explores the possible effects of global climate change. High school and up. (2008, PBS / National Geographic; site includes advertisements)
Greenhouse - Explains what climate is, and how and why our climate is changing (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research). See also Life in a Greenhouse (2008, NASA). Elementary and middle school.
Ice Stories : Dispatches from Polar Scientists - A special series of Webcasts highlighting the work of scientists at field sites surrounding the North and South Poles. The
Climate Change section focuses on global warming and its impact on the environment. High school and up (2007 - 2010, Exploratorium Museum of Science). See also The State of the Cryosphere; middle school and up (2008 -2011, National Snow and Ice Data Center) and
Warming of the Polar Regions; choose beginner, intermediate, or advanced version from the top menu bar (2008 - 2011, National Earth Science Teachers Association; site includes advertisements). For more about the Cryosphere, see Cryosphere, below.
Reports from a Warming Planet - In-depth radio documentary, with accompanying photos and text, takes you to parts of the planet where early signs of climate change are showing up across vastly differing landscapes: 'from melting outposts near the Arctic Circle to disappearing glaciers high in the Andes; from the rising water in the deltas of Bangladesh to the 'sinking' atolls of the Pacific' (2005). See also
Climate of Uncertainty. High school and up. (Both by American Public Media; site includes advertisements)
Understanding Climate Change - Answers to FAQ about the state of Earth's climate, impacts on the environment, and related information. Middle school and up. (2011, University Corporation for Atmospheric Research)
Specific Weather / Disaster Topics
Acid Rain - Explains what acid rain is, what causes it, why it is harmful, and possible solutions. Includes games and activities. Middle school and up. (2007, U.S. EPA)
Air Pollution [UPDATED LINK!] - Explains what air pollution is and describes the different types of pollutants and their sources, how pollution is transported through the air, and its effects on human health and the environment. Choose beginner, intermediate, or advanced version from the top menu bar. (2006 - 2008, National Earth Science Teachers Association; site includes advertisements).
Avalanche Awareness - Basic avalanche facts, black & white photos; also includes a 'true account' and list of books. High school and up. (University of Colorado)
Blizzards and Snowstorms - The history of blizzards and snowstorms in the U.S., invention of the snowplow, the blizzards of 1888 and 1996, and more. High school and up (1997, National Snow and Ice Data Center). Elementary and middle school students, see How Do Blizzards Form? or Blizzards & Winter Weather (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research).
Clouds - Explains different types of clouds, how clouds form, and how they can affect our lives; for elementary and middle school students. (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Cryosphere - The term 'cryosphere' refers to those parts of the earth where water is in solid form, including snow cover, glaciers, icebergs, ice caps, ice sheets, seasonally frozen ground and perennially frozen ground (permafrost). This site offers 'a range of information about Earth's snow and ice, from comprehensive 'All About' sections to quick facts on popular snow and ice topics.' Middle school and up (National Snow and Ice Data Center). See also Ice Stories : Dispatches from Polar Scientists and related links, above, and Glacier Story, below.
Drought for Kids - Explores the causes and effects of drought, plus maps, graphs, games, puzzles, and more; middle school and up (2010, University of Nebraska). See also Learn All About Droughts; elementary school and up (2007, Delaware River Basin Commission). Earthlabs : Drought offers learning activities on drought, using data analysis, satellite imagery & computer visualizations, and hands-on experiments; for high school and up (2008, Carleton College). Drought : A Paleo Perspective focuses on the historic and economic aspects of drought. High school and up (2003, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration).
Earthquakes for Kids - Earthquake FAQs, history, science project ideas, earthquake lists, photos, and more; middle school and up. The USGS also offers links to additional learning materials on earthquakes at the elementary, middle school, high school, and college levels. (U.S. Geological Survey)
El Niño & La Niña - Facts about El Niño and La Niña, including FAQs, impacts, and data, with images; high school and up (National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration). See also Earthguide : El Niño; high school and up (2000 - 2001, University of California).
Fire Wars - Explains how firefighters battle wildfires. Includes the basics of combustion, specialized gear, glossary of fire terms, wildfire simulator, links, and more; high school and advanced middle school students (2002, PBS; site includes advertisements). Learn about Australian bushfires at Bushfire Weather (Commonwealth of Australia).
Flood! - Stories and images of floods worldwide; middle school and up (1997, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements). See Mystery of the Megaflood to learn about a catastrophic flood that scarred thousands of square miles in the American Northwest thousands of years ago; high school and advanced middle school students (2005, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements).
Glacier Story - Tracks the birth, forward movement, and retreat of a glacier, or moving ice sheet; high school and up (National Snow and Ice Data Center). For FAQs and myths about glaciers, see Glaciers (2009, U.S. Geological Survey). See also Cryosphere, described above.
Heat Wave - This overview of heat waves explains how heat affects the human body, heat wave hazards, and heat wave safety. High school and up. (2005, National Weather Service)
Hurricanes - Explains how hurricanes form. There is also an alternate version of this page (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research). See also
How Do Hurricanes Form? (2010, NASA). For elementary and middle school students. Earthlabs: Hurricanes offers learning activities on hurricanes, using data analysis, satellite imagery & computer visualizations, and hands-on experiments; for high school and up (2008, Carleton College). New Scientist's Hurricanes page offers news stories and analysis related to hurricanes; high school and up (New Scientist Magazine).
Landslides and Mudslides - Briefly explains the causes of landslides and 'debris flows', areas at risk, possible health effects, and how to protect yourself. Includes links to more information. Middle school and up. (2010, U.S. Centers for Disease Control)
Magnetic Storm - Examines the possibility of changes to the earth's magnetic field and how they might affect life on the planet. High school and advanced middle school students. (2003, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements)
Monsoon - Explores the causes and effects of the heavy rains which cause deadly floods in India, but are also needed by farmers to coax their crops from the soil. High school and advanced middle school students. (1997, PBS; site includes advertisements)
Oil & Chemical Spills - Find out about how spills happen, clean up methods, and environmental impact, and read about the Exxon Valdez spill and other large oil spills. Includes some experiments to try yourself! (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration). For more about oil spills, see Oil Spill Resources for teachers, parents & kids (WSRE-TV Public Television). See also Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill and related links, below.
Severe Storms - Questions and answers about tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning, hurricanes, floods, winter weather and hail, plus career information, an introduction to weather maps, and related materials. For students and teachers, K-12. (2010, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)
Shake, Rattle, and Slide - Designed to teach 5-8 year olds about how forces on and inside the earth work to shape our world, producing earthquakes, volcanoes and glaciers. Includes animations and learning activities. (University of Illinois Extension)
Sinkholes - Explains how sinkholes form, the different types of sinkholes, and where they can be found. Includes map, diagrams, and two photos. Middle school and up. (U.S. Geological Survey)
Thunderstorms and Lightning - Explains how thunderstorms and lightning happen; for elementary and middle school students. There are alternate versions of these pages. (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Tornadoes : WhyFiles - Explores the whys and hows of tornadoes, with lots of images. Click on the first snapshot to get started. For middle school and up (2003, University of Wisconsin). Elementary and middle school students, see How Do Tornadoes Form? or the alternate version of this page. Shows you how to make a Tornado! (2005, National Center for Atmospheric Research). See also
Hunt for the Supertwister; high school and advanced middle school students. (2004, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements)
Tsunami Facts - Explains what a tsunami is, the physics of tsunamis, how tsunamis are measured, and more; high school and up (Commonwealth of Australia). See also Earthguide : Tsunami; middle school and up (2005, University of California).
Volcano World - An extensive website on volcanoes; includes images and video. Use the horizontal menu bar (Volcanoes, Learn More, Fun Stuff, FAQs, Glossary) to navigate. Age level varies (2011, Oregon State University).
Earth Observatory : Volcanoes offers great satellite photos of active volcanoes from 2000 through the present (NASA). See also
Volcanoes (Annenberg Media) and Shadow of Vesuvius (1998, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements). Mystery of the Megavolcano looks at clues to a massive volcanic eruption that appears to have had a devastating impact on the Earth 75,000 years ago, and compares it with more recent large eruptions (2006, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements). High school and advanced middle school students.
Water Cycle - 'Earth's water is always in movement, and the water cycle, also known as the hydrologic cycle, describes the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.' Choose a topic from the diagram or text links to learn more about the water cycle. Middle school and up (2004 - 2011, U.S. Geological Survey). A lesson plan for grades 8-12 on The Water Cycle and Global Warming includes related links and materials for teachers and students (2004 - 2011, Baylor College of Medicine).
Winter Weather - Explains how snowflakes form, how blizzards happen, and how rain, snow, sleet, or freezing rain are predicted. For elementary and middle school students. (National Center for Atmospheric Research)
Individual Events
See also:
HISTORY : WORLD / INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Chernobyl - In 1986, a major nuclear power accident occurred in Ukraine, then part of the Soviet Union. This site gives a history of the accident and its consequences. NOTE: Website was under re-construction when checked in April 2011. (Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and United Nations Development Programme)
Disaster Research Links - Selected links to information on more than 30 individual natural and manmade disasters, including the San Francisco earthquake, Johnstown flood, Great Chicago Fire, Three Mile Island, Mount St. Helens, and others. Middle school and up. (2007, Jefferson Junior High School, Naperville, IL)
Great Chicago Fire, 1871 - Illustrated essays describing the remarkable growth of Chicago in the decades preceding the fire, the fire itself, the immediate aftermath, rescue & relief efforts, and the subsequent reconstruction of the city. Click on any photo to see a larger version. Also includes eyewitness narratives and other special features. High school and up. (2011, Chicago Historical Society and Northwestern University)
Great Fire of London, 1666 - Explores the context, causes, and impacts of the fire that destroyed four-fifths of the city, with related materials on fire-fighting, rebuilding, and numerous people connected with the fire and its aftermath. Includes text, images, timeline, and FAQs. Middle school and up. (Museum of London)
Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill, 2010 - An overview of the explosion aboard BP's Deepwater Horizon drilling rig, and the resulting massive oil spill. Includes links to related articles, videos, slide shows, and timeline (New York Times). Frontline offers a full-length video and background material on The Spill and what caused it (2011, Pro Publica and WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements). See also Gulf Coast Oil Disaster (CNN), and
Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill (Encyclopedia of Earth; article by Dr. Cutler J. Cleveland, Boston University). High school and up. For general information about oil spills, see Oil & Chemical Spills, described above.
Haiti Earthquake, 2010 - An overview of the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, plus the latest updates and links to related resources (New York Times). See also
Haiti Quake (CNN). High school and up.
Hurricane Katrina : The Storm - This video documentary explores the 2005 hurricane and its aftermath; includes related interviews, analysis, timeline, eyewitness accounts and more (2005, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements). See also
Rebuilding the Gulf Coast (2009, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements), and The Gulf Coast's Everyday Heroes (2008, NPR; site includes advertisements) for later post-Katrina reports. For more first-hand accounts and images of Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, see
Hurricane Memory Bank (2005, George Mason University et al.). New Orleans, A Perilous Future reviews the history & culture of New Orleans and the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina, and examines prospects for the city's future; includes text, videos, photos, and more (2007, National Geographic; site includes advertisements). The New York Times offers ongoing coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath at
Times Topics : Hurricane Katrina (site includes advertisements).
Iceland Volcano - A brief description and great satellite photos of the eruption of the Eyjafjallajökull Volcano, whose ash clouds grounded airplane traffic in Europe in spring 2010. (2010, NASA)
Influenza Epidemic of 1918 - Primary documents and photos related to the deadly worldwide epidemic that attacked one-fifth of the world's population in 1918, killing an estimated 50 million people. High school and up. (1996 - 2006, National Archives)
Japan : Earthquake, Tsunami and Nuclear Crisis - Coverage of the 2011 disaster in Japan, including a timeline, slide shows, and news articles (2011, New York Times; site includes advertisements). See also Japan Earthquake & Tsunami; high school and up. (Guardian News and Media Limited, UK; site includes advertisements)
Kanto Earthquake of 1923 - Description, newspaper articles, eyewitness accounts and photos of the destructive tsunami and earthquake that hit Japan in September of 1923. High school and up. (2005, Brown University)
Krakatoa : Volcano of Destruction - Video, virtual volcano & 'Inside Krakatoa' interactive features, survivor diaries, and the latest scientific analysis about the cataclysmic 1883 eruption of Indonesia's Krakatoa volcano, and the resulting mega-tsunamis and extreme fire & heat that killed more than 36,000 people. High school and up; interactives for middle school and up. (Discovery Channel; site includes advertisements)
Pakistan Floods of 2010 - An overview of the recent flooding in Pakistan, plus the latest updates and links to related resources (New York Times). See also
BBC Special Report : Pakistan Floods (British Broadcasting Corporation). High school and up.
Pompeii : Stories from an Eruption - Chronicles the eruption of the Mount Vesuvius volcano in AD 79, with many photos and descriptions of artifacts recovered from Pompeii and nearby towns. High school and up (2007, Field Museum, Chicago).
San Francisco : Faultline - Background information on earthquakes, including causes, prediction, measurement, and damage control, plus a collection of first-hand accounts and photos of the
San Francisco Earthquake and Fire of 1906 and the
San Francisco Earthquake of 1989 (1999 - 2009, Exploratorium Museum of Science). See also
1906 San Francisco Earthquake : 100 Years Later (2006, PBS). All sites for high school and up.
Seattle Fire of 1889 - A description of the fire, plus 150 photographs. High school and up. (University of Washington)
Tsunami : Wave that Shook the World - Analysis, Q&A, and interactive features examine the devastating Indian Ocean tsunami (tidal wave) of December 2004. High school and up. (2005, WGBH / PBS; site includes advertisements)