Physical Geology Picks

Physical Geology is the study of Earth materials and structures; the processes and forces that act upon them; and how these materials, structures, processes, and forces have changed over time.

To help explain and understand physical geology better, I have compiled some of the best sites on the web! Enjoy exploring Physical Geology.

Christy Pratt

Image by NOAA

Crustal Deformation

- Folding and Faulting - Animations
- The Physical Environment
- Crustal Deformation and folds - Great Pictures
- Real Time Fault Monitoring Data - USGS
- SAR Interferometry - NASA
- Mountain Building
- A Tour of California'a Geomorphic Provinces
- A Tour of National Park Geology - NPS
- A Tapestry of Time and Terrain - USGS

Deserts and Winds

- World's Largest Desert
- Sahara Desert Map
- Wind Action and Deserts - Tulane University
- Effects from the Wind - Good Diagrams
- Desert Geology and Resources - USGS
- Wind Erosion and Control

Earthquakes

- Earthquake Safety Tips
- Earthquake Hazard Program - USGS
- Earthquake History and Information - USGS
- San Andreas Fault, California
- Recent Earthquakes - USGS
- Top 10 Earthquake Lists and Maps - USGS
- Real Time Seismograph Data - USGS
- Earthquakes for Kids - USGS

Earth Resources

- US Gemstone Production
- Giant Oil Discovery
- Energy Quest - for Students and Teachers
- Fossil Energy - Department of Energy
- Fossil Fuels - California Energy Commission
- Learning About Fossil Fuels - Energy.gov
- USGS - Energy Resource Program
- Natural Gas Exploration and Development
- Chevron Oil and Gas Learning Center
- Diamonds
- Gold

Earth's Interior

- Earth's Internal Structure
- Mohorovicic Discontinuity - The Moho
- Inside Earth - Northwestern University
- Earth's Interior
- Inside the Earth - Enchanted Learning
- Earth's Structure - Think Quest
- Mantle Convection
- Lithosphere and Asthenosphere - UCAR

Geologic Time

- Geologic Time Scale
- Geological Time Machine - Berkeley University
- Geologic Time Eras
- Relative Dating - Georgia Perimeter College
- Relative Dating Methods
- Correlating Rock Layers with Fossils - IGS
- Correlation by Physical Criteria
- Absolute Dating Methods - University of Alabama
- Geologic TIme - University of Berkeley

Glaciers

- Glaciers of Greenland
- A Whale in Vermont - University of Vermont
- How it Started
- Glaciers - USGS
- Glaciers of North America - USGS
- Glaciers of Europe - USGS
- Landforms of Glaciation
- Glaciers and Glaciation - Tulane University
- Descent Into the Ice - NOVA

Groundwater

- The Nature of Water - Environment Canada
- Earth's Water - USGS
- Water Management - University of Nebraska
- Water Level Changes - USGS
- Underground Water
- Groundwater and Aquifers
- Artesian Well - USGS

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Mass Wasting

- Introduction to Mass Wasting - CSU Long Beach
- Mass Wasting Processes - Good pictures
- Landslides - USGS
- Slides! - Knowledge Network
- Landslide Overview Map of the US - USGS
- Recent Landslides - USGS
- Types of Mass Wasting Processes
- Mass Wasting

Minerals

- Mineral Identification Chart - By Art Crossman
- Herkimer "Diamonds"
- United States Gemstones
- Diamonds Do Not Form From Coal!
- Crystallography
- Minerals by Name
- Mineralogy Database
- Common Minerals and Their Uses

Planetary Geology

- How to Identify a Meteorite
- Meteor Impact Craters - Interactive Map
- Vredefort Dome - Largest Impact Structure
- Planetary Geology
- AstroGeology -USGS
- Doomsday Asteroid - NOVA
- Hubble Project - Great Images of the Universe
- Mars Geology
- Mars Rover - PBS
- Digital Tectonic Activity Map - NASA
- Mars Mission Images - Arizona State University
- Planetary Society
- Views of the Solar System
- The Astronomy Cafe

Plate Tectonics

- Teaching Plate Tectonics - Very Helpful
- Plate Tectonics Tour - Interactive Map
- Pangaea
- PaleoMap Project
- Paleogeography Through Geologic Time
- Plate Tectonics Software - Tasa Graphic Arts
- University of California at Berkeley- Tectonics
- Plate Tectonics and People - USGS
- Major Tectonic Plates - USGS

Rocks

- Tumble Polishing Rocks
- Rockdoctor
- Rocks - Good Pictures
- All About Rocks
- The Rock Cycle

Running Water

- Drainage Maps for all 50 States
- Hydrographs
- Gaging Stations
- Running Water - University of Alabama
- Real Time Water Resource Data - USGS
- Flooding - The Weather Channel
- Hydrologic Cycle - NASA

Shorelines

- Shoreline Processes
- Shoreline Animations - Interactive Exercises
- Shorelines - Missouri Botanical Garden
- Types of Tides

Volcanoes

- The Most Dangerous Volcanoes in the US
- Cascade Volcano Observatory
- Long Valley Caldera, California
- Hawaii Volcano Observatory
- National Geographic
- Olympus Mons - largest volcano in solar system
- Vesuvius Deadly Activity - NOVA
- Volcano World
- Volcano Hazards - US Geological Survey
- Mount St. Helens - USGS
- Earth's Active Volcanoes - MTU

Weathering and Soil

- Understanding Soil Risks and Hazards
- USDA Soil Maps
- Mechanical and Chemical Weathering
- Soil Weathering and Soil Formation
- Web Soil Survey - NRCS
- Weathering - Georgia Perimeter College