Scientific Authorship:
Thomas G. Andrews

The quest to understand the cause of the Pleistocene ice ages is a fascinating example of how scientists have used different types of evidence to understand earth processes. This slide set traces history of investigation of the ice ages, from the discovery of glacial erratics and moraines in the 1800s, and the theories of orbital variations in solar radiation, to recent investigations of the glacial-interglacial cycles using evidence found in ice cores and deep sea sediments. This slide emphasizes how different types of geologic evidence can be used to understand how earth climate has varied in the past. The set includes photos of evidence of glaciers, pictures and graphs from ice cores and marine sediment cores, and pictures illustrating changes in the earth's orbit. Accompanied by a comprehensive narrative. Includes bibliography and glossary. Appropriate for college-level audiences.

Scientific Authorship:
Dave Hodell & Lisa M. Lixey

For over a decade, archaeologists have been trying to unlock the mystery surrounding one ancient society's collapse of the Classic Maya. Did human-induced sociopolitical or ecological change cause the collapse of this highly advanced Mesoamerican civilization, or could natural climate variability of the Yucatan Peninsula have contributed to the collapse? Paleoclimatologists are studying the climatic history of this region to provide archaeologists with the climate context in which the Maya civilization evolved, flourished and ultimately collapsed.

Scientific Authorship:
Thomas.G. Andrews. Sarah H. Dawson, Lisa M. Lixey

Corals build carbonate skeletons over many years, forming the beautiful reefs common in tropical seas. Some coral species are sensitive to water temperatures and other environmental factors, and their skeletons can record information on past climate. This slide set discusses the future implications of climate variability through the use of color photos of undersea coral, coral drilling and an accompanying text. Also included are graphic representations that discuss high-resolution paleoclimatic proxy data from corals, ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation) reconstructions and the Pacific Climate System. This set would be appropriate for college level audiences and could be used as a comprehensive educational tool for studying current issues in marine ecology, global warming and ENSO. Set also includes a glossary and further reading list.

Scientific Authorship:
Thomas.G. Andrews. Sarah H. Dawson, Lisa M. Lixey

Designed specifically for secondary schools, this slideset contains comprehensive text and colorful images that help illustrate many aspects of tropical marine ecosystems, including the anatomy and physiology of corals, ecology of coral reefs, and habitat destruction. In addition to discussing the ecological aspects of coral reefs, this slide set also addresses topics in climatology giving a comprehensive introduction to the Earth's climate system, climate variability, and how these scientific concepts relate to current phenomenon such as ENSO. Also discussed are subjects including applied chemistry, oceanography, and physics. This set would be appropriate for upper level high school students and could be used in conjunction with other educational materials to promote global awareness in the areas of habitat destruction, global warming, paleoclimatology, and ENSO. Set also includes a glossary and further reading lists for both educators and students.

Scientific Authorship:
T.G. Andrews

Set Abstract: In this slide set, scientists travel to the ends of the earth to study climate variability. Included in this set are color photos of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antarctic Ice Sheet, in addition to a comprehensive text. Examine ice cores, visit science camps, and understand the importance of these two enormous ice sheets. Maps and graphical representations of ice core data along with ice core methodology and long term (glacial/interglacial) climatic reconstructions are also included. This set would be appropriate for college level audiences and could be used as an educational tool for studying current issues in glaciology, global warming, the greenhouse effect, and global climate variability.

Scientific Authorship:
Julio L. Bentancourt, Robert S. Webb, Lisa M. Lixey, Thomas G. Andrews

Set Abstract: Plant-rich deposits called middens are found in caves and rock shelters in the arid southwestern United States. Middens are an amalgamation of plant and animal remains encased in crystallized packrat urine, and can be used to reconstruct past vegetation and climate in the immediate area of the midden deposit. By understanding past climate variability, scientists hope to understand the course of future changes in the earth's climate system. This slide set outlines past climate variability by reconstructing vegetation change in the southwestern US as preserved in Packrat Middens. The set contains a comprehensive text and accompanying color photos of middens, packrats, desert vegetation, and laboratory techniques.

Scientific Authorship:
Connie Woodhouse and Bruce Bauer

Set Abstract: Trees record information about past environments and climate in their annual growth rings, and dendrochronology is the science that studies tree rings. This set includes a narrative background and color photos depicting dendrochronological techniques, including tree coring in the field, sample preparation, cross-dating, standardization, and chronology building. In addition, there are photos and graphics of tree physiology and climatic interpretations derived from tree ring data at sites around the world. This slide set would be appropriate for upper level high school and college level audiences and could be used as an educational tool for studying current environmental issues such as drought, global warming, and dendroclimatology.

Scientific Authorship:
John T. Andrews, Thomas G. Andrews, and Lisa M. Lixey

Set Abstract: By understanding past climate variability, scientists hope to understand the course of future changes in the earth's climate system. This slide set outlines past climate variability by reconstructing abrupt climate changes in the Late Pleistocene, specifically sudden cold events known as Heinrich Events which have occurred six times in the past 75,000 years involving the large scale discharge of icebergs into the North Atlantic Ocean. The set contains a comprehensive text and accompanying color photos of icebergs, iceberg-rafted debris in marine sediment cores, and laboratory techniques with sediment cores. Detailed graphics and discussion of Heinrich events, their causes, and their climatic significance are also included. This set would be appropriate for a college level audience and could be used as a comprehensive educational tool for studying current issues in oceanography and the implications of natural climate variability from the past to the future.

Scientific Authorship:
Thomas G. Andrews

Set Abstract: In this slide set, scientists travel to the far reaches of the earth to study the climate variability of the tropics and subtropics. Included in this set are color photos of the Quelccaya Ice Cap in Peru and the Dunde Ice Cap in China, in addition to a comprehensive text. Visit ice core camps, view collections of ice cores, and understand the climatic importance of these two ice caps. Many graphic representations of ice core data are included along with ice core methodology, and climatic reconstruction with annual resolution from the Andes and the Himalayas. This set would be appropriate for college level audiences and could be used as an educational tool for studying current issues in glaciology, paleoclimatology, and climate variability of the tropics and subtropics. Set also includes a glossary and further reading lists.