Key Earth Science Links
Soils Web Sites
Atlas of Kentucky soils. Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture. Topics on the website include Soil Health and Soil Survey. The Soil Health section includes graphics on soil health; Soil health theater (videos); Dig a little-Learn a lot; a U.S. soil health map, and interviews with farmers. The Soil Survey section includes Kentucky online soil surveys and brochures, and the Atlas of Kentucky Soils. The atlas is a free downloadable booklet (34 MB, 203 pages), which explains soil formation, physiography, and the soil orders in different parts of the Kentucky, with many pictures.
Soil Science Society of America. Professional society that fosters the sustainability of global soils. Their website includes basic easy-to-understand information about soils and an education section. The education section includes a “Know Soils-Know Life” educators guide; free downloadable posters on soils, soil types (taxonomy), and soil careers; Ask a Soil Scientist; a glossary of soil terms; and a searchable database of lessons, hands-on activities, labs, and readings about soils and topics related to soils.
The Global Learning and Observations to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international science and education program that provides students and the public worldwide with the opportunity to participate in data collection and the scientific process, and contribute meaningfully to our understanding of the Earth system and global environment.
Sustaining our Soils, The Environmental Awareness Series, American Geological Institute.
How Fast do Sediment Grains of Different Sizes Settle? Department of Geosciences, Vanderbilt University, from the SEPM on-line exercises. This exercise familiarizes students with the idea of turbidity and settling of grains in a water column. Students use local soils or mixtures of sediment and plot semi-quantitative measurements to demonstrate idea of grain settling.