In this section you will find materials that support the implementation of EarthComm, Chapter 7: Chapter Challenge.

Reference

Evolution of the Earth System

Geosphere

The Archaen Eon and Hadean, Univ. of California Museum of Paleontology
Brief overview of Earth’s early formation.

Impact Processes on the Early Earth, Univ. of Vienna
Describes the impact processes that occurred during the period of late heavy bombardment.

Earth’s Formation and its Interior Structure, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Overview of Earth’s formation, including the bombardment by meteoric debris.

Evolution of Continents and Oceans, Indiana University
Overview of the processes that form new crust and consume old crust.  Also looks at the evolution and features of continental crust, including shields and platforms.

The Precambrian Era, Michigan State University
Describes the geologic history of Earth, including its formation and the evolution of its early crust.

The Evolution of Continental Crust, University of Washington
Examines the conditions required for the formation of continents.  Compares the planets and the extent to which those conditions exist.

The Magnetosphere: Our Shield in Space, NASA
Describes Earth’s magnetic field and its relationship to solar wind.

Fluid Spheres

Origin of the Earth's Atmosphere, Eastern Illinois University
Describes the compositions of Earth’s atmospheres and how they were produced.

How did Earth’s atmosphere and oceans form?, The University of Michigan
Looks at Earth’s early atmosphere and how it was formed by the release of gases trapped in Earth’s interior.

The Carbon Cycle and Earth's Climate, Columbia University
Describes the cycling of carbon through the Earth system and the role carbon plays in the weathering of rocks.

Banded Iron Formation, University of Oregon
Examines the formation of banded iron formations.

Biosphere

From Soup to Cells—the Origin of Life, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Looks at the evidence of Earth’s earliest life forms.  Considers where and how life originated.

How did life originate?, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Examines the series of steps that led to the formation of multicellular life forms.

Studying the origin of life, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Considers the role of RNA and DNA in the evolution of living things.

Origin of Life: The Panspermia Theory, Sonali S. Joshi
Overview of the panspermia theory, which suggests that life on Earth was transported to Earth from somewhere else in the universe.

Origins of Life on Earth, Fulton-Montgomery Community College
Overview of various theories for how life on Earth originated and evolved to multicellular forms.

Cyanobacteria: Fossil Record, University of California Museum of Paleontology
Examines the formation of stromatolites from cyanobacteria and the fossil evidence they contain of early life forms.

Stromatolites, Carleton College
Overview of stromatolites.  Includes several images of different stromatolite forms.

Geologic History, The Virtual Fossil Museum
Looks at the geologic time scale and major events that occurred in different periods.

Geologic Timeline, San Diego Natural History Museum
In-depth descriptions of common life forms present in the subdivisions of geologic time.

Mass Extinctions, Hooper Virtual Paleontological Museum
Provides a short discussion about mass extinctions.  

Causes of Mass Extinctions, Penn State University
Detailed website offering information on the causes of extinctions and possible future events.