Cowles Library Drake University

Dictionary of Earth Sciences

Available online "Oxford's fully up-to-date Dictionary of Earth Sciences is authoritative and wide-ranging with coverage of topics including climatology, economic geology, geochemistry, oceanography, palaeontology, petrology, and volcanology.There are entries on planetary science, remote sensing, statistics, and sequence stratigraphy, wind strength scales, material, temporal, and chronostratigraphic units, geologic, lunar, and Martian time scales. This is an essential reference for all Earth Science, geology, geography, meteorology, and related disciplines." Go there...

Dictionary of Ecology

Available online "This is the third edition of the most comprehensive and authoritative dictionary of ecology available. Written in a clear, accessible style, it contains over 6,250 entries on all aspects of ecology and related environmental scientific disciplines such as biogeography, genetics, soil science, geomorphology, atmospheric science, and oceanography. Coverage is wide-ranging and includes plant and animal physiology, animal behaviour, pollution, conservation, habitat management, evolution, environmental pollution, climatology and meteorology." Go there...

Dictionary of Environment and Conservation

Available online "A wide ranging, inter-disciplinary resource covering a broad spectrum of environmental concerns, embracing science, politics, economics, philosophy, and history, and containing entries on current hot topics such as Antartica, Gaia hypothosis, genetic engineering, Kyoto Protocol, and the United Nations Conference on Environmental Development." Go there...

Dictionary of Scientists

Available online "From Archimedes and Copernicus to Stephen Hawking and Stephen Jay Gould, this is the most authoritative and up-to-date biographical dictionary of scientists currently available. Spanning over 2,500 years, it covers all areas of science, from physics and astronomy to medicine and ecology, including key figures in the fields of mathematics and technology. Offering clear explanations of the science itself as well as its historical significance, the dictionary includes coverage of all Nobel Laureates in physics, chemistry, physiology, and medicine." Go there...

Dictionary of Weather

Available online "A Dictionary of Weather provides a comprehensive body of information about weather, forecasting, and climate terms, along with detailed illustrative examples of specific events and weather extremes. With this resource, you can easily find where and when the world's largest hailstone fell and where the highest temperature was recorded. Using the list of weather records, you can also check climate data for different weather types from around the world. Key terms from the related fields of oceanography, hydrology, and climatology are covered as are the important people in the development of meteorology. An essential dictionary for the professional and amateur meteorologist alike." Go there...

Dictionary of Weights, Measures, and Units

Available online "This comprehensive dictionary provides clear definitions of all the units, prefixes, and styling of the Système International (SI), as well as industry-specific and traditional terms currently in use." Go there...

Encyclopedia of Global Change

Available online through Oxford Reference Online this reference book encompasses tsunamis, elephant conservation, ocean pollution, mining regulation, permafrost melt, and all other types of phenomena that change life on Earth. Go there...

Encyclopedia of Paleontology

Available online. "The Encyclopedia of Paleontology is designed to address the shortage of general reference works on both vertebrate and invertebrate paleontology and to serve the needs of students and lay persons interested in the field. As the encyclopedia aims to provide basic information, the majority of the 350 entries are devoted to explanations of paleontological concepts and techniques, examinations of the evolutionary development of particular organisms and biological features, profiles of major discoveries, and biographies of leading scientists. Each entry includes an essay and a further reading list. An international team of 200 leading experts in the field has prepared the illustrations and the essays, which range from concise descriptions to comprehensive discussions." Go there...

Environmental policy books in Cowles Library

Here are some books on environmental policy found in Cowles Library. Books are generally listed in the order the library has received the books with the most recent first. Go there...

Guide to Gems

Available online. "A fascinating, richly illustrated guide to the identification and use of gemstones. The introduction describes the geology, chemistry and properties of gems in clear and accessible terms. The main section supplies complete descriptions of a wide range of gems." Go there...

Guide to Global Hazards

Available online. "A compelling, richly illustrated guide to the many large-scale disasters that affect life on Earth, both globally and locally. The guide is vital reading for those interested in the environment, geophysics and current affairs. It provides clear descriptions of all types of hazard and the threats they pose." Go there...

Guide to Minerals, Rocks and Fossils

Available online. "An authoritative and practical identification guide to minerals, rocks and fossils of the world. Published in association with The Natural History Museum, this is an invaluable handbook for amateur collectors and specialists alike." Go there...

Guide to the Oceans

Available online. "An authoritative and richly illustrated guide to the many facets of the world's oceans and seas. The first five sections describe the genesis and evolution of the oceans, the history of exploration, leisure on the oceans, sealife, and ocean resources. The Atlas section maps the ocean basins, their circulation patterns and unique features. An Encyclopedia of Marine Life catalogues the main groups of flora and fauna." Go there...

Oxford Companion to the Earth

Available online "The Oxford Companion to the Earth is a unique reference work, offering unrivalled coverage of the Earth Sciences, from volcanoes to flood plains, diamonds to meteors, deserts to deep seas. All aspects of geology, including climatology, mineralogy, and oceanography, are covered. In addition, there are many eclectic entries, for example on dinosaur hunters, and fossils and folklore, as well as biographies of the key figures involved." Go there...

Science, Technology and Society

Available online "Science, Technology, and Society contains over 130 A to Z signed articles written by major scholars and experts from academic and scientific institutions and institutes worldwide. It emphasizes an interdisciplinary and international coverage of the functions and effects of science and technology in society and culture. Each article is accompanied by a selected bibliography." Go there...

WorldCat - OCLC

WorldCat is a catalog of books and other materials in libraries worldwide. If you are unable to find something in the Cowles Library collection using the I-LINK catalog, this is an excellent place to continue your search. Use the Interlibrary Loan link on this page to obtain materials from other collections. Go there...

1- Sciences databases

All science databases available at Cowles. Go there...

Academic Search Premier

This database for journal articles offers full text for over 3,900 journals in a variety of academic disciplines. 169 journals are geared specifically to aspects of the environment. Go there...

Biological Abstracts - EBSCO

This is a comprehensive collection of bibliographic references in the life sciences from more than 4,000 journals internationally, containing nearly 7.7 million archival records from as far back as 1969. A good source for biological aspects of the environment. Go there...

Britannica Online

Fully searchable version of the encyclopedia with thousands of articles and illustrations. Go there...

CREDO Reference

CREDO Reference contains a variety of reference sources in subjects ranging from Art to History to Law to Technology and almost everything in between.

At a loss for a paper topic? Search the Concept Map for ideas. Go there...

GreenFILE - EBSCO

A bibliographic database of information about environmental concerns, GreenFILE indexes scholarly and general interest titles, as well as government documents and reports. The database contains nearly 300,000 records, full text for selected titles and searchable cited references for more than 200 titles as well. Go there...

JSTOR (JournalSTORage)

Electronic archive of the complete journal runs (excluding the most recent 2-5 years) of over 500 journal titles in over 20 academic disciplines. The heading Ecology and Evolutionary Biology includes 24 journals beginning with the American Naturalist in 1867. Go there...

Scopus

Scopus indexs over 14,000 peer-reviewed journals in the scientific, technical, medical, and social science literature (from over 4,000 international publishers). Abstracts go back to 1966. References go back to 1996. A unique feature of this databaae is the "Cited By" feature, which offers the ability to determine (and track) the number of times a particular article/author has been cited and by whom. Go there...

Current environmental journals in Cowles Library

This is a list of current environmental journals that are available in Cowles Library. The list indicates which databases will have online full text available for each journal. Go there...

American Meteorological Society Statement on Climate Change

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Biogeosciences.org

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Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC)

"The Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center (CDIAC) is the primary climate-change data and information analysis center of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). CDIAC is located at DOE's Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and includes the World Data Center for Atmospheric Trace Gases. CDIAC's data holdings include records of the concentrations of carbon dioxide and other radiatively active gases in the atmosphere; the role of the terrestrial biosphere and the oceans in the biogeochemical cycles of greenhouse gases; emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere; long-term climate trends; the effects of elevated carbon dioxide on vegetation; and the vulnerability of coastal areas to rising sea level." Go there...

Center for International Earth Science Information Network

"The Center for International Earth Science Information Network (CIESIN) is a center within the Earth Institute at Columbia University. CIESIN works at the intersection of the social, natural, and information sciences, and specializes in on-line data and information management, spatial data integration and training, and interdisciplinary research related to human interactions in the environment." Go there...

Cosmic Evolution

"From Big Bang to Human Kind." An interdisciplinary, multimedia look at change and development in the universe from the Wright Center for Science Education. Go there...

Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS)

"The Crustal Dynamics Data Information System (CDDIS) supports data archiving and distribution activities for the space geodesy and geodynamics community. The main objectives of the system are to store space geodesy and geodynamics related data products in a central data bank, to maintain information about the archival of these data, and to disseminate these data and information in a timely manner to NASA investigators and cooperating institutions. The CDDIS staff and computer facility are located at NASA GSFC in Greenbelt, MD and is part of the Solar System Exploration Division within the Sciences and Exploration Directorate." Go there...

Earth Sciences Portal, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

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Earth system Research Laboratory - Climate Analysis Branch

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Earth Trends

"Welcome to EarthTrends, an online collection of information regarding the environmental, social, and economic trends that shape our world. Committed to the principle that accurate information drives responsible decisions by governments and individuals, EarthTrends offers the public a large breadth of statistical, graphic, and analytical data in easily accessible formats." Go there...

Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy and Sustainable Living

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Encyclopedia of Earth

"The Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other's work. The articles are written in non-technical language and will be useful to students, educators, scholars, professionals, as well as to the general public." Go there...

Energy Citations Database (ECD)

"ECD includes scientific and technical research results in disciplines of interest to DOE such as chemistry, physics, materials, environmental science, geology, engineering, mathematics, climatology, oceanography, computer science and related disciplines. It includes bibliographic citations to report literature, conference papers, journal articles, books, dissertations, and patents." Go there...

EPA, Climate Change

"EPA's Climate Change Site offers comprehensive information on the issue of climate change in a way that is accessible and meaningful to all parts of society – communities, individuals, business, states and localities, and governments." Go there...

GAP Analysis Program

"The goal of the GAP Analysis Program is to keep common species common by identifying those species and plant communities that are not adequately represented in existing conservation lands. Common species are those not currently threatened with extinction. By identifying their habitats, GAP Analysis gives land managers and policy makers the information they need to make better-informed decisions when identifying priority areas for conservation." Go there...

Gateway to Global Change Data and Information

Global Change Data and Information System (GCDIS) and U.S. Global Change Research Program (USGCRP) informational Web site. Go there...

Geomagnetism - National Geophysical Data Center (NGDC)

"The National Geophysical Data Center maintains archives of geomagnetic data to further the understanding of Earth magnetism and the Sun-Earth environment. Data at NGDC include surface, ocean, airborne and satellite measurements, as well as models of the main field and its secular change, and models of the Space - Earth environment. Data on Earth's ancient magnetic field are available from archeomagnetic and paleomagnetic measurements. For those interested in learning more about geomagnetism, we have a general information page, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page, and a site focusing on the joint research with the Colorado Institute for Research in the Environmental Sciences (CIRES)." Go there...

Geoscience Information Society

"The Geoscience Information Society facilitates the exchange of information in the geosciences through cooperation among scientists, librarians, editors, cartographers, educators, and information professionals." Go there...

Global Change Master Directory

Earth science data and services from Nasa. Go there...

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

"The IPCC was established to provide the decision-makers and others interested in climate change with an objective source of information about climate change. The IPCC does not conduct any research nor does it monitor climate related data or parameters. Its role is to assess on a comprehensive, objective, open and transparent basis the latest scientific, technical and socio-economic literature produced worldwide relevant to the understanding of the risk of human-induced climate change, its observed and projected impacts and options for adaptation and mitigation. IPCC reports should be neutral with respect to policy, although they need to deal objectively with policy relevant scientific, technical and socio economic factors. They should be of high scientific and technical standards, and aim to reflect a range of views, expertise and wide geographical coverage." Go there...

Intute: Science, Engineering and Technology

A database of web resources for education and research in a variety of scientific disciplines Go there...

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

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Mineralogy Database

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NASA Atmospheric Science Data Center

"The Atmospheric Science Data Center (ASDC) at NASA Langley Research Center is responsible for the processing, archival, and distribution of NASA Earth science data in the areas of radiation budget, clouds, aerosols, and tropospheric chemistry. The Data Center was established in 1991 to support the Earth Observing System (EOS) as part of NASA's Earth Science enterprise and the U.S. Global Change Research Program, and is one of several Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) sponsored by NASA as part of the Earth Observing System Data and Information System (EOSDIS). The Data Center specializes in atmospheric data important to understanding the causes and processes of global climate change and the consequences of human activities on the climate." Go there...

NASA's Earth Observing System

"The Earth Observing System (EOS) is a coordinated series of polar-orbiting and low inclination satellites for long-term global observations of the land surface, biosphere, solid Earth, atmosphere, and oceans. EOS is a major component of the Earth Science Division of NASA's Science Mission Directorate. EOS enables an improved understanding of the Earth as an integrated system. The EOS Project Science Office (EOSPSO) is committed to bringing program information and resources to program scientists and the general public alike." Go there...

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

"The only U.S. national laboratory devoted to fossil energy research, NETL implements a broad spectrum of energy and environmental research and development (R&D) programs that will return benefits for generations to come:

Enabling domestic coal, natural gas, and oil to economically power our Nation’s homes, industries, businesses, and transportation …

While protecting our environment and enhancing our energy independence.

NETL has expertise in coal, natural gas, and oil technologies, contract and project management, analysis of energy systems, and international energy issues.

In addition to research conducted onsite, NETL’s project portfolio includes R&D conducted through partnerships, cooperative research and development agreements, financial assistance, and contractual arrangements with universities and the private sector. Together, these efforts focus a wealth of scientific and engineering talent on creating commercially viable solutions to national energy and environmental problems." Go there...

National Environmental Data Index (NEDI)

"The National Environmental Data Index (NEDI) provides direct access to environmental data and information descriptions, and thereby, improves awareness of and facilitates access to data and information holdings. The overall goal of the NEDI is to facilitate the use of the widest possible range of environmental data and information to support our ability to protect human health, safety, and welfare; to maintain and restore ecological integrity; and to sustain economic stability and growth. The NEDI will be a focus for identifying environmental data and information holdings within the United States and ultimately, internationally." Go there...

NOAA Earth System Research Laboratory

"The Earth System Research Laboratory's mission is to observe and understand the Earth system and to develop products through a commitment to research that will advance the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's (NOAA's) environmental information and services on global-to-local scales."

The work at the Earth System Research Laboratory includes:

understanding the roles of gases and particles that contribute to climate change

providing climate information related to water management decisions

improving weather prediction

understanding the recovery of the stratospheric ozone layer

developing air quality forecast models Go there...

NOAA Photo Library

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Right-To-Know Network

"The Right-to-Know Network (RTK NET), a service provided by OMB Watch, provides free access to numerous environmental databases. With the information available on RTK NET, you can identify specific factories and their environmental effects, and assess the people and communities affected." Go there...

ScienceHack

YouTube + Science = ScienceHack. A database of scientist approved videos. Go there...

Smart Growth Online

"This excellent site is sponsored by the Smart Growth Network, a partnership founded in 1996 by the US Environmental Protection Agency... In addition to providing an overview of smart growth, the site includes an extensive resource library, with many publications in full text, browsable by issue (e.g., housing), principle (e.g., walkable neighborhoods), and resource type. The library includes a useful collection of land use regulations and model codes. Also available is a section containing news from major press outlets (from 1998 to a few weeks old), browsable by state and month..." (Choice Reviews online Oct. 2004) Go there...

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA)

The official website of the trade association of industries dealing with solar products and services. Go there...

The Discovery of Global Warming

"A hypertext history of how scientists came to (partly) understand what people are doing to cause climate change." Go there...

The Encyclopedia of Earth

"The Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other's work. The articles are written in non-technical language and will be useful to students, educators, scholars, professionals, as well as to the general public." Go there...

Understanding and Responding to Climate Change

Highlights of National Academies Reports Go there...

USGS Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS)

"The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Earth Resources Observation Systems (EROS) Data Center is the national archive of remotely sensed images of the Earth's land surface. These data are acquired by civilian satellites and aircraft and used to study a wide range of natural hazards, global environmental change, and economic development and conservation issues. EROS staff members manage and distribute these data to scientists, policy makers, and educators worldwide." Go there...

USGS Global change Science

"The USGS strives to understand how the earth works and to anticipate changes in how the earth functions. To accomplish this, USGS science aims to understand the interrelationships among earth surface processes, ecological systems, and human activities. This includes understanding current changes in the context of pre-historic and recent earth processes, distinguishing between natural and human-influenced changes, and recognizing ecological and physical responses to changes in climate." Go there...

USGS National Geologic Map Database

"Your Geoscience resource for maps and related data about: geology, hazards, earth resources, geophysics, geochemistry, geochronology, paleontology, and marine geology." Go there...

USGS National Wildlife Health Center

"The National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) is a science center of the Biological Resources Discipline of the United States Geological Survey. The NWHC was established in 1975 as a biomedical laboratory dedicated to assessing the impact of disease on wildlife and to identifying the role of various pathogens in contributing to wildlife losses." Go there...

USGS Our Dynamic Desert

"The American southwest deserts are fragile and active landscapes composed of specially adapted plants and animals capable of thriving in this water-limited environment. Increasing pressures from cities within and near the deserts are threatening the landscapes. Understanding how these landscapes operate, including their wildlife and vegetation, is essential for managing the lands to minimize threats and maximize sustainability." Go there...

WINDandSEA: The Oceanic and Atmospheric Sciences Internet Guide

"This Internet Guide was built in response to the many reference questions that are posed to the library and is meant to make Internet searching more efficient for the NOAA community, the academic community, other government agencies concerned with oceanic and atmospheric issues, and the general public. Presently WINDandSEA has over 1,000 selected links to science and policy sites organized by topic and alphabetically within topic. All of these sites have been reviewed and annotated by NOAA Central Library and NOAA Regional Libraries staff." Go there...