The Northern Hemisphere is tilting away from the Sun for this arc of the annual orbit. The daily spin of our homeworld affects winds and waves. Forces deep within the planet shape its surface, sometimes with catastrophic affects on native lifeforms. As the song says, "Baby, baby, it's a wild world."1
Earth Science is the fascinating and incredibly important topic that covers everything from how rocks are formed to locating oil and mineral deposits, to trying to predict volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and the weather. This field is also properly called planetary science, and its practitioners study Moon rocks and try to unravel the secrets of Mars.
This is science for those who can appreciate both the slow transformations over geological time and the high drama of a volcanic eruption that blows out the side of a mountain and pyroclastic flows that engulf thriving settlements and change the landscape within hours.
Many museums do a great job in communicating the wonder, the beauty and the power of planetary forces. One example is the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI) in Portland, Oregon. The Earth Science Hall features an Earthquake Room that puts you in the middle of a magnitude 5.5 quake. You can also put your hand into a twister, enter a wind tunnel (and control the velocity) or check out the wave tank. OMSI also has a Watershed Lab, a Paleontology Lab and a Weather Lab.
The Franklin Institute (in Philadelphia, PA, if you plan to visit) offers the online feature EARTHFORCE. It's an illustrated explanation of how the planet's core, crust or water pushes and pulls things around. The site offers resources, including disaster preparedness links.
Chicago's Field Museum offers earth science displays including the "Moving Earth," a fossil preparation lab, as well as the Grainger Hall of Gems.
In Washington you can visit the Janet Annenberg Hooker Hall of Geology, Gems, and Minerals at the Smithsonian / National Museum of Natural History. To me, this experience was like taking a journey deep into the earth. I was awed by the rocks and minerals, pleased by the interpretive information and enjoyed the multimedia displays. Online, you can visit the NMNH Department of Mineral Sciences, to find information on exhibits, programs, collections and access to the department's photo galleries.
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