"First published in 2017 by The Watts Publishing Group"--Copyright page.

Essential to life, water can be found in different forms all around us. This important book explains how the Earth's supply of water moves from bodies of water, to the atmosphere, and to land in a process called the water cycle . Accessible text and detailed images help explain such processes as transpiration, evaporation, condensation, and precipitation, as well as the important roles of sunlight and gravity in the water cycle. Feature boxes highlight examples of the ways in which human activity creates shortages of clean water and interferes with the water cycle. Readers are encouraged to find ways to take action and find solutions.

Explore, create and investigate with Ava and George - the Geo Detectives! Get hands-on and learn about the amazing natural world, with fun activities and projects to do at home. Use your detective skills to find out all about volcanoes and earthquakes.

"First published in 2017 by The Watts Publishing Group"--Copyright page.

The second book in the ThinkCities series explores water as a precious, finite resource, tracing its journey from source, through the city, and back again. Living in cities where water flows effortlessly from our taps and fountains, it’s easy to take it for granted. City of Water, the second book in the ThinkCities series, shines a light on the water system that is vital for our health and well-being. The narrative traces the journey of water from the forests, mountains, lakes, rivers and wetlands that form the watershed, through pipes and treatment facilities, into our taps, fire hydrants and toilets, then out through storm and sewer systems toward wastewater treatment plants and back into the watershed. Along the way we discover that some of the earliest cities with water systems date back to the Indus Valley in 2500 BC; that in 1920 only 1 percent of the US population had indoor plumbing; that if groundwater is used up too quickly, the land can actually sink; and more. The text is sprinkled with fun and surprising facts — some water fountains in Paris offer sparkling water, and scientists are working to extract microscopic particles of precious metals found in sewage. Readers are encouraged to think about water as a finite resource, and to take action to prevent our cities and watersheds from becoming more polluted. More than 2 billion people in the world are without access to safe, fresh water at home. As the world’s population grows, along with pollution and climate change, access to clean water is becoming an urgent issue. Includes practical steps that kids can take to help conserve water. The ThinkCities series is inspired by the urgency for new approaches to city life as a result of climate change, population growth and increased density. It highlights the challenges and risks cities face, but also offers hope for building resilience, sustainability and quality of life as young people advocate for themselves and their communities. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.3.3 Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.

Introduces the concept recycling and why it is beneficial for our Earth while offering fun ways to recycle and reuse at home and in the community.

There is only a certain amount of water on Earth at all times, and it's the same water that's been on Earth for millions of years. That's because of the water cycle. This book explains the major parts of the water cycle, including precipitation and how water is stored on Earth, through both clear, concise main text and colorful, helpful flow charts. Including key subjects to supplement the Earth science curriculum, the main text covers water power, the importance of water to life, and how water is recycled today.

Natural and human-induced changes in Earth's interior, land surface, biosphere, atmosphere, and oceans affect all aspects of life. Understanding these changes requires a range of observations acquired from land-, sea-, air-, and space-based platforms. To assist NASA, NOAA, and USGS in developing these tools, the NRC was asked to carry out a "decadal strategy" survey of Earth science and applications from space that would develop the key scientific questions on which to focus Earth and environmental observations in the period 2005-2015 and beyond, and present a prioritized list of space programs, missions, and supporting activities to address these questions. This report presents a vision for the Earth science program; an analysis of the existing Earth Observing System and recommendations to help restore its capabilities; an assessment of and recommendations for new observations and missions for the next decade; an examination of and recommendations for effective application of those observations; and an analysis of how best to sustain that observation and applications system.

"Bel and her cousin, Dylan, explore the topic of thunderstorms, learning about thunder, lightning, and how they are formed"--