In this lesson, students participate in a kinesthetic simulation to illustrate how nutrient pollution from agricultural runoff can lead to a dead zone at the mouth of a drainage basin.

Students will describe at least five sources of nonpoint source pollution runoff and identify sources of contamination. Students will also discuss how bioassays may be used to measure toxicity, and describe three examples. Then they will describe and discuss actions that can be taken to reduce or eliminate contaminated runoff.

This resource explains the causes and effects of major oil spills and the role that ocean currents play in the spread of pollution.

Students use a variety of media to discuss and analyze human-related pressures upon marine ecosystems and resources.

In this lesson, students will be able to list and describe the three major categories of indicators used to delineate wetlands (hydrology, vegetation, soils). Students will also be able to identify hydrologic features that can be used to identify wetlands during a field inspection.

Students watch videos to examine ways that human actions can throw a marine ecosystem out of balance and lead to species decline. Then they brainstorm a list of stakeholders and generate questions about them.

Students will use online videos and photo galleries to conduct a virtual bolus dissection for the Laysan albatross and learn how marine debris can be mistaken for food and harm marine organisms.

In this lesson, students will learn what wetlands are, where they are found, and their value to humans, animals, and the environment. As industrialization spreads and climate change intensifies, China's wetland resources continue to shrink and students will analyze the effects of industrialization on China's environment.

Students investigate the interconnectedness of the Earth's water reservoirs by learning about the hydrosphere. They then discuss ways in which humans are connected to and alter those reservoirs, especially the ocean.

This multimedia resource, part of the NC Science Now series, outlines how pollution can impact the water cycle and affect out local water supply. The City of Durham has launched a multi-year study to see if a series of rain gardens and cisterns can improve or control storm water runoff. Components of the resource include a video, related text articles, photo gallery, instructions on how to build a rain garden, and an interview with Maverick Raber, City of Durham water quality engineer. Links to these components are provided on the page underthe heading "UNC-TV Media."

Rising seas and coastal erosion are eating away at the barrier island on which the Alaska Native Village of Kivalina rests. Residents and others are making concerted efforts to move the community to safety.

Students will use a simple mathematical model to estimate the vulnerability of a small town's water supply.

Puerto Rico's San Juan Bay Estuary faces multiple threats, including heavy use by urban populations and impacts of climate change. A workbook from the EPA's Climate Ready Estuaries program helped them catalog, prioritize, and address their climate risks.

In this lesson, students will be able to evaluate the relationship between biodegradable waste and dissolved oxygen in water. Students will be able to explain the relationship between oxygen levels, bacteria and the breakdown of organic matter using an indicator solution.

Students analyze data and maps to understand how increased population growth impacts the water quality of the Chesapeake Bay. Then they explore how the health of the Bay affects its animals.

Students will make a topographic map and use it to predict ground water flow and investigate the most likely source of ground water contamination.

In this activity, students will examine the three main factors that disrupt corals. Students will use a Geographic Information System (GIS) tool to evaluate threats on coral reefs, explain how certain fishing practices, pollution, and climate change can damage coral ecosystems, and describe the predicted consequences for coral reefs.

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