“The Hudson River – NYC’s Wettest Earth Science Teaching Tool”

“The Hudson River – NYC’s Wettest Earth Science Teaching Tool”

The Hudson River was critical to the establishment of NYC and continues to play important roles in many aspects of everyday life in the region. Learn more about how you can develop lessons based on the Hudson and NYC Harbor for your Earth Science classes. In the first part of this session will consider the Physical Geography of the Hudson River and NY Harbor, especially important features of the river and its surroundings as it flows from Lake Tear-of-the-Clouds to the Verrazano Narrows. Next, we will examine the Dynamic Hudson, including tidal patterns in the region, the Hudson salt wedge, and severe weather and storm surges events. “Uncovering the Hudson’s Environmental Past” will explore selective examples of the ever-changing industrial, economic, and climate impacts that have created the modern Hudson River system. We will finish with an open Discussion about how you can incorporate these and other resources into your lessons.

Part 1: Physical Geography of the Hudson River and NY Harbor

Guide for “Physical Geography of the Hudson River”

Supplementary Resources:

“Geology of the New York City Region”

“Bedrock Geology of New York City: More than 600 m.y. of Geologic History”

“Hudson River Watershed Alliance”

“Sediment Dynamics in the Upper and Lower Bays of New York Harbor”

“Ancestral Rivers of the Eastern United States”

“Quaternary Lakes and River Systems”

 

Part 2: The Dynamic Hudson
Guide for “The Dynamic Hudson”

Supplementary Resources:

“A Day in the Life of the Hudson River”

“What Causes Tides?”

NOAA National Ocean Service Tides and Currents

US Naval Observatory Astronomical Applications Data Services

NOAA National Hurricane Center Storm Surge Overview

“Analysis of Storm-Tide Impacts from Hurricane Sandy on New York”

 

 

Part 3: Uncovering the Hudson’s Environmental Past and Predicting Its Future

Guide for “Uncovering the Hudson’s Environmental Past and Predicting Its Future”

Supporting Resources:

“The Drinking Water Woes of Early New York”

“Imagining the Hudson before Humans”

“Mud Records New York History”

“Environmental Changes in the Hackensack Tidal Marsh”

“Oyster Island Pre-Contact to Colonization”

“Oyster Research Restoration Project”

Part 4: Open Discussion about how to incorporate these and other resources into your lessons

Guide for “Open Discussion”

 

SLIDE SHOW TO ACCOMPANY THE ACTIVITIES    PPTX FORMAT      PDF FORMAT

 

“BIG IDEAS and NGSS ALIGNMENTS”  PPTX FORMAT    PDF FORMAT