ENVIRONMENT/ECOLOGY: Black
Mountains Initiative Updated information on southern Appalachian environmental issues, plus public education on the
East's highest
mountain range. The
Health of Southern Forests Detailed Forest Service
information on southern Appalachian pests and other stressors. Hemlock
Woolly Adelgid The Forest Service site for everything
HWA. Southern
Appalachian Forest Coalition Ongoing projects that encourage
protection of and appreciation for the area's woodlands. Western
North Carolina Alliance A grassroots environmental organization focusing on old growth, clearcutting,
sustainable business, and water and air quality. Western
North Carolina Nature Center Tons of information on
regional wildlife, with fact sheets on natural history, anatomy and
physiology, current status, and recovery projects. Wildflowers
of the Southern Appalachians NC Natural's on-line guide,
plus bloom times and info on endangered plants, old growth, and
the American chestnut.
St.
Catherine's Sea Turtle Conservation Program A project to
research, protect, and provide education about sea turtles on Georgia's
Golden Isles.
Evangelical
Environmental Network Unique Christian organization dealing
wholly with stewardship and environmental justice.
Introduction
to Visibility William Malm explains how air pollution
alters the atmosphere, including the formation of haze, coloration
of light, behavior of particulates and inversion layers, and much
more (pdf file).
Live
View from Cold Mountain See if WNC is polluted or not
today, courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service. Current
Mount Mitchell Weather Plus a link to the Mt. Mitchell
webcam.
OTHER
SCIENCES
Geographic
Names Information System The statistics for every USGS-recognized
landform in the U.S. and territories. U.S.
Naval Observatory Data Services Calculators for sun and
moon rising and setting times, plus azimuth. Light
and Optics Why the sky is blue and other explanations of
atmospheric phenomena by the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Champaign. Weather
Photography Dutch photographer Harald Edens'
site on lightning, clouds, optical phenomena, and astronomy, with
enough photos and links to keep aficionados going for hours. Mirages
in Finland More optical phenomena explored by Finnish
photographer/lecturer Pekka Parviainen.
Space
Telescope Science Institute Pictures, news, and findings from
Hubble.
Chaos
Theory, Dynamic Systems, and Fractal Geometry A good
introduction to chaos science and the concept of sensitive
dependence on initial conditions. General
Review of Research on Landscape Preference Some
psychology behind what we like in our art and why.
Faster:
The Acceleration of Just About Everything James Gleick's page
for his latest book, with comments and links (including Sodaplay
and what
time it is).
OUTDOOR
RECREATION:
Appalachian
Trail Conference Non-profit caretaker of the Trail and
coordinator of the 31 clubs that preserve and maintain its 2,167
miles.
A
Walk for Sunshine Jeff Alt's AT hike for his brother
with cerebral palsy.
Bill
Irwin The only blind person to thru-hike the AT.
South
Beyond 6000 Listing of the East's 40 tallest peaks, plus the
"club" for anyone who's climbed them all.
Outdoor
Review.com Sometimes-useful consumer feedback on outdoor
equipment.
PHOTOGRAPHY:
Nikon
The company home page for the full product line plus upcoming additions.
Sigma
Decent third-party lenses -- but before you buy, read the...
Photography
Review Consumer reviews on all brands of equipment and
film.
Photozone
User Survey Site Camera, lens, and film tests.
Third
Party Lenses Resource Megasite Home Page Robert Monaghan's
links and discussions of "off-brand" lenses.
Nikon
Links More links to more comparisons.
Adorama,
B+H
Photo, KEH Three good places for new and used equipment.
Porter's
Camera Store Not the best deals on major equipment, but
a great source for obscure and eclectic accessories.
The
Slideprinter Inexpensive but quality E-6 processing and
prints, with free shipping. Standard print services are
Type-R, workable for small to medium prints of clean slides with
limited tonal range that don't need the adjustments of digital
(which Slideprinter can also do). SOME
OTHER STUFF: Habitat
for Humanity Heifer
International Sojourners
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