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WGNHS – Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey – UW–Madison

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WGNHS – Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey – UW–Madison

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The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) has been serving Wisconsin for over 125 years. Part of the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, WGNHS provides objective scientific information about the geology, mineral resources, and water resources of Wisconsin. We conduct research, map Wisconsin’s geology, and share information through our publications and outreach.

WGNHS has been producing geologic maps, scientific reports, and more for over 125 years. Our publications catalog offers thousands of maps, reports, datasets, and other publications—all of which are available to view and download for free.

The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) was created by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1897. It is the descendant of earlier state surveys in Wisconsin, which date back to 1854.

WGNHS, part of the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, is an interdisciplinary organization that conducts natural resources surveys and research to produce information used for decision-making, problem-solving, planning, management, development, and education. Survey is defined to include resource inventory as well as basic and applied research and analysis. WGNHS has no specific regulatory or enforcement responsibilities.

Mission of WGNHS:
Understanding the earth • Charting its history • Sustaining its resources
The Survey conducts earth-science surveys, field studies, and research.

We provide objective scientific information about the geology, water resources, and mineral resources of Wisconsin.

We collect, interpret, disseminate, and archive natural resource information.

We communicate the results of our activities through publications, technical talks, our website, social media, and responses to inquiries from the public.

These activities support informed decision making by government, industry, business, and individual residents of Wisconsin.

"Waddle: A Penguin's Tale" on Meta Quest

"Waddle: A Penguin's Tale" on Meta Quest

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Named after the collective noun for a group of penguins on land, Wadde: A Penguin’s Tale introduces players to polar research at Cape Royds, Antarctica. We worked closely on this project with Jean Pennycook, a polar researcher and educator who has been studying Adelie penguins at the South Pole for more than twenty years. The game immerses players in a beautiful, distant world they wouldn’t otherwise be able to experience: the Antarctic ice. Take on the role of a penguin, play some adorable mini games, and learn how penguins build nests and defend their eggs against the predatory skua.

Subject:: Ecology; Life Science
Material Type:: Game
Author:: Field Day Lab; Field Day Learning Games; field day lab
Date Added:: 02/01/2024

Wake: Tales from the Aqualab

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Wake: Tales from the Aqualab

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Wake is a science game that challenges students with engaging and authentic missions in a variety of ocean-based ecosystems, designed to target the NGSS science practices of experimentation, modeling, and argumentation, in the context of middle school life sciences.

In the game, students take the role of a scientist studying ocean ecosystems, traveling to different ocean research sites to answer questions and solve problems. Students play the game at their own pace, working individually, and taking on gradually more complex science challenges in an open-ended environment.

Check out the Teacher Support Site for curriculum ideas and resources: https://sites.google.com/wisc.edu/waketeacherguide/home

Subject:: Biology; Earth and Space Science; Ecology; Environmental Science; Life Science; Mathematics; Measurement and Data; Oceanography; Zoology
Material Type:: Game
Author:: Field Day
Date Added:: 02/06/2024

Warming Climate and Invasive Species

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Warming Climate and Invasive Species

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In this video segment adapted from the College of Menominee Nation, learn about the emergence of invasive forest species and diseases and their possible impact on the Menominee tribal forest.

Subject:: Ecology; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Life Science
Material Type:: Lesson
Provider:: PBS LearningMedia
Provider Set:: PBS Learning Media Common Core Collection
Author:: NASA; WGBH Educational Foundation
Date Added:: 03/23/2012

Waste Containment and Remediation Technology, Spring 2004

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Waste Containment and Remediation Technology, Spring 2004

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Focuses on the geotechnical aspects of hazardous waste management, with specific emphasis on the design of land-based waste containment structures and hazardous waste remediation. Introduction to hazardous waste; definition of hazardous waste, regulatory requirements, waste characteristics, geo-chemistry, and contaminant transport. The design and operation of waste containment structures, landfills, impoundments, and mine-waste disposal. The characterization and remediation of contaminated sites, the superfund law, preliminary site assessment, site investigation techniques, and remediation technologies. Monitoring requirements.

Subject:: Career and Technical Education; Ecology; Education; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Life Science; Technology and Engineering
Material Type:: Full Course
Provider:: M.I.T.
Provider Set:: M.I.T. OpenCourseWare
Author:: Shanahan, P. J. (Peter J.); Shanahan, Peter
Date Added:: 01/01/2004

Water Clarity Monitoring - Extension Lakes

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Water Clarity Monitoring - Extension Lakes

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Water clarity monitoring is a process in which the volunteer lowers an 8” diameter, black & white disc (“Secchi disc”) into the deepest part of the lake to determine how far down they can see the disc as it is lowered. Water clarity monitoring is done every 10-14 days throughout the open-water season. Water clarity is a quick way to estimate lake health, and it plays an important role in determining the types of plants and animals that a water body can support.

Can also add in collected data for Water Chemistry analysis along with Secchi disc collected data.

This site includes data collection forms for individuals or groups to add their data from their own lake to this dataset.

Subject:: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Biology; Career and Technical Education; Ecology; Environmental Science; Life Science
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Homework/Assignment; Lesson
Author:: Paul Skawinski; college of Natural Resources; University of Wisconsin Stevens Point
Date Added:: 04/24/2024

Water Resources of the United States—National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper - USGS

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Water Resources of the United States—National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper - USGS

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The National Water Information System (NWIS) Mapper provides access to over 1.5 million sites contained in the USGS National Water Information System (NWIS), including sites where current and historical surface-water, groundwater, springs, and atmospheric data has been collected. Users can search by site type, data type, site number, or place.

What Killed Tweety? An Ecological Exploration of West Nile Virus

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What Killed Tweety? An Ecological Exploration of West Nile Virus

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This activity is an internet exploration of West Nile Virus and the effects this virus has directly on bird populations. Students will also see the secondary effects on human populations and the interrelationships of the three populations.

Subject:: Biology; Ecology; Life Science
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Assessment; Lesson Plan
Provider:: Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:: Pedagogy in Action
Author:: Christine Salokar
Date Added:: 02/10/2023

What Will Biodegrade?

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What Will Biodegrade?

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Students investigate what types of materials biodegrade in the soil, and learn what happens to their trash after they throw it away. The concepts of landfills and compost piles will be explained, and the students will have an opportunity to create their own miniature landfill in which the difference between organic and inorganic waste will become clear.

Subject:: Career and Technical Education; Ecology; Life Science; Technology and Engineering
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Lesson Plan
Provider:: TeachEngineering
Provider Set:: TeachEngineering NGSS Aligned Resources
Author:: Engineering K-PhD Program,; Roarke Horstmeyer
Date Added:: 09/18/2014

Where Shall We Go Swimming?

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Where Shall We Go Swimming?

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This activity is a water study investigation showing how biotic and abiotic factors are influenced by human activity.

Subject:: Ecology; Life Science
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Assessment; Lesson Plan
Provider:: Science Education Resource Center (SERC) at Carleton College
Provider Set:: Pedagogy in Action
Author:: Marj Ostgaard
Date Added:: 02/10/2023

Why Does Climate Change Matter?

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Why Does Climate Change Matter?

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In this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College, listen as six Native American students share their concerns, hopes, and knowledge about climate change.

Subject:: Ecology; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Life Science
Material Type:: Lesson
Provider:: PBS LearningMedia
Provider Set:: PBS Learning Media Common Core Collection
Author:: NASA; WGBH Educational Foundation
Date Added:: 03/19/2012

Why Does Climate Change Matter?

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Why Does Climate Change Matter?

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In this video segment adapted from United Tribes Technical College, listen as six Native American students share their concerns, hopes, and knowledge about climate change.

Subject:: Ecology; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Life Science
Material Type:: Lesson
Provider:: PBS LearningMedia
Provider Set:: PBS Learning Media Common Core Collection
Author:: NASA; WGBH Educational Foundation
Date Added:: 03/19/2012

Why Is Coco Orange? Book on Air Quality and Asthma - Publications Page

Why Is Coco Orange? Book on Air Quality and Asthma - Publications Page

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This website has a picture book about a chameleon who has asthma. Through this story, students will learn all about air quality, asthma, and how to stay healthy when the air quality is bad such as reading an air quality chart.

Subject:: Anatomy/Physiology; Atmospheric Science; Biology; Career and Technical Education; Earth and Space Science; Ecology; Education; Elementary Education; English Language Arts; Environmental Literacy and Sustainability; Environmental Science; Global Education; Health Science; Life Science; Literature; Reading Informational Text
Material Type:: Reading
Author:: Air Now; United States Enviornmental Protection Agency
Date Added:: 03/26/2024

Why do salt water tanks need special lights?

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Why do salt water tanks need special lights?

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Exploring coral bleaching through PAR readings in school saltwater tanks.

Subject:: Biology; Ecology; Physics
Material Type:: Activity/Lab
Author:: Jamie Lauer
Date Added:: 01/15/2024

Wildlife Detectives

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Wildlife Detectives

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Students will have the opportunity to learn about animal signs, including tracks, sounds and coats and how to infer that information through a series of “mystery scenes.” Each mystery scene incorporates a basic biology concept appropriate for early elementary.

Subject:: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Career and Technical Education; Ecology; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Life Science
Material Type:: Lesson; Lesson Plan
Date Added:: 05/08/2019

Winter Sevity Index

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Winter Sevity Index

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The winter severity index (WSI) is a measurement to help gauge the effects of the winter weather on
deer survival. The index was developed in the early 1970’s and is calculated by adding the number of
days with 18 inches or more of snow on the ground to the number of days when the minimum
temperatures were 0◦
F or below. In general, the severity of the winter is based on the total number of
points accumulated over the collection period. A winter with an index of less than 50 is considered mild,
50 to 79 is moderate, 80 to 99 is severe, and over 100 is very severe.

Subject:: Ecology; Life Science; Mathematics; Measurement and Data
Material Type:: Data Set; Learning Task
Date Added:: 01/23/2019

Wisconsin Critter Count

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Wisconsin Critter Count

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The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources uses a variety of tools and techniques to monitor wildlife, and to produce population estimates to better inform management decisions. Population estimates are used to look at long term trends, as well as setting harvest limits during hunting seasons for potentially vulnerable species. There are two count methods for generating population information: sample counts and total counts. In total counts, every individual of an intended geographic area is counted. For sample counts, a smaller fraction of individuals are counted and the data is used to interpolate population information for the entire geographic area. In this activity, you will create a model for these two different count methods and explore the advantages and disadvantages to both approaches.

Subject:: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Career and Technical Education; Ecology; Environmental Literacy and Sustainability; Life Science
Material Type:: Lesson; Lesson Plan
Date Added:: 05/08/2019

Wisconsin DNR Open Data Portal

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Wisconsin DNR Open Data Portal

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This is the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources GIS Open Data Portal. It is a free resource for locating, viewing, and downloading data developed and/or maintained by the Wisconsin DNR.

This site also has categories of: Water, Fish and Wildlife, Managed Lands, Cimate, Parks and Recreation, Forestry, Transportation, Indexess and PLSS, Boundaries and Land Cover and Vegetation.

The site also has Applications that include: PFAS in Wisconsin Data Viewer, Western Coulee and Ridges Regional Master Plan, North Central Forest Regional Master Plan, Wildfires Dashboard App, Report Invasive Species, CWD reporting, etc

Subject:: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Biology; Botany; Career and Technical Education; Civics and Government; Earth and Space Science; Ecology; Education; Elementary Education; Environmental Literacy and Sustainability; Environmental Science; Forestry and Agriculture; Geography; Geology; Health Education; Health Science; Higher Education; Hydrology; Life Science; Social Studies; Zoology
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Homework/Assignment; Learning Task; Lecture; Lesson; Lesson Plan
Author:: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Date Added:: 03/12/2024

Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey - Publications Catalog

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Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey - Publications Catalog

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The Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey (WGNHS) has been serving Wisconsin for over 125 years. Part of the Division of Extension at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, WGNHS provides objective scientific information about the geology, mineral resources, and water resources of Wisconsin. We conduct research, map Wisconsin’s geology, and share information through our publications and outreach.

This is the link to the Publications Catalog that includes Wisconsin Data sets and maps for: Bedrock Geology, Groundwater, Surficial Geology, Rocks and Minerals, Soils, Precambrian Bedrock, Surface Water, Metallic Minerals, Topography, Nonmetallic Minerals, Climate and Weather, and Frac Sand.

Subject:: Biology; Career and Technical Education; Earth and Space Science; Ecology; Education; Elementary Education; Environmental Science; Family and Consumer Sciences; Forestry and Agriculture; Geology; Health Science; Higher Education; Hydrology; Life Science; Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Diagram/Illustration; Interactive; Lecture
Author:: Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey
Date Added:: 03/12/2024

Wisconsin Historic Climate Data

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Wisconsin Historic Climate Data

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Wisconsin’s climate is typically continental with some modification by Lakes Michigan and Superior. The cold, snowy winters favor a variety of winter sports, and the warm summers appeal to thousands of vacationers each year. About two-thirds of the annual precipitation falls during the growing season (freeze-free period). It is normally adequate for vegetation, although drought is occasionally reported. This climate is most favorable for dairy farming; the primary crops are corn, small grains, hay, and vegetables. The rapid succession of storms moving from west to east or southwest to northeast account for the stimulating climate.

Select from Climate by Location, Division, Normals, Statewide Extremes, Longterm Annual Variability, and Daily Climate data.

Subject:: Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources; Atmospheric Science; Biology; Botany; Career and Technical Education; Earth and Space Science; Ecology; Education; Elementary Education; Environmental Science; Family and Consumer Sciences; Forestry and Agriculture; Health Science; Higher Education; Hydrology; Life Science; Marketing, Management and Entrepreneurship
Material Type:: Activity/Lab; Diagram/Illustration; Homework/Assignment; Interactive
Author:: Wisconsin State Climatology Office and Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies
Date Added:: 04/28/2024