Story of Water

There are some truly unique bodies of water on Earth.  From boiling rivers to polka-dot lakes to bleeding glaciers, these places will shatter your preconceived notions about what a body of water should look and act like.  In this episode, we'll explore some of the weird water wonders of the world.

The destructive power of water is extraordinary.  Therefore, water is at the root cause of many of the worst natural disasters in history.  In this episode, we’ll discuss some of the catastrophes water has caused, the economic and death tolls of these incidents, and more.

Weather is defined as the condition of the atmosphere.  The water cycle, powered by the sun, is what allows us to have the various atmospheric conditions we experience on Earth.  Precipitation, humidity, and cloud cover are all dependent on water.  We'll discuss the different types of precipitation, the different kids of clouds, and explain what humidity is.  We'll also learn about some amazing water-related weather records.  

Despite the fact that 97% of all the water on Earth is in the oceans, less than 20% of the ocean floor has been fully mapped.  We know more about the surface of the Moon, and even Mars, than we do about the ocean floor.  In this episode, we’ll submerse ourselves into the abyss that awaits in Earth’s oceans.

The Wisconsin Shipwreck Coast National Marine Sanctuary is home to 36 known shipwrecks and many more to be discovered.  Learn about the latest technology being used to study known shipwrecks and discover hidden ones in the newest area to be designated a National Marine Sanctuary.

Water in space?  Yes, water is more plentiful in our solar system than most people realize.  It exists on planets, moons, and asteroids.  It exists in the solid, liquid, and gas state.  What worlds contain water?  How much water do they have?  What does that mean for us?  Find out as we answer these questions in this episode.

We’ve been focusing much attention on the Great Lakes, but there are other bodies of water that can be found all over the world that deserve a mention.  Wetlands play a vital role in not only the lives of many organisms, but also in our lives as well.  What makes a wetland a wetland?  What are the different types of wetlands?  What do wetlands do for us and why are they so important?   What challenges are wetlands facing and what is being done to protect them?  We’ll answer these questions and more in this episode.

Here we present a short summary of seven lesser known shipwrecks on the Great Lakes.  From giant freighters to small sailing vessels, from the 17th to the 20th century, learn about these ships and the tragic stories behind their sinking.

As long as there have been ships, there have been shipwrecks.  The Great Lakes are no exception, containing over 6,000 shipwrecks, in which over 30,000 sailors have perished.  On the Great Lakes, the most famous, and perhaps the most mysterious shipwreck story is that of the Edmund Fitzgerald.  Occurring over 45 years ago during one of the worst "Gales of November" on Lake Superior, this episode will tell the story of the last voyage of this Great Lakes legend.

This episode continues the series on the past, present, and future of one of the most important natural resources on Earth, the Great Lakes.  In this episode we'll explore aquatic aliens among us.  Invasive species are more than just a present nuisance in the Great Lakes Watershed.  They also poise a serious ecological threat to the future of the Great Lakes.  Learn about different types of invasive species, including mussels, water fleas, gobies, crayfish, lamprey, and carp, as well as what is being about these pests.