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Earth and Atmospheric Sciences Resources

A comprehensive guide to research tools, methodologies, and professional resources in Earth & Atmospheric Sciences, supporting academic and career growth.

Authoritative Reference Works and Handbooks

Explore key works that provide foundational knowledge and advanced insights across Earth and Atmospheric Sciences disciplines:

  • Encyclopedia of Atmospheric Sciences – Covers atmospheric chemistry, climate dynamics, remote sensing, and more.

  • Treatise on Geochemistry – Essential for understanding elemental cycles and environmental geochemistry.

  • Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series (Springer) – Multivolume collection covering core geoscience topics.

  • The Blue Planet: An Introduction to Earth System Science – A holistic overview of Earth's processes and systems.

  • Glossary of Geology (AGI) – A valuable quick-reference for terminology used across EAS research fields.

📚 These resources are available through UH Libraries' Search directly or via linked databases.

Bibliographic Management Solutions

Managing your references effectively is essential for academic writing and collaboration.
📌 UH Libraries offers guidance on major citation tools commonly used by students and researchers:

👉 Citation Management Tools Guide

It includes how-to instructions and support for:

  • Zotero – Easy to use, cloud-synced, great for group projects

  • EndNote – Ideal for complex research; free to UH students, faculty, and staff

  • Mendeley – Especially useful for organizing PDFs and articles in the sciences

  • BibTeX/LaTeX – Basic pointers for those using LaTeX-based writing workflows

💡 Need help choosing a tool or getting started? Contact a librarian.

Research Question Formulation Techniques

A strong research question guides your entire project. Here are a few quick strategies:

🔍 Start with Observations

Turn real-world issues—like weather extremes, pollution, or land changes—into focused questions.

🧩 Use a Framework

Try PICO-T to organize your thinking:

  • Phenomenon

  • Influence

  • Context

  • Outcome

  • Timescale

Example: How has drought (P) affected crop yield (O) in Central Texas (C) over the last decade (T)?

📈 Explore the Literature

Use Scopus or Web of Science to find patterns, track citations, and spot gaps in research.
 

🧠 Brainstorm and Refine

Talk through ideas, scan faculty publications, and adjust scope based on what’s feasible for your timeline or course.

💡 Need help refining your topic? Contact a librarian.