US Geological Survey Survey Annual Open House Event: "Understanding Climate"

"Understanding Climate" is the theme for the 2009 Open House. Scientists will share how plants, animals and rocks give us clues to understanding the earth's climate secrets. Hands-on exhibits provide an opportunity to learn about the many ways climate affects the world around us.

Come learn how scientists:
- Track the yearly travels of a manatee,
- Map our coastlines to help us understand how storms rearrange our beaches,
- Rely on plants to tell us about rainfall trends
- Use tiny plankton as an historical record of climate change
- Create state-of-the-art maps using lidar
- Understand hazards such as droughts, floods, hurricanes, volcanoes, and tsunamis.

Learn about how climate change can affect sea level, coastal ecosystems, coral reefs, native reptiles, invasive species, wetlands, water availability, native fisheries and more. Through scientific understanding society will be better prepared for climate change and natural hazards.

The USGS will host more than 40 interactive booths that highlight USGS science activities and also those of many of our community partners. For a flyer to share: http://coastal.er.usgs.gov/openhouse/publicopenhouseflyer2009.pdf.