EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP – FALL 2026 VIDEOS

Coordinators: Judy Weis, Pete Weis

This semester, we focus on the natural features of the Earth that are on the surface.

(Thursday, B Week, AM, Auditorium, J. Weis)

To view a video click on the link above its description.

EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP
The Biosphere

Presenter: Pete Weis
Presentation Date: September 17, 2026

Life, as we know it, needs water and oxygen. These are found in the hydrosphere and the atmosphere – with the hydrosphere covering 70% and the atmosphere covering 100% of our Earth’s surface. They interact with each other, allowing life in various forms on the various forms of the geosphere. They interact to affect our weather, making various areas more or less habitable. The hydrosphere is 97% salty (oceans), and of the remaining 3%, 70% is frozen. We shall describe the various forms of hydrosphere and how they support life with the essential interaction of the atmosphere.

EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP
Deserts

Presenter: Larry Shapiro
Presentation Date: October 1, 2026

The Arabic word sahra (Sahara) is defined as “a desolate land to be traversed as quickly as possible.” I can’t do justice to this vast topic in one class, but I’ll try to keep a leisurely pace while comparing the different kinds of deserts, the histories of some representative deserts and the conditions that desertified (real word!) them. I’m especially interested in the adaptations living things make in order to survive in the desert. I’ll also say a bit about my desert experiences. Because I’ve been careful about when, where and how I visit deserts, I wouldn’t call them “desolate,” but inviting.

EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP
Polar Regions

Presenter: Laraine Mancuso
Presentation Date: October 15, 2026

Let’s spend some time together learning to appreciate the beauty of Antarctica and the Arctic: the land, ocean, sea life and wildlife. We will also look at the interconnectivity of our climate with both Polar regions, and see the impact of climate change and pollution on the them as well.

EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP
Volcanoes

Presenter: Peter Dichter
Presentation Date: October 29, 2026

Volcanoes have shaped both the physical landscape and the broader systems of our planet for millions of years. Formed when magma from beneath the Earth’s crust escapes through vents or fissures, volcanic eruptions release lava, ash, and gases that can dramatically alter surrounding terrain — building new land, mountains, and even entire islands. Their impact extends far beyond the immediate eruption site: volcanic ash can disrupt air travel and bury crops, while gases like sulfur dioxide can influence global climate by reflecting sunlight and temporarily cooling temperatures. Yet volcanic activity enriches soil with minerals that support fertile agricultural regions. Entire civilizations have been obliterated by volcanic explosions so loud that eardrums would be punctured. How can we control their catastrophic destructive powers? We can’t.

EARTH: WHAT’S ON TOP
Landscape Painting and American Manifest Destiny

Presenter: Linda Downs
Presentation Date: November 12, 2026

In the 19th century landscape painting came into its own as a brilliant and respected Romantic genre world-wide. It flourished in American art at the same time that the rapid movement west occurred before and after the Civil War. Art works were commissioned that underscored America’s belief in its manifest destiny while ignoring disastrous consequences of mining, deforestation and the hazards of new settlements.

In 1991 the Smithsonian Museum of American Art organized an exhibition, The West as America: Reinterpreting Images of the Frontier, 1820 – 1920, that analyzed this phenomenon. The exhibition was considered so offensive to the D.C. press and some members of Congress that they proposed closing the exhibition and reducing the museum’s operating budget. We will look at some of the artwork that prompted these responses.