On a similar long timescale is world book's coverage of the problem of species extinction . From the Earth to the atmosphere, volcanoes can have a huge effect on climate. The University of Wisconsin show satellite images of the 10 most active volcanoes in the world , updated every half hour. For a wider view of volcanoes, see the Smithsonian Institution's Global Volcanism Program or the University of North Dakota's Volcano World . The environmentally conscious might like to check out the DOE's Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Developments's site on green buildings .
Fires can affect weather, and vice-versa.
For many relevant references, look in the Firenet Virtual Library Weather Page . The British Atmospheric Data Centre is a useful resource for archival data, both from recent atmospheric projects and for historical data. The state of the cryosphere site from the National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Colorado is a fascinating inventory of solid water around the world, monitored particulary for its impact on climate change. On a tiny scale, a look at the exquisite electron micrographs of snow crystals will tell you that real life is always more complex than textbook diagrams. Somewhat specialist is the International Arctic Buoy Programme that maintains a network of automatic data buoys that have been reporting surface air temperatures, ice movement and much more in the Artic Basin.