Image 1/25

@ Childhood Delight
Cocoa Puff begins her experience of Air!
Childhood Delight
Do you still play with bubbles? When washing the dishes and a bubble forms when you squirt the soap, do you laugh or smile in delight? Are you tempted to take some soapy mixture and go for a walk, leaving a trail of bubbles everywhere you go?

Image 2/25

@ Desert Dunes

Blue And Gold Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

Desert Dunes
These ridges in the sands are caused by the action of the wind and are called "dunes". The effect is similar to those found under the sea, where it is the waves that form the dunes. Most windblown sand on the Earth is composed of quartz but gypsum dunes are also found.

Image 3/25

@ Serene Swift
The air in Earth’s atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of lots of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen.
Serene Swift
A lone swift soars in solitude against a backdrop of atmospheric pastel cloud.

Image 4/25

@ Frozen Soap Bubble
A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4000 years, and it has been mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
Frozen Soap Bubble
A study in patience and skill! A soap bubble frozen in the cold frost.

Image 5/25

@ Fun With Bubbles
"Rex, I've got something called "sepia effect" on my camera. I've got a feeling it’s faulty, though. It just makes everything go all brown!”
"Oh, Cocoa Puff, that's what it's supposed to do! See that exhibit over there?"
Fun With Bubbles
Wintertime is a time to play outdoors and if it is cold enough you can make some soapy mixture and blow bubbles. Watch as ice forms and races around the interior of the bubble. These are delicate and won’t last long as cracks appear letting the air out and then the bubble is gone.

Image 6/25

@ Soapy Bubbles of Fun
"Did you know you can start a fire with ice, Cocoa Puff?" asked Lepus.
"How on earth do you do that?" queried Cocoa Puff.
"Well, you need a disc of clear ice shaped into a lens, then use it as you would a magnifying glass to shine the sun's rays onto flammable material, such as dry grass."
Soapy Bubbles of Fun
The iridescence of a soap bubbles, which seem to contain a wealth of changing colour, stem from light striking the bubble from varied angles.

Image 7/25

@ Train In The Mist
Air pollution is measured with the Air Quality Index, or AQI. The lower the AQI, the cleaner the air is. However, if you are outside when the AQI is over 100, it’s about the same as breathing in exhaust from a car all day! Things that cause poor air quality are forest fires and cities with lots of car traffic. If the AQI is higher than 100 you shouldn’t spend too much time outside.
Train In The Mist
Who has dreamed of taking a train? Sitting in a swaying car—listening to the clatter of steel wheels on steel tracks. You watch the miles go by as you pass through tunnels and forests—and look down on rivers far below.

Image 8/25

@ Sunset Bubble
"After the Great Fire of London in 1666, businessmen started house insurance companies. They had to be careful because if another fire started they could lose a lot of money. To get around this, they ended up hiring their own fire brigade just in case a fire did start! This is when the first brigade started."
"It sounds a bit hit-and-miss, Cocoa Puff!" remarked Toby.
"It was, yes. Any of the insurance companies' fire brigades weren't allowed to put out a fire of a house which was insured with a different company!"
"They'd just watch it burn, then, Cocoa Puff?"
"Well—I guess that was how it went, Toby, yes!"
Sunset Bubble
The sunset is seen through the body of a bubble, slightly magnifying the setting sun.

Image 9/25

@ Playful Bubbles
The four elements were even used to described the four temperaments a person could have, and Hippocrates used the four elements to describe the four “humors” found in the body. These theories stated that the temperaments and humors needed to be in balance with each other in order for a person to be well both mentally and physically.
Playful Bubbles
Burbling, gurgling bubbles rise, tickling the toes as you play in the water.

Image 10/25

@ Blue Glacier
"This is an extremely varied set of exhibits, Cocoa Puff!" remarked Snowilicious. "We're going from really cosy pictures of pets to amazing scenic landscapes!"
Blue Glacier
Over many decades a vcontinuing build-up of snow results in the presence of a large enough mass of snow for the change from snow to glacier ice to begin. The age of the oldest glacier ice in Antarctica may approach 1,000,000 years old! Glacier ice is blue because the red (long wavelengths) part of white light is absorbed by ice and the blue (short wavelengths) light is transmitted and scattered. The longer the path light travels in ice, the more blue it appears.

Image 11/25

@ Swift in Flight
Cocoa Puff and b-rok were entranced on reaching this exhibit and eagerly posed for a picture standing on either side!
Swift in Flight
Soaring through the grey clouds, this swift has the freedom of the sky to itself.

Image 12/25

@ Make a Wish Puffballs
"Wind speed is measured with a device called an anemometer. There's a project here for making an anemometer, Cocoa Puff. We could try it out tonight when we get back to the accommodation."
"Goodness, Balthazar! Isn't it terribly technical and scientific to do that?" queried Cocoa Puff.
Balthazar studied the diagram helpfully provided in the brochure. "Nah. It seems to be made of empty yoghurt cartons and stuff. We'll give it a go!"
Make a Wish Puffballs
Golden dandelions in bloom are a lovely sight (especially for bees!). Eventually, all those beautiful flowers turn into white globes of exposed seeds that are often called puffballs. Dandelions are so success at growing because their puffballs disperse their seeds over long distances in a stiff breeze. Some dandelions don't need to wait for the wind, though. As dandelions turn to seed, perhaps you will pick them, close your eyes, make a wish, and blow the seeds into the air!

Image 13/25

@ Cruising Cranes
The air in Earth’s atmosphere is made up of approximately 78 percent nitrogen and 21 percent oxygen. Air also has small amounts of lots of other gases, too, such as carbon dioxide, neon, and hydrogen.
Cruising Cranes
The crane is a graceful, elegant bird. It plays an important role in Japanese symbolism, representing positive change and associated with the New Year in various cultures. Crane symbolism focuses on the need for balance and living in harmony with others.

Image 14/25

@ Strawberry with Bubbly
The doldrums is a wind-free area around the equator where sailing ships used to get stuck for weeks. Hence the phrase ‘in the doldrums’.
Strawberry with Bubbly
Imagine a ripe, luscious strawberry dropped into a tall glass of sparkling wine or champagne, imparting a subtle fruity flavour into every delicious sip!

Image 15/25

@ Cloud Walking
Oh look ... you won a pet!
Cloud Walking
These clouds are so inviting, fluffy and soft. I wonder how it would feel to walk upon the clouds. Would the feet sink deep into the cloud or would your feet skim lightly across the top? Would you become tired like you do if you walk for a long time on the ground, or would you be able to walk and never tire, no matter how far you went?

Image 16/25

@ Two Heart Kites
"What two elements is water made up of, Cocoa Puff?" asked Smoothie.
"That's easy: hydrogen and oxygen!"
"Correct, Cocoa Puff! Two parts of hydrogen to one part oxygen, making the element name H2O."
Two Heart Kites
Two red hearts flying high are a joyful sight, and flying kites is always such a fun pastime. The day is clear, and the breeze is steady—let’s join these happy people and fly some kites of our own.

Image 17/25

@ Diving Polar Bear
A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4000 years, and it has been mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
Diving Polar Bear
Polar bears are of course very good swimmers and they have excellent eyesight when underwater. A polar bear will stay in a dive underwater for as long as it can hold its breath, which will usually be about a minute but can be up to three minutes! Their fur is made of hollow hairs, which helps them stay afloat when swimming.

Image 18/25

@ On The Air
"Why do we get sea breezes, Cocoa Puff?" queried Sonata.
Cocoa Puff looked baffled. "I don't know, Sonata! We just do!"
Sonata read out from the brochure: " 'Sea breezes occur because heat from the sun takes longer to warm the sea than the land, creating a difference in air pressure.' So—there it is."
On The Air
"You're on the air!" This familiar phrase from the world of radio broadcasting—or wireless broadcasting for those of us with very long memories!—is as familiar as the iconic red sign that lights up in the studio, to remind broadcasters that anything they say will be heard by their audience, be it local or around the world.

Image 19/25

@ Air Bubbles
"Depending on their strength, winds can be known as a breeze, gale, storm or hurricane. Wind is caused by differences in air pressure. Air rushes from high pressure areas to lower ones," remarked Cocoa Puff.
"Mm-hmm?" responded Granny Violet McKillop.
Air Bubbles
Bubbles are fascinating, and they can teach a lot about elasticity, surface tension, chemistry, light, and even geometry. Not just pretty spheres that float in the air when playing with soap on a warm day.

Image 20/25

@ Bubbles Everywhere
"It says in our tour guide that 96.5% of water on Earth is in our oceans, covering 71% of the surface of our planet," remarked Cocoa Puff.
"That's amazing, Cocoa Puff!" responded BRUNO.
Bubbles Everywhere
Like a kid's dream of so many marbles. Whether these bubbles can be played with or put in the bottom of a fish tank, they look fun to run your hands through.

Image 21/25

@ Above It All
"Hey, this is interesting, Cocoa Puff!" declared Kiki. "It says here that if the entire world’s water were fit into a 4 litre jug, the fresh water available for humans and pets would equal only about one tablespoon."
Cocoa Puff fidgeted with the corner of her brochure. "I'm not sure I follow, Kiki!"
"It's a proportion thing, Cocoa Puff. Nearly 97% of the world’s water is salty or otherwise undrinkable. Another 2% is locked in ice caps and glaciers. That leaves just 1% for all of our needs!"
Above It All
You are drifting along in a balloon high above towns, forests, and lakes. The sun is rising as mist rises from the ground. There is a sense of forever as the expanse of the sky goes on and on.

Image 22/25

@ Reflections In A Bubble
The doldrums is a wind-free area around the equator where sailing ships used to get stuck for weeks. Hence the phrase ‘in the doldrums’.
Reflections In A Bubble
Reflections distort the everyday, when seen through the swirling colours of a bubble, the whole becomes incredible.

Image 23/25

@ Blue Sky Aeroplane
"A trivia question for you, Iolanthe!" announced Cocoa Puff. "Who is the largest consumer of fireworks in the United States?"
Iolanthe pondered. "I don't know, Cocoa Puff, who is it?"
"It's Walt Disney World. The park launches the fireworks with compressed air instead of gunpowder to reduce fumes and gain better height and timing."
Blue Sky Aeroplane
Up, up and away! Does this aeroplane carry groups of happy pets jetting off on holiday? Or perhaps businesspets going on international meetings? Whatever their destination, we wish them a safe journey!

Image 24/25

@ Red Arrows Daredevils
A natural gas vent in Iraq known as The Eternal Fire has been burning continuously for over 4000 years, and it has been mentioned by Herodotus, Plutarch and in the Old Testament Book of Daniel.
Red Arrows Daredevils
The Red Arrows team of the British Royal Air Force carry out a heart-stopping aerobatic display here!

Image 25/25

@ Royal Air Force Red Arrows Team
As Cocoa Puff's experience of "Air" comes to an end, she receives a wonderful gift!
Pine Tree, Blue, Overlay
You can use this wonderful overlay as a backdrop in your art slides, or in the foreground for your pets to scamper around. Trees, glorious trees, there is always room for more trees in your life and your art.

Royal Air Force Red Arrows Team
The famous Red Arrows aerobatic team provide an exciting show here in Newcastle on Tyne, England.
Cocoa Puff has completed her exploration of "Air"! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also explore the Elements!