The round stamp is the third Global Forever stamp issued. Released on Earth Day, this stamp was inspired by a model by NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) of the earth’s climate. It shows one frame in a 1,460-frame animation of Earth’s climate. North America is in the center with portions of South America, Asia, and Europe along the edges. Benjamin Franklin made some of the first scientific studies of the Atlantic Ocean’s surface temperature on his voyages from North America to Europe. His simple measurements, using a mercury thermometer, laid the foundation for further experiments on ocean temperatures and their effect on weather. The surface temperature of the ocean varies daily, influenced by sunlight, wind, and the seasons. Warmer waters, in turn, create changes in the weather, causing typhoons and hurricanes to form or intensify. These disturbances lower the ocean temperatures by mixing colder deep water with the warmer waves at the surface. In the Pacific Ocean, a long-term warming of a few degrees can trigger an El Niño weather pattern. As warm water travels east, it causes droughts in southern Asia and Australia and increased rainfall in the southwestern U.S. The conditions can last up to two years, having a serious impact on the fishing industry as well as harvests along the shores. Continued study, including the use of satellite images, provides a better understanding of weather patterns. This knowledge leads to advanced warnings, allowing preparations for unusual weather events. Still, scientists know they can never control the forces of nature affecting the temperatures of the Earth’s oceans. Tensions ran high during the 1960s as segregation and violence against African Americans were spreading unchecked in the South. Civil rights demonstrations calling for equality swept the nation. The most famous was the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The march was organized by the “Big Six” – civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King, Jr., A. Philip Randolph, and John Lewis. Among the stated goals of the day were: passing civil rights legislation, ending segregation in schools, protecting against police brutality, and increasing access to jobs. Several popular entertainers also turned out to perform in support of the cause, including Marian Anderson, Joan Baez, and Bob Dylan. The most noted event of the day was the “I Have a Dream” speech by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The largest demonstration ever held in the nation’s capital up to that time, the March on Washington was widely televised and gained national attention. It was largely responsible for the passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. This major success was a crucial step in granting the equal rights Americans enjoy today.