Earth Science

The complex ecology of the honeybee colony is both beautiful and fascinating. I had the rare pleasure of having apiaries while I was growing up. Honeybees are amazing! Begin with the honeycomb. Bees build a hive that is made of…
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Rocks are composed of minerals and crystals that can be tested for some of the common features that identify the “ingredients” of the rock. The basic tests that are done on rocks help to identify the components of the rock…
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It is heavy with GHG, green house gases, but is the sky really falling?  Alarmists, as they are often called, say the alarms are not loud enough.  However, they say it quietly, in journals, graphs and near silent circulation. The…
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By now, most people who watch or read the news have a basic idea of what a blowout preventer is.  Ask anyone on the street and answers will probably sound something like, “It’s a valve that malfunctioned or wasn’t shut…
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Question of the [11th?] Hour Re Katla Volcano Today was the 28th of April, 2010.  At the time of the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano over 10 days ago, mention was made that the eruption of neighboring Katla volcano (and…
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A blowout preventer valve (BOP) is a safety valve that is mounted on top of the surface wellhead that is being bored for oil or natural gas. The valve is usualy closed to prevent the pressurised underground fluids from flowing…
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Not many people were aware of the existence of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano until its eruption made headlines across the world . It all began on April 14, 2010 when this almost unpronounceable volcano located in Iceland, started rabidly shooting smoke…
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Most sedimentary rocks are formed by layers of sediment accumulating on top of each other over time. Chemical sedimentary rocks form as the result of minerals in water. As water evaporates it leaves behind these mineral deposits in a crystallized…
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Geoengineering is a controversial proposal to manipulate Earth’s climate in an effort to reduce global warming. As an emerging technology, geoengineering still requires intensive scientific research to determine whether it will be a viable long term solution to the ever-changing…
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Wetlands not only provide a valuable habitat for many species but also serve vital functions in flood control. Wetlands have a far greater absorbent capacity than non wetland areas. This sponge effect allows for rainwater to collect and be stored…
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