Earth Science

Earthquake ! ! ! The ground suddenly moves, readjusts, resettles, and then, later on, moves again…all a part of the planet’s shifting plate tectonics. An earthquake is a terrifying and destructive tragedy, but, aftershocks, the shocks that reoccur many times…
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It all begins with columbite-tantalite, which is a dull, black metallic ore. Columbite and tantalite are usually found grouped together and the two minerals can have many names, both scientific and industrial. Columbite can be called niobite, niobite-tantalite or columbate….
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The earth is changing, with less ice present at the poles, and less water in many of the world’s largest lakes. Whether this change is a natural event or man made is something that is often debated, although the fact…
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It is the classic image of a volcano: a tall mountain that looms over the surrounding countryside, growing progressively steeper as one approaches the summit. There, a large crater marks the spot from which past eruptions have issued.  In erupting, the…
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The ionosphere is an electrified region in the upper atmosphere where large quantities of free electrons, charged atoms and molecules exist. The ionosphere lies in a region 60-1000 km (37-621 miles) and beyond the atmosphere and is entirely ionized by…
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The words “lava” and “magma” both refer to molten rock that has been melted by the extreme temperatures miles below the earth’s surface. When it’s underground, liquid rock is called “magma.” If this red-hot liquid make its way to the…
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During the 1980s Lake Monoun and Lake Nyos in Cameroon exploded. Lake Monoun exploded on August 15, 1984 with witnesses describing a loud noise, and a gas cloud that emanated from part of the lake. 37 people were killed, with…
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Age, Structure and Composition of the Earth Geology is the study of the Earth, its rocks and minerals and the dynamic processes involving their formation and change. Geological events affect us all to a greater or lesser extent even if…
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Global climate change is a gradual temperature rise or fall over time. Ice ages come and go, warming trends come and go. But human-made global climate change (or warming) is completely different.  Human-made global warming, the trends of three decades…
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There is abundant life under the ice and researchers can prove it. In Alaska waters there is abundant life despite the low temperatures. Scientists have discovered phytoplankton in these icy waters. Photosynthetic marine plants also grow in these Arctic waters….
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