Earth Science

Hydrology is the study of water and how it maneuvers itself around, through, over and into rocks and sand and soil. Ground water when mixed with soil usually turns into mud. I say usually because some soil is so nonporous…
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I’ve got the scoop on the ten deepest lakes on earth, but first I’m going to tease you a bit with some interesting facts you can guess at as you read along. (The answers will be at the bottom of…
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An old saying goes, “Water, water, everywhere but not a drop to drink.” Taken from “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, it sadly rings true in much of the world today. Most people in industrialized nations…
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It has started wars, divided friends and neighbors, and been at the center of human consciousness since there were humans. It stirs passions and causes celebrations. And it is not politics, religion, or relationships. It is potable water. Though there…
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The Loneliest Tortoise: Lonesome George is thought to be the only remaining giant tortoise from the island of Pinta in the Galapagos Islands. George was taken into captivity in 1972 and, in order to preserve the species, the hunt was…
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The sediments in the ocean, which sometimes later become rocks, come from two main sources.  Terrigenous sediments originate from weathering on land and biogenic sediments consist predominately of the skeletons of tiny marine organisms.  Biogenic sediments can provide answers about…
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Dams are designed to be safe and structurally stable even in the most severe weather.  When a dam is built, construction and design engineers work to insure the dam quality.  There is also an inspection process to make certain that…
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The fundamental difference between aquatic and marine life is that aquatic life occurs in any body of water, whereas marine life specifically lives in saltwater environments. Marine organisms often have special adaptations that allow them to thrive in this particular…
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Ocean long waves are disturbances caused by the wind that travel an extremely long way and have a profound effect on ocean circulation.  These can be barotropic waves, which propagate along the surface, and baroclinic waves, which move long a…
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Whether you are an avid sailor or a recreational boater, being out on the water can be safer and more enjoyable when you know common nautical terms.  The language used in the boating world is different from what is used…
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