Earth Science

The lithosphere is made of tectonic plates. These plates move around the Earth’s surface, constantly drifting apart and crashing together. There are 12 tectonic plates in total. These 12 plates float on the liquid magma of the asthenosphere and are…
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The seas had already been sailed for centuries, and a small amount of research had been conducted on the Gulf Stream, formation of atolls and the use of chronometers to map out latitude and longitude. Even so, the launching of…
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As little as a hundred years ago, earthquakes were thought to be spawned by demons or deities. The mere thought that something as solid and obviously stationary as the ground we stood on could actually be moving was considered ludicrous….
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Man’s knowledge of, and explanation of earthquakes is constantly evolving as more is learned about the earth. A thousand years ago, the commonly accepted explanation ranged from angry gods to great creatures that writhed and churned, causing the temblors. Little…
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You may have seen the Discovery Channel special on the supervolcano underneath Yellowstone. I know I didn’t know anything about supervolcanoes or that there was anything under Yellowstone until I saw that special. Since seeing it though I’ve done a…
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Even volcanic eruptions that are considered minor can cause a great deal of damage, eject hundreds or thousands of tons of ash, rock, or lava, and have the potential to be very deadly. Generally, volcanic eruptions are classified as minor,…
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The knowledge about earthquakes and the science of seismology has come a very long way in the last couple centuries. Back then, all quakes were deemed to be retribution by an angry God or gods. The idea that there might…
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Forecasting hurricanes is a complicated process, but one that holds out hope that many lives could possibly be saved. Like any dangerous situation, the more warning that can be given, the more likely that those in potential harm can reach…
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Many geographers subdivide the world’s oceans into the seven seas. There are the North Pacific Ocean, the South Pacific Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the South Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Southern Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Geologists think…
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Does global warming exist? Is it caused by man? If warming is caused by human activity, what activities are those? According to NOAA and NASA reports, global warming stopped in 1997. Since then the global temperatures have remained the same…
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