Coastal processes represent a careful balancing act between erosion and the deposition of sediment. A sandy beach is the often ephemeral record of a period when the process of deposition dominates. Sand, fine-grained sediment usually composed of quartz grains, is washed…
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Have you experienced a cold winter, a really, really cold winter? If you have, it is possible that you have experienced a rare geological event known as a frost quake. Unlike earthquakes, frost quakes are non-tectonic seismic events, meaning that…
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Every living thing needs to get energy from somewhere. This can be from making the energy out of sunlight, or by consuming another living thing. Ultimately, all energy comes from the sun. The energy then works it way up different…
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A frost quake can seem like an earthquake, or like a nearby explosion. The ground trembles, vibrates, and cracks, often with an explosive boom or a sound like rolling thunder. Flashing lights or lightning are sometimes reported in association with…
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Fire Cloud A pyrocumulus cloud, which is often grayish to brown in color, is formed during volcanic eruptions and large forest fires. This type of cloud is a dense cumuliform cloud, this means it has strong vertical development and clearly…
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According to the United Nations, the declining water quality has become a global issue, which affects human health in a significant manner. Among the factors which contribute to a decline in the water quality include the population growth, expansion of …
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Tidal waves, or tsunami, are waves that differ from winds caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon or oceanic winds. Although also a natural trigger, tidal waves are created by underwater disturbances or above water events. Also, tidal waves…
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The name the Southern Ocean is a somewhat controversial name that is not universally recognized for the body of water that encircles Antarctica. Unlike the other oceans, the boundary of the Southern Ocean is defined by currents rather than land…
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The Appalachian Mountains are a mountain range in Eastern North America that cross through a number of states and Canada. While most people have heard of the Appalachian Mountains, they have had both historical and geographic significance that has helped shape the…
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There are four major problems with attempting to identify or to confirm toxicity in oil dispersants that are being used in the BP oil spill of 2010: Ability to prove whether it is the dispersant or the oil that is toxic;…
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