Category: Earth science

Compaction in the Rock Cycle: Understanding the Process Behind Sedimentary Rock Formation

What is compaction in the rock cycle? Compaction is a critical process in the rock cycle that involves the gradual compression of sedimentary rock. This process is responsible for the creation of many types of sedimentary rocks, including sandstone, shale, and limestone. Understanding the process of compaction is essential in comprehending the formation of sedimentary

Marine surface currents

What can debris tell us about surface currents? The ocean surface is in motion. One way to realize that is when you dump something into the ocean. Where does it end up? The tsunami that hit Japan in March 2011 washed a lot of stuff into the ocean. The image above is a model created

What are the relative contributions of planets to the Milankovitch Cycles?

Asked by: George Long What contributes to Milankovitch cycles? This wobble is due to tidal forces caused by the gravitational influences of the Sun and Moon that cause Earth to bulge at the equator, affecting its rotation. The trend in the direction of this wobble relative to the fixed positions of stars is known as

What is the reason why there are radiosonde measurements in the atmosphere?

Asked by: George Long What is the purpose of a radiosonde? The radiosonde is a small instrument package that is suspended below balloon filled with either hydrogen or helium. As the radiosonde is carried aloft it measures pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. How does a radiosonde help predict the weather? A transmitter on the radiosonde

How can I describe this data using a graph?

A graph is a graphical representation of data. Visualizing data through graphs helps to detect patterns, trends, relationships, and structures in data. Use graphs in conjunction with maps to explore data or help tell a story. Graphs can be created from both tabular and raster data, and there is a different set of graphs for

Coriolis force in atmospheric/ocean modeling

Asked by: Ashley Alexander What is the role of Coriolis force in atmospheric movement? Outside storm systems, the impact of the Coriolis effect helps define regular wind patterns around the globe. As warm air rises near the Equator, for instance, it flows toward the poles. In the Northern Hemisphere, these warm air currents are deflected

What are these lake-like blue patches in the desert, visible in satellite image?

Asked by: Ashley Alexander What Colour is water in satellite images? Water absorbs light, so it is usually black or dark blue. Sediment reflects light and colors the water. When suspended sand or mud is dense, the water looks brown. How can I view live satellite images? From near real-time satellite views to live feeds,

Lightning moving close to the ground in Magalia, CA last July, months before the Camp Fire

Asked by: Amber Fierro Which state of the USA has been recently affected with lightning sparked fires? California (CNN) Dry lightning has ignited some of the most destructive and costly wildfires in California history, a new study shows. Can forest fires be caused by lightning? Additionally, many rangeland and grass fires are caused by lightning.

How did Australia separate from India?

Asked by: Amber Fierro It was formed by the fusion of Indian and Australian platesAustralian platesThe Australian Plate is a major tectonic plate in the eastern and, largely, southern hemispheres. Originally a part of the ancient continent of Gondwana, Australia remained connected to India and Antarctica until approximately 100 million years ago when India broke

How global was the Bonarelli Oceanic Anoxic Event?

Asked by: Derreck Phutane When did ocean anoxic events occur? It’s known as Oceanic Anoxic Event 2. The Mesozoic era, stretching from 252 to 66 million years ago, is sometimes mistakenly thought of as sort of long and uneventful Pax Dinosauria—a stable, if alien world. But the period was occasionally punctuated by severe climate and

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