on October 3, 2022
Could saltwater be useful for greening deserts and sequestering CO2?
Earth scienceAsked by: Jim Moss What would happen if we pump ocean water into the desert? However, pumping sea water and releasing it underground within the Sahara desert may counteract global rising sea levels and promote vegetation amenable to high temperatures that may in turn reduce warm air streams that would otherwise result in eastern super
on October 3, 2022
Does long-term exposure to ocean water change the chemical structure of plastic into ocean plastic?
Earth scienceAsked by: Luis Estrada What happens to plastic in the ocean over time? Once the plastic is in the ocean, it decomposes very slowly, breaking into tiny pieces known as microplastics, which can enter the marine food chain and become incredibly damaging to sea life. The main source of ocean plastic pollution is land-based—80% of
on October 3, 2022
Oceanic-atmospheric coupling between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean basins
Earth scienceAsked by: Luis Estrada What connects the Pacific and Indian oceans? The upper ocean circulation of the Pacific and Indian Oceans is connected through both the Indonesian Throughflow north of Australia and the Tasman leakage around its south. Is the Indian Ocean connected to the Pacific Ocean? The Indian Ocean joins the Pacific Ocean to
on October 3, 2022
Why is diabase/dolerite erosion resistant?
Earth scienceAsked by: Janelle Froemming What is unique about diabase? Diabase is an intrusive igneous rock with the same mineral composition as basalt. It cools under basaltic volcanoes, like those at mid-ocean ridges. Diabase cools moderately quickly when magma moves up into fractures and weak zones below a volcano. What is the importance of diabase rock?
on October 3, 2022
How large were Mars’ ocean tides and to what extent could they keep the oceans mixing and tend to keep salinity uniform? Has this been modeled?
Earth scienceAsked by: Janelle Froemming How did Mars go from having oceans? It is now thought that the canyons filled with water, and at the end of the Noachian Period the Martian ocean disappeared, and the surface froze for approximately 450 million years. How deep would Oceans be on Mars? about 330 to 4,920 feet Prior
on October 3, 2022
Limitations on mineral precipitation from solution
Earth scienceAsked by: Neil Edwards What happens when a mineral precipitates from solution? Precipitation is the reverse process, in which ions in solution come together to form solid minerals. Precipitation is dependent on the concentration of ions in solution and other factors such as temperature and pressure. The point at which a solvent cannot hold any
on October 3, 2022
Why are there different vertical gradients of temperature in different layers of the atmosphere?
Earth scienceAsked by: Neil Edwards Temperature rises with altitude in the stratosphere because this is where the ozone layer exists. The troposphere is primarily heated from below. In contrast, the stratosphere is primarily heated from within via absorption of ultraviolet sunlight by oxygen and ozone. Why do the different layers of the atmosphere have different temperature
on October 3, 2022
What would happen if Earth suddenly stopped rotating and revolving at the same time?
Earth scienceAsked by: Chris Pederson At the Equator, the earth’s rotational motion is at its fastest, about a thousand miles an hour. If that motion suddenly stopped, the momentum would send things flying eastward. Moving rocks and oceans would trigger earthquakes and tsunamis. The still-moving atmosphere would scour landscapes. What will happen if the Earth stops
on October 3, 2022
How much energy would be required to actively reduce the temperature of the oceans of Earth by 1℃?
Earth scienceAsked by: Alejandra Miller How much energy would it take to heat the ocean by 1 degree? Making a rough approximation, assuming the specific heat capacity of sea water is about 3,900 Joules per kg per degrees Celsius and the total mass of the oceans is 1.4×1021kg this would mean that it would take 5.5×1024Joules
on October 3, 2022
What type of mammal does this fossil tooth belong to?
Earth scienceAsked by: Alejandra Miller What type of teeth are found in mammals? Most mammals have three kinds of teeth: incisors used for grabbing, cutting and gnawing; canines used for stabbing and tearing; and premolars and molars for grinding and shearing. The type of teeth a mam- mal has will determine how and what it can