on October 4, 2022
What is the metamorphic field gradient useful for?
Earth scienceAsked by: Jude Clausen What is a metamorphic field gradient? A metamorphic field gradient (MFG) is defined by the array of maximum temperature conditions preserved by a series of exposed rocks which underwent a common orogenic evolution. What is geothermal gradient in geology? The geothermal gradient is defined as the increase in temperature with depth
on October 4, 2022
Dynamic of glacier retreat? (here: in Greenland)
Earth scienceAsked by: Sierra Anderson What happens during glacier retreat? Glacial retreat leaves boulders and masses of scraped-together rocky debris and soil called glacial moraines. Large temporary lakes of glacial meltwater may rupture, causing catastrophic floods and even shifting global climate by dumping freshwater into the oceans and so altering their circulation. Why are Greenland glaciers
on October 4, 2022
What is difference between an atmospheric model and a climate model?
Earth scienceAsked by: Sierra Anderson What is the difference between climate models and weather models? Essentially, climate models are an extension of weather forecasting. But whereas weather models make predictions over specific areas and short timespans, climate models are broader and analyze long timespans. They predict how average conditions will change in a region over the
on October 4, 2022
Are Bond cycles Dansgaard-Oeschger event(s)?
Earth scienceAsked by: Grant Raymer What caused the Dansgaard-Oeschger? The events may be caused by an amplification of solar forcings, or by a cause internal to the earth system – either a “binge-purge” cycle of ice sheets accumulating so much mass they become unstable, as postulated for Heinrich events, or an oscillation in deep ocean currents
on October 4, 2022
Why is there a logarithmic grid on this plot?
Earth scienceAsked by: Grant Raymer Why use a logarithmic scale on a graph? There are two main reasons to use logarithmic scales in charts and graphs. The first is to respond to skewness towards large values; i.e., cases in which one or a few points are much larger than the bulk of the data. The second
on October 4, 2022
Ocean Greenhouse Gases Released by Meteorite Impact
Earth scienceAsked by: Lawrence Herrington What is meteorite impact in the ocean? Comets, meteorites or asteroids impacting against the planets are not unusual events. It is well known that such an impact on the ocean will produce large waves (tsunamis) that propagate away from the impact site up to reach the coastal areas (Wünnemann and Weiss
on October 4, 2022
Why does the Earth have six atmospheric bands?
Earth scienceAsked by: Lawrence Herrington Does the atmosphere have 6 layers? Earth’s atmosphere has five major and several secondary layers. From lowest to highest, the major layers are the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere and exosphere. Troposphere. Why are the 5 layers of the atmosphere important? These five different layers provide protection and also make life possible
on October 4, 2022
Is there a conventional name for when wind speed increases as a result of a large descending air mass?
Earth scienceAsked by: Alan Stewart What is the wind that blows at a higher speed called? Short bursts of high speed wind are termed gusts. Strong winds of intermediate duration (around one minute) are termed squalls. Long-duration winds have various names associated with their average strength, such as breeze, gale, storm, and hurricane. What causes an
on October 4, 2022
Is volume of air increasing as CO2 levels increase?
Earth scienceAsked by: Alan Stewart What happens when CO2 increases in the air? By adding more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, people are supercharging the natural greenhouse effect, causing global temperature to rise. How much CO2 is in the air by volume? The concentration of carbon dioxide in Earth’s atmosphere is currently at nearly 412 parts
on October 4, 2022
How often does the moon “set” for us compared to the sun?
Earth scienceAsked by: Chelsea Perry Does the Moon set in the same place as the Sun? Like the sun, the moon rises in the east and sets in the west (with some exceptions for observers in earth’s extreme northern and southern regions). Like the sun, the moon doesn’t move across our sky quite as fast as