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A Little Girl's Message-in-a-Bottle Became a Surprising Find 26 Years Later
Smithsonian
New Full Sun Views Show Sunspots, Fields and Restless Plasma
The European Space Agency

Four new images show our nearest star in dazzling detail, with each one made up of 25 shots observed by the Solar Orbiter in 2023. Images from ESA.

Glaciers Near Active Volcanoes Flow Faster
EOS Science News
From the article: A study of more than 210,000 glaciers suggests that monitoring glacier velocity could help predict volcanic activity.
Mexico's Proposed Higher Mining Royalties Could Block Nearly $7bn in Investments
Mining.com
South Africa Police Standoff with Illegal Gold Miners Escalates
Mining.com
Gold Price Rises for Third Consecutive Day on Escalating Russia-Ukraine Tensions
Reuters
From the article: "Gold prices climbed for a third consecutive session to mark a one-week high on Wednesday, as investors sought refuge in the safe-haven metal amid mounting geopolitical unease fueled by escalating Russia-Ukraine tensions."
The Many Uses of Gold
Geology.com

The United States government currently mints coins from gold and other precious metals; however, they are intended for investment and collecting. They are not intended for use as legal tender.

DNA Evidence Rewrites Stories of Victims Who Perished in Pompeii Nearly 2,000 Years Ago
Smithsonian
From the article: "A new study has shattered historians' long-held assumptions about some of the people who died in the Mount Vesuvius eruption of 79 C.E."
Signs of Sea Level Rise in the Bahamas
NASA Earth Observatory
From the article: "Rising seas in the Bahamas have redistributed cyanobacterial mats blanketing part of Andros Island and restructured the island's marshes and mudflats."
Tracking 30 Years of Sea Level Rise
NASA Earth Observatory

From the article: "Global mean sea level has risen 101 millimeters (3.98 inches) since 1992, and it continues to do so at 3.9 mm (0.15 inches) per year." Video Image Cover by NASA with data provided by TOPEX/Poseidon.

Bans on Gallium and Germanium Exports Could Cost the U.S. Billions
United States Geological Survey
How the Suez Canal Transformed the World's Shipping Routes
Smithsonian

From the article: "The massive global shortcut linking the Mediterranean and Red Seas took ten years to dig through the Isthmus of Suez and was built on the path of an ancient canal."

Pompeii Introduces New Limits on Daily Visitors to Protect the Ancient City From Overtourism
Smithsonian
Geologic Map of the State of Hawai'i in PDF Format
United States Geological Survey

USGS has published a geologic map of Hawai'i in PDF format. The five-sheet collection is accompanied by a 72-page report that presents the geologic history of the islands with special attention given to the major volcanoes. Image by USGS.

Residents and Environmental Groups Urge New Jersey to Take Action in Water Emergency
NJ.com
Shell Wins Landmark Climate Case Against Green Groups in Dutch Appeal
BBC
Sizing Up a Greenland Tsunami
NASA Earth Observatory

Satellite data show the shape of a wave as water sloshed around Dickson Fjord - along the eastern coast of Greenland - after a rockslide triggered a tsunami in September 2023. Image by NASA Earth Observatory.

Where Is Greenland?
Geology.com

Greenland is the world's largest island. It is located between the North Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean. Most of Greenland is north of the Arctic Circle and the entire island is north of the 10 degree C isotherm and the arctic treeline. Map by the CIA World Factbook.

World's Tallest Tsunami - Lituya Bay, Alaska - a Record Run-Up Height of 1720 Feet
Geology.com

DNA Evidence Rewrites Stories of Victims Who Died in Pompeii -- 2,000 Years Ago
Smithsonian
Mount Vesuvius: The Volcano that Buried Pompeii
Geology.com

Plaster casts of people who died in the city of Pompeii during the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. They were buried in volcanic ash. Image: Garden of the Fugitives. This photo was taken by Lancevortex and is distributed under a GNU Free Documentation License.

Panama Canal Says Shipping Rebound Is Underway After Record Drought
CNBC.com

After experiencing significant disruptions from a drought, the Panama Canal has developed a new business model - one that will move a maximum amount of freight per volume of water. They are also using climate forecasts to guide the canal's operation. If you think the Panama Canal is a sleepy operation, please watch the video in this article. Map by Geology.com.

Malaysia Energy Report
Energy Information Administration

Malaysia is the second-highest producer of petroleum and other liquids in Southeast Asia and the fifth-highest exporter of liquefied natural gas globally in 2023. Malaysia is strategically located in the South China Sea and borders the Malacca Strait, both of which are important maritime routes for energy trade. Chart by the Energy Information Administration.

Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki Spews Ash
NASA Earth Observatory

In early November 2024, a series of explosive, deadly eruptions occurred at Mount Lewotobi Laki-Laki -- a volcano on the Indonesian island of Flores. A particularly strong eruption on November 3 sent hot volcanic ash as high as 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) into the air around midnight, some of which fell on several surrounding villages. Satellite image by NASA Earth Observatory.

A Week of Rain Across Spain
NASA Earth Observatory

Recurring storms between October 29 and November 4 produced destructive flooding in the southwest of Spain and along its eastern coast. Map by NASA Earth Observatory.

Magnitude 6.8 Earthquake Strikes about 40 Kilometers Off the Coast of Southeastern Cuba
United States Geological Survey

Map showing the epicenter of the 6.8 earthquake that struck off the coast of southeastern Cuba on November 10, 2024. The earthquake occurred in the Cayman Trough, a slab of crust caught between the North American plate to the north and the Caribbean Plate to the South. This is an active earthquake zone responsible for many deadly earthquakes. Map by the United States Geological Survey.

Map of the Caribbean Sea
Geology.com

Map of the Caribbean Sea showing surrounding land masses of northern South America, southern Central America, and the United States.

Plate Tectonics Map
Geology.com

The map above shows names and generalized locations of Earth's major tectonic plates. These plates move and interact with one another to produce earthquakes, volcanoes, mountain ranges, ocean trenches and other geologic processes and features. Map prepared by the United States Geological Survey.

Oldest and Largest Impact Crater Found on Venus
Sky & Telescope
Drought Expands Across the U.S.
Drought Monitor at the NASA Earth Observatory

From the article: "Unusually dry conditions gripped over half the contiguous United States in October 2024. On October 29, abnormal dryness and drought affected over 78 percent of the American population -- the highest percentage in the U.S. Drought Monitor's 25-year-long record." Map by NASA Earth Observatory.

The South Pole of Jupiter, As Seen by NASA's Juno Spacecraft From an Altitude of 32,000 Miles
NASA's JunoCam Images

The south pole of Jupiter, as seen by NASA's Juno spacecraft when it was at an altitude of 32,000 miles. The oval features are cyclones, up to 600 miles in diameter. Multiple images taken with the JunoCam instrument on three separate orbits were combined to show all areas in daylight, enhanced color, and stereographic projection. Satellite image by NASA.

More Images from NASA's JunoCam - Plus Images Enhanced by Members of the Public
NASA JunoCam

The Juno mission's visible-light camera, JunoCam, has captured unprecedented pictures of Jupiter's poles, cloud-tops, and moons, as well as the public's attention, imagination, and assistance. From the start, the Juno team invited the public to help choose worthwhile research targets, to process, analyze, and play with raw images, and to produce breathtaking works of science and art. Images from the NASA JunoCam Collection.

Cuba Left Reeling After Hurricane Rafael Ravages the Island and Knocks Out the Power Grid
Associated Press
Eruptions of Hawaiian Volcanoes -- Past, Present, and Future
United States Geological Survey

From the booklet: "The Hawaiian Islands' worldwide image as an idyllic tropical paradise is well deserved. What is less well known, however, is that the islands exist only because of nearly continuous volcanic activity."

This 78-page booklet, by USGS experts, surveys the volcanic history and volcanic hazards of the Hawaiian Islands. Booklet cover by USGS.

Drought Watch / Warning Declared for 35 Pennsylvania Counties
United States Geological Survey

From the article: "USGS groundwater and surface water monitoring data contributed to the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection's (PaDEP) November 1, 2024, declarations of drought watches and warnings for 35 Pennsylvania counties." Map by the United States Geological Survey.

The University of Oxford Is Older Than the Aztec Empire and More Surprising Facts
Smithsonian
The Six Most Amazing Discoveries We've Made About Neptune
Smithsonian
From the article: "Despite the lack of a dedicated mission to the planet, scientists have learned plenty through ground observations and space telescopes."
Voyager 1 Breaks Its Silence With NASA via a Radio Transmitter Not Used Since 1981
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: "Because the probe is currently more than 15 billion miles away - making it the farthest spacecraft from Earth - it takes almost 23 hours for a command to reach the craft and another 23 hours for its response to reach scientists."
Coastal Watches/Warnings and Forecast Cone for Rafael (on 11/5 at 12:28 eastern time)
National Hurricane Center

Please click map above for current information



Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for: the Lower and Middle Florida Keys from Key West to west of the Channel 5 Bridge, Dry Tortugas, Jamaica, Cuba provinces of Villa Clara, Cienfuegos, Sancti Spiritus, and Ciego de Avila.

Hurricane Warnings are in effect for: Cayman Islands; Cuba provinces of Pinar del Rio, Artemisa, La Habana, Mayabeque, Matanzas, Isle of Youth; Jamaica. Map by the National Hurricane Center.

Tropical Storm Rafael Forms in the Caribbean and Is Expected to Become a Hurricane
NBC News
Birthstones for the Month of November: Topaz and Citrine
Geology.com

Topaz is a traditional birthstone for the month of November.

Citrine was added as an alternative November birthstone in 1952.

Mount Lewotobi Laki Laki Erupts in Indonesia, Killing at Least Six People
CNN
Paleontologists Discover Dinosaur Fossils in Hong Kong for the First Time
Smithsonian
From the article: "The first dinosaur fossils discovered in Hong Kong went on display last week."
When Huge Masses of Salt Move Underground: Lessons from Outcrops Go Beyond Table Salt
Blogs of the European Geosciences Union
Relevant website: SaltGiant: Understanding the Mediterranean Salt Giant.
2024 Antarctic Ozone Hole Ranks 7th-Smallest Since Recovery Began
NOAA

The Antarctic ozone hole on September 28, 2024. The ozone hole (dark blue region) is the total area where the amount of ozone in the stratosphere is less than 220 Dobson Units. Image by NOAA and Climate.gov

How USGS Uses Borehole Tiltmeters to Monitor Volcano Activity
United States Geological Survey

Over the past century, technological advancements have vastly improved volcano monitoring. One key innovation was the introduction of modern borehole tiltmeters, devices that measure very small changes in the inclination of the volcano's surface.

Photo showing releveling maintenance being conducted on an analog tiltmeter located near Uekahuna bluff at the summit of Kilauea, within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. USGS image by M. Warren.

NASA's Perseverance Rover Captures a Silhouette of Phobos as It Transits the Sun
NASA on YouTube

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover used its Mastcam-Z camera to capture the silhouette of Phobos, one of the two Martian moons, as it passed in front of the Sun on September. 30, 2024, the 1,285th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. Perseverance has captured several Phobos transits since its landing at Mars' Jezero Crater in February 2021.

Hundreds Are Dead in Spain's Floods. Scientists See a Connection to Climate Change
National Public Radio
From the article: "At least 205 people are dead, and dozens remain missing after flood waters and mud swept through towns and cities in eastern Spain."
How a Year of Rain Fell on Parts of Spain in Eight Hours
Gift Article from the New York Times
From the article: "The region is no stranger to storms like those that caused this week's deluges. But global warming helps them pack a bigger punch, scientists said."
Justin Cuts a Coober Pedy Shell Opal With Unbelievable Color
Black Opal Direct on YouTube

All About Opals of All Kinds
Geology.com

Opal is one of the world's most popular gemstones and the birthstone for the month of October. A nice precious opal can flash every color of the spectrum with an intensity and quality of color that surpasses the fire of diamond. Visit the Geology.com Gemstones page.

Rancho Palos Verdes Landslides Have Residents Seeking Science
EOS Science News

This article presents some background on how humans have contributed to a large earth movement problem that has damaged or destroyed homes throughout an entire neighborhood about 25 miles south of Los Angeles. Landslide image by USGS.

Geologists Finally Explain New Jersey's Strange Earthquake That Rocked the Northeast in April
Smithsonian
From the article: "A new study suggests the seismic energy traveled outward from a previously unmapped fault, emanating from the hypocenter in bouncing waves that shook distant areas."
A Changing Climate Is Scorching the World's Biggest River
Gift Article from the New York Times
From the article: "As a punishing drought dries up stretches of the Amazon River, Brazil is resorting to dredging to try to keep food, medicine and people flowing along the watery superhighway."
How Many Continents Are There? You May Not Like the Answers.
Gift Article from the New York Times
From the article: "Recent earth science developments suggest that how we count our planet's largest land masses is less clear than we learned in school."
These Remote Volcanic Islands in the South Pacific Are a New UNESCO World Heritage Site
Smithsonian
Quote from the article: The Marquesas, located some 3,000 miles from their nearest continental neighbor, are some of the most isolated islands on the planet.
Gold Price Keeps Breaking Records - Goldman Says It Has Another 10% to Go
CNBC.com
Five Surprising Facts About Pompeii
Smithsonian Magazine

Mount Vesuvius: The Volcano that Buried Pompeii
Geology.com

Plaster casts of people who died in the city of Pompeii during the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius. They were buried in volcanic ash. Image: Garden of the Fugitives. This photo was taken by Lancevortex and is distributed under a GNU Free Documentation License.

Volcanic Ash - The Product of a Volcano that Is Often Underestimated
Geology.com

Volcanic ash on cars at Clark Air Base in the Philippines after the 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo. This parking lot is about 25 kilometers east of the eruption and received about 9 centimeters of ash. USGS image by R.P. Hoblitt.