Monday, October 31, 2005
New Plate Tectonics Map
Zoom in for a close look at satellite images of plate boundaries with the new Google Maps at Geology.com. We have selected 12 of the most commonly used locations for teaching and learning about plate tectonics and made them easy for you to view. Represented are divergent, convergent and transform boundaries where volcanoes, linear lakes, folding, seas, faults or other features make the plate boundary or developing boundary evident. 
Image of Google Maps from Geology.comZoom in on our new Plate Tectonics Map! Labels: Maps, Plate-Tectonics
Sunday, October 30, 2005
"Geoscientist" Makes Top Jobs List for 2005
Now posted at Yahoo Finance.... The Fast Company "25 Top Jobs for 2005" list and Geoscientist is listed at #22. Their list of top jobs is based upon four criteria: job growth, salary potential, education level, and room for innovation. Read more at Top Jobs at Yahoo Finance. Labels: Employment
Intelligent Design Versus Evolution
A Reuters article summarizes many issues related to intelligent design versus evolution. Numerous political, social, religious and philosophical positions provide staging points for support on both sides of this debate. Read more about Intelligent Design Versus Evolution at AOL.com. Labels: Fossils, Teaching-Science
Saturday, October 29, 2005
Coastal Mangrove Forests Provide Tsunami Protection
Selvam Vaithilingam, Faizal Parish and others have published an article in "Science" which demonstrates how coastal mangrove forests provided significant protection to some shoreline areas during the December 2004 tsunami. Their conculsions are based upon the study of satellite images and ground surveys in the Cuddalore District of southeastern India. It also supports previous laboratory experiments suggesting that 30 trees per 100 square meters may reduce the maximum flow of a tsunami by more than 90 percent. 
Image by USGSRead more about mangrove tsunami protection at USNewsWire.com. Labels: Coastal-Geology, Tsunamis
Friday, October 28, 2005
Earth Science Maps at Google Maps Mania
Mike Pegg, webmaster of Google Maps Mania has featured several Google maps related to Earth Science. Included in his "Weather and Earth" category are Google maps on the topics of hurricanes, asteroid occultations, earthquakes, weather, river conditions, emergency incidents, global warming and other interesting topics. Three maps from geology.com have been featured there; they are our maps on New Orleans Flooding, Meteor Impact Craters and Highest Points in the 50 States.
Image by GoogleVisit Google Maps Mania to check out the interesting maps. Labels: Maps, Satellite-Images
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Galapagos Islands Volcano - Sierra Negra
Sierra Negra Volcano, on the Galapagos Island of Isla Isabela, has been erupting since October 22. The image below shows a heavy plume of volcanic ash and steam streaming from the volcano to the southwest. Lava flows have descended the northeast side of the mountain but have not threatened people or rare species such as the giant tortises and land iguanas. 
Image by NASALabels: Volcanoes
Monday, October 24, 2005
Northern California Earthquake Outlook
Computer models developed by UC Davis seismology experts have estimated the probability of a large earthquake in northern California. Their model suggests that a magnitude 7 earthquake along the San Andreas Fault within 150 miles of San Francisco has a 25% chance of occurring within the next two decades. 
Read more about the Northern California Earthquake Outlook at SFGate.com. Labels: Earthquakes
Sunday, October 23, 2005
Pakistan Earthquake Photos and News
The BBC has some of the most detailed coverage of the Pakistan earthquake that can be found on the web. Extensive photos, eyewitness reports, and more. Visit the BBC website for Pakistan Earthquake Photos and News. Labels: Earthquakes
Saturday, October 22, 2005
Pakistan Earthquake Update
The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, has called for an "immediate and exceptional escalation" of assistance for Pakistan earthquake victims. Some experts have stated that the need for assistance with the Pakistan earthquake exceeds that of the Indonesia tsunami. Delivery of aid has been very challenging because of the remote location, difficult access and earthquake damage to road systems. Fast aid is also needed because approximately 3,000,000 people are without shelter, sleeping in the open and cold winter weather starting to arrive. 
Read more about the need for Pakistan Earthquake Relief at the United Nations Website. Labels: Earthquakes
Wednesday, October 19, 2005
Hurricane Wilma Track Map
Hurricane Wilma has strenghtened to Category 5 status and is moving through the Caribbean between the Yucatan Peninsula and Cuba. 
Image by NOAASee the most current Hurricane Wilma Track Map and hurricane / tropical storm warnings at the NOAA website. Labels: Hurricanes, Maps
Tuesday, October 18, 2005
Home Hurricane Preparation
The National Hurricane Center gives advice for preparing your home for hurricane season. Details specific to your roof, framing, shutters, doors and garage doors are provided.  
Images by National Hurricane Center.Read more at the NHC Hurricane Preparation website. Labels: Hurricanes
Thursday, October 13, 2005
Avak Impact Crater - Alaska
There is a very interesting article about the Avak impact crater at www.sitenews.us. It explains how this subsurface crater (buried under surface deposits) was discovered and has information about its role in trapping natural gas. You can read the Avak impact crater article at the website - or visit our google maps page if you would like to explore interactive satellite images of impact sites. Labels: Meteor-Meteorite
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Rebuilding New Orleans - Subsidence and Sea Level Rise
From USGS Science Picks: "The rates of subsidence and sea-level rise are important considerations in the restoration of the city of New Orleans and the wetlands that protect it. New Orleans is sinking two inches per decade, and it is anticipated that it will sink roughly one meter in the next 100 years relative to mean sea level. The ocean is also rising. During the last century, the ocean rose one to two millimeters per year. Within the next century if nothing is done to modify the existing infrastructure, some areas of the city that did not flood as a result of Hurricane Katrina will likely flood in a future storm due to subsidence and sea-level rise." With costs of rebuilding New Orleans estimated to be at over $200 billion and thousands of people as permanent residents in a below-sea-level location these facts should be given detailed consideration. Read the full text article: Sea-Level Rise and Subsidence: Implications for Flooding in New OrleansLabels: Hurricane-Katrina, Subsidence
Saturday, October 08, 2005
Major Earthquake - Pakistan
A major earthquake occurred about 60 miles (95 km) north-northeast of Islamabad, Pakistan at approximately 8:50 AM local time. Preliminary magnitude is 7.6 and the event has been followed by several strong aftershocks of 5+ and 6+ magnitude. 
Images by USGSRead more about this Major Earthquake in Pakistan at the National Earthquake Information Center website and see early news coverage at MSN.com. Labels: Earthquakes
Friday, October 07, 2005
Glacial Lake Missoula Flood
NOVA Science Programming has published a website to support their documentary on the Ice Age flooding event in which a vast lake, known as Glacial Lake Missoula, burst through an ice dam and flooded broad areas of the Pacific Northwest. Vic Baker, expert on this topic describes what it would have been like to witness the flood and how knowledge about this flood can be applied to other situations on Earth and even to understanding the landscape of Mars. 
Screenshot of the NOVA Megaflood WebsiteLearn more at NOVA's Lake Missoula Flood website. Labels: Floods-Flooding
Thursday, October 06, 2005
Summer Geology Jobs in National Parks
Each summer the National Park Service hires a number of experienced earth science professionals and students to work in the National Parks. They assist the park staff in basic research, mapping, GIS analysis, resource inventories, site evaluations, developing promotional materials and presentations to educate the public and other park employees. 
Images by NPSLearn more about these Summer Geology Jobs at the NPS website. Labels: Employment
Wednesday, October 05, 2005
New York City Hurricane Threat
New York City has a serious exposure to hurricane damage. A large population and extensive property development along waterways yield a significant risk. A recent AP article on New York hurricane threat includes quotes by Nicholas Coch, author of the popular Geohazards textbook and NYC assemblyman Richard Brodsky. According to the article NYC is the third most vulnerable US city to hurricanes after New Orleans and Miami. 
Hurricane Floyd Image by NOAAMore information is posted on the New York hurricane history pages of the NYC.gov website. This site details the impact of New York hurricane impact from unnamed storms in 1893 and 1938 along with named hurricanes Carol, Donna, Connie, Diane, Agnes, Gloria, Felix, Bertha, Edouard and Floyd. Labels: Hurricanes
Monday, October 03, 2005
Hurricane Articles Online
Geotimes is giving free access to four top articles on Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Of special note is Geotimes giving WEBextra designation to the article: "Hurricane Outlook Updated" on August 8th - three weeks prior to Hurricane Katrina. These articles are: - Rita: Could have been worse
- Katrina strikes the energy sector
- Water covers New Orleans
- Hurricane Katrina hits hard
Access this collection of Hurricane Articles at the Geotimes WEBextra Archive. Labels: Hurricanes
Sunday, October 02, 2005
Tenth Planet has a Moon
Xena, nickname of the recently discovered tenth planet, is now believed to have a moon, which has been nicknamed Gabrielle. A group of astronomers, lead by Michael Brown of the California Insititue of Technology noticed a small object accompanying the Tenth Planet. Since this object moves with the planet and is not stationary it is believed to be a moon and not a star beyond the planet. Read more about the Tenth Planet's Moon at AOL News and find interesting facts about the tenth planet at http://www.tenthplanet.infoLabels: Planets
Saturday, October 01, 2005
How to Observe the Leonid Meteor Shower
MSN has a brief tutorial on how to observe the Leonid meteor shower. 
View the How to Observe a Meteor Shower tutorial at the MSN website. And be sure to check out our interactive satellite images of Earth Impact Structures. Labels: Meteor-Meteorite
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