Monday, January 30, 2006
Global Warming Graph and Map Information
NASA has posted an extensive series of graphs and maps that illustrate the time trend and geographic extent of global warming. Tabular data are also available for those who want to do their own analysis. The information and summaries at the NASA site make interesting reading and could be used in a variety of educational and research projects. 
Images by NASAView the Global Warming Graph and Map Resources at NASA. Labels: Global-Warming
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Cascadia Earthquake Anniversary
January 26 is the 305th anniversary of the Magnitude 9.0 Cascadia Earthquake that occurred in 1700. This extremely powerful earthquake caused damage to Native American villages in the Vancouver Island area and a tsunami caused local destruction and swept across the Pacific, causing significant damage along the west coast of Japan. Stories of this event have been preserved by the native people of western Canada and a summary of this earthquake can be read at the Canada Geological Survey Commission website. Cascadia Earthquake InformationLabels: Earthquakes
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Top Ten Solar System Images at NASA
Go to the NASA website, browse their Solar System Collection and vote for your favorite images. Results are tallied right now on their Solar System Exploration page. In the top ten at this moment are... Cassini Launch, Comet Neat, Mars Over Moon, Full-Disk Neptune, Jupiter Eye to Io, 10,000 Galaxies, Tvashtar Catena, Cassini's Farewell, Planet Mercury, Antarctic Meteorite Sites. Some very nice images. 
Screen Shot from NASAVote for your favorite Solar System Image at NASA.gov. Labels: Planets
Tuesday, January 24, 2006
Great Mineral Photos: Würzburg Mineralogical Museum
Visit the Würzburg Mineralogical Museum to see some of the best mineral photos on the web. Klaus-Peter Kelber has shared a gallery of very nice photos which include specimens of amethyst, apatite, apophyllite, aquamarine, aragonite, autunite, azurite, beryl, calcite, cerussite, coelestine, coronadite, descloizite, diamond, dioptase, duftite, elbaite, emerald, fluorite, gold, legrandite, loparite, malachite, natrolite, opal, phenacite, phosgenite, platinum, prousite, quartz, rhodochrosite, ruby, silver, smithsonite, sulfur, tarnowitzite, tourmaline, vanadinite and wulfenite. 
Images by Klaus-Peter Kelber - used with permission.See the mineral photos at the Würzburg Mineralogical Museum website. Labels: Minerals
Monday, January 23, 2006
New Orleans - Seventeen Category 3+ Storms Since 1852
Something to consider in the rebuilding of New Orleans: Seventeen Category 3 or higher storms have passed within 100 nautical miles of the city since 1852 - an average greater than one storm per decade. Combine that with a subsidence rate of one meter per century and a sea level rise of up to two meters per century and it is easy to understand that New Orleans is on risky and unstable ground long term. 
Image produced with NOAA'sRead more about Rebuilding New Orleans. Labels: Hurricanes
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Earthquake Survival Tip Sheets
Dan Morris of the Jackson Sun (Tennessee) has posted an article about the potential of a large earthquake in the Mississippi Valley - similar in size to the New Madrid earthquakes of 1811/1812. His article has some interesting historical information and current perspectives but the most valuable part of it is the "Earthquake Survival Tip Sheets". Each sheet contains essential survival guidance. Here's what you can learn about if you go to his article... Tip Sheet #1: Does your household have an earthquake plan? Tip Sheet #2: What should I do during an earthquake? Tip Sheet #3: What should I do immediately after an earthquake? Tip Sheet #4: What should I do if I need medical attention? Read the full text of his Earthquake Survival Tip Sheets at the JacksonSun.com website. Labels: Earthquakes
Saturday, January 21, 2006
Comet Dust
NASA scientists are "ecstatic" about the dust recovered from the comet Wild 2. This is the second time in history that a vehicle from Earth has brought back natural materials from space - the first being the 1972 Apollo mission. These "comet dust" particles were captured in January 2004 as the Stardust spacecraft flew within 149 miles of comet Wild 2 on its seven-year mission. Some of the particles are large enough to be seen with an unaided eye. They will be analyzed and distributed to a worldwide team of scientists. 
Image by NASARead more about the dust from comet Wild 2 at the NASA website. Labels: Astronomy-Planets
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
James Madison University - New Field Course in Ireland
The Department of Geology and Environmental Science at James Madison University will reestablish a field course beginning in Summer, 2006. The new 6-credit field course is particularly noteworthy as it based in the Connemara region of western Ireland, near Galway. The Ireland field camp, formerly administered by Boston University, has a well-established reputation within the geologic community. The 2006 faculty will include JMU professors Scott Eaton, Mike Harris and Steve Whitmeyer. Other faculty members who will continue to be involved with the Ireland program include Dr. Declan De Paor, Worchester Polytechnic Institute; Dr. Adam Lewis, Ohio State University; and Irish professors Dr. Martin Feely and Dr. Kathryn Moore, both at National University of Ireland, Galway. Designed as a capstone geologic experience, the field course will synthesize the full breadth of classroom experiences within a challenging field environment. Important components of the course include glacial geomorphology, bedrock field mapping, digital field mapping and environmental mapping and assessment. 
Image provided by JMUVisit the field course website for continually updated information and pictures of our students at work and play. Attention Faculty Members at K-16 Institutions
We invite you to send us a short story about a lesson, course or field activity that features your students. Please send one to three short paragraphs and one to three photos for consideration. 
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Labels: Teaching-Science
Monday, January 16, 2006
Geologic Maps of Kentucky Counties Available
The Kentucky Geological Survey is posting .pdf files of county geologic maps at their website. Maps for 58 Kentucky Counties have been published so far and 17 other counties are either in review or in process. They are titled "Generalized Geologic Maps for Land-Use Planning in Kentucky Counties". These are standard geologic maps and additional information is included in the map margins: ground water summary, definitions, planning guidance by rock type, geologic hazards summary, earthquake hazard information, and photos of interesting county features or facilities. Watershed divides, wetlands, urban service boundaries, wildlife management areas, topographic contour lines and detailed water well information are plotted on the maps. 
Screenshot of KGS .pdf maps.View complete Kentucky County Geologic Maps. Labels: Maps
Saturday, January 14, 2006
Landsat Images of Europe and Asia by Country
New at Geology.com are Landsat images of 24 European and 26 Asian countries. These Landsat images average about 500 kilobytes each and were produced by Angela King using data from NASA's Geocover Dataset, obtained from Earth Satellite Corporation under the Earth Science Enterprise Scientific Data Purchase Program. 
Image by Geology.com using data from NASALabels: Satellite-Images
Friday, January 13, 2006
Augustine Volcano Eruption (Alaska)
Augustine Island Volcano, located in southern Cook Inlet, about 100 km WSW of the town of Homer on the Kenai Peninsula and nearly 300 km SW from Anchorage, is erupting now after about 18 years of inactivity. The current eruption is producing ash but USGS is concerned that a large blast might occur. Augustine's symmetrical cone rises 1,254 meters above sea level. It was named by Captain James Cook in 1778 and has erupted in 1812, 1883, 1935, 1963-64, 1976, and 1986. An eruptive blast in 1883 produced a large landslide which ran out to the ocean, extending the island's north shorline as far as 2 kilometers and producing a small tsunami that swept across Cook Inlet. Augustine's 1986 eruption began with a violent explosion on March 26th. This sent ash plumes to more than 10 kilometers above the vent and triggered pyroclastic flows that sped down the volcano's flanks into the sea. A second stage began on April 23 when lava began erupting near the volcano's summit and added about 25 meters to the top of the existing lava dome. Small pyroclastic flows accompanied growth of the dome. 
Image by USGS - 1988
Image by USGS - 1986 ash eruptionLabels: Volcanoes
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Lessons From Hurricane Katrina
The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania has published "On Risk and Disaster: Lessons from Hurricane Katrina", a book that deals with risk, natural disasters, recovery, rebuilding and policy. In this book, University of Pennsylvania provost Ronald J. Daniels, political science professor Donald F. Kettl, and Howard C. Kunreuther, Wharton professor of operations and information management, argue that the U.S. government has become an insurer of last resort and question whether that unofficial policy is contributing to larger and costlier disasters. 
Image by Knowledge@WhartonRead more about Hurricane Katrina Lessons at the Knowledge@Wharton website. Labels: Hurricane-Katrina
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Problems Caused by Volcanic Ash
Volcanic ash causes lots of problems where it falls in large quantities. An article at KTUU Channel 2 News tells about the problems caused by volcanic ash and what a person can do to prepare before the eruption begins. Read more about Preparing for a Volcanic Eruption at KTUU.com. Labels: Volcanoes
Friday, January 06, 2006
Dinosaurs as Lizards, Birds and Reptiles
The Three Faces of Dinosaurs is a new WebExtra by Spencer G. Lucas (curator of paleontology and geology at the New Mexico Museum of Natural History) posted at the GEOTIMES website. This article describes how paleontologists' perceptions of dinosaurs have changed during the past 200 years. These perceptions have ranged from dinosaurs being directly linked to lizards, then reptiles, then birds and ending with current ideas. Read more at The Three Faces of Dinosaurs. Labels: Dinosaurs, Fossils
Thursday, January 05, 2006
Ocean Drilling Vessel to be Renovated
The National Science Foundation has announced that the Joides Resolution, a scientific ocean drilling vessel, will be renovated. The ship has a twenty year history of service to the geology and oceanography communities. Its main work has been in deep ocean drilling to retrieve samples of Earth's crust and sea-floor sediments. The renovation will increase laboratory space by at least 50 percent, install an enhanced drilling instrumentation system, a sub-sea camera system with improved handling, and a new drill string with upgraded drilling tools. These will allow for faster and more efficient drilling and core recovery. Changes in the hull will also be done to improve fuel efficiency and speed. 
Joides Resolution Image by USGSLabels: Oceanography
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Environmental Geology Atlas
The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has published the Missouri Environmental Geology Atlas (MEGA), a CD-ROM collection of interactive statewide GIS. Included in the atlas is information on: bedrock geology, well and spring locations, dyetrace data, public land survey system information, geologic structures, sinkhole locations, alluvial floodplains, certified wells, logged wells, dye traces, surficial materials, stream hydrology- gaining and losing, Public Land Survey System, as well as public domain information such as streams, lakes, major roads, urban areas and county boundaries. The goal is to give landowners, developers, engineers, geologists, planners, researchers, teachers and students the ability to apply earth science data to real world issues. 
Missouri Environmental Geology Atlas CoverLearn more or obtain the Environmental Geology Atlas. Labels: Books-Publications
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Arctic Climate Change
CBC News Online has posted an interesting feature and interactives on the topic of global warming and Arctic climate change. The site is rich with photos, audio, video and slideshows. Topics include: ice breakup, fewer gulls, warmer lakes, bio-invaders, ice melt, polar bears, warmer winters, permafrost, boreal, beetles invade, forest fires, tree ring records, carbon trap, sea rise and more. 
Screenshot from CBC NewsLearn more about Arctic Climate Change at the CBC website. Labels: Arctic-Antarctic, Global-Warming
Monday, January 02, 2006
Tsunami: Wave that Shook the World
NOVA's "Wave that Shook the World" website has some very good information about tsunamis. Especially recommended is the "Anatomy of a Tsunami" and "Once and Future Tsunamis" interactives. A teacher's guide, program transcript and more are available at the website. 
NOVA ScreenshotVisit the website... Tsunami: Wave That Shook the World. Labels: Tsunamis
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Aurora Borealis Photos
Lauri Kangas has some great photos of the Aurora Borealis posted at his website. He also has some great images of meteors, the moon, planets and other earth and space science subjects. 
Screenshot from Photon-echoes.comSee Lauri's Aurora Borealis Photos at photon-echoes.com. Labels: Meteorology
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