15 Climate Feedback Loops and Examples
Climate feedback loops either amplify or reduce climate change. Positive feedback loops like permafrost melt amplifies climate change because it releases methane.
Articles
Earth Age: How Old Is the Earth?
By dating meteorites, we find the oldest rocks are 4.5 billion or so years old. Thus, we conclude the same staggering 4,543,000,000 years for Earth’s age.
A Guide to Groundwater: Earth’s Hidden Freshwater Supply
Despite the popular belief that groundwater exists as a huge lake underground, water actually exists in tiny pore spaces within rock and soil beneath our feet.
What Is Pangaea? Piecing Together the Supercontinent Jigsaw Puzzle
About 200 million years ago, all the continents were together as one giant supercontinent known as Pangaea. Over time, these continents have broken apart.
Mass Wasting: Weathering, Erosion and Transport
From the remarkable process of plates colliding and building mountains. They are only to be dismantled by mass wasting (weathering, erosion and transport).
What Is Biodiversity (Biological Diversity)?
Biodiversity or “biological diversity” refers to the variety or genetic diversity of species in an ecosystem. Ecosystems rely on biodiversity for resiliency.
What is Radioactive Decay Inside Earth?
Four radioactive isotopes inside Earth account for 50% of its internal heat. Like a slow cooker, they slowly release heat within the planet keeping it warm.
What Do Geotechnical Engineers Do?
Geotechnical Engineers understand the behavior of earth materials. For example, they interpret rock and soil samples to investigate subsurface conditions.
Long-Term Carbon Cycle: Carbon Dioxide to Hydrocarbons
Carbon is re-purposed into fossil fuels in the long-term carbon cycle. The coal that we use today was produced millions of years ago from buried swamps.
Continental Drift: A Tale of Moving Continents and Plate Tectonics
Plate tectonics are deceptively slow. It’s just centimeters each year. Continental drift is the idea that continents passively move due to tectonic activity
Mantle Convection: Earth’s Plate Tectonic Conveyor Belt
Under the rigid layer of rock we live on, the Earth is plastic & more dense. Because of its fluid properties, mantle convection can occur within the Earth.
7 Red-Hot Planet Mercury Facts [Infographic]
Not only is planet Mercury the closest to the sun, but it has extreme temperatures. Facts about Mercury: Its long comet-like tail, craters and unusual orbit
30 Environmental Science Careers: How To Be an Earth Scientist
This list of 30 Earth Science careers has everything you need to know to carve your own career path as an Earth scientist. It’s time to start your journey.
10 Electrifying Lightning Facts: Get Thunderstruck
Lightning is hotter than the sun, it strikes 8.6 million times a day and more lightning facts. Because when there’s thunder, there’s sure to be lightning.
Metamorphic Rocks: Heat, Pressure and Metamorphism
If you take an existing rock and add immense heat or pressure to it, the rock becomes soft and pliable like cookie dough transforming into metamorphic rocks.