Current Events

  • Irish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather
    A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong corr...Read more

    x

    Irish Chronicles Document Links Between Volcanoes and Weather

    A study of over 40,000 written entries in Irish Annals and ice core measurements shows a strong correlation between the occurrence of volcanic eruptions and extreme cold weather in Ireland over a 1200 year period. Data analyzed in this study cover the period from 431 to 1649, during which time up to 48 volcanic eruptions are identified in Greenland ice core records through deposition of volcanic sulfate in annual layers of ice. You can find the study (open access), published on 6 June 2013 in IOP Publishing's journal Environmental Research Letters, at http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/2/024035/article. Find out more about how volcanoes can influence climate.
  • EF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US
    The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, acco...Read more

    x

    EF-5 Tornado in El Reno, Oklahoma Widest Ever Recorded in US

    The EF-5 tornado that hit El Reno, Oklahoma on May 31st was the widest ever recorded in the US, according to the National Weather Service in Norman Oklahoma. The tornado, which remained on the ground for 40 minutes and reached 2.6 miles across (4.2 km), took the lives of 18 people including storm chasers Tim Samaras, Paul Samaras and Carl Young. For more information on the tornado, visit http://ow.ly/i/2hfDG.
  • Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm
    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm rep...Read more

    x

    Atmospheric CO2 Level Tops 400 ppm

    During the week of May 13th, the CO2 level at the Mauna Loa Observatory in Hawaii topped 400 ppm repeatedly. Daily levels of CO2 can vary due to weather, and there are seasonal trends as well. The level of atmospheric greenhouse gases continues to increase, now over 120 ppm since the Industrial Revolution began. For more on the Keeling Curve, see http://keelingcurve.ucsd.edu/. Find out more about greenhouse gases and warming.
This is an image of Triton.
Click on image for full size
NASA

Triton Composition

Not only ice but several different kinds of snow (crushed ice) have been found on the surface of Triton.

An idea of what the inside of Triton is made of can only be guessed because the Voyager spacecraft could not measure the inside of the moon when it flew by in 1989.

A good guess is that Triton is made of ice, except for a small core of rocky material at the center. There may be a small layer of water inside Triton too, however this depends on whether the inside of Triton is warm. A small layer of water could make an environment where life could be found. Only more exploration will help us know for sure if these things are possible.

The fact that this moon is made primarily of ice suggests a certain path for it's history.

Last modified April 22, 2009 by Randy Russell.

Shop Windows to the Universe Science Store!

Learn about Earth and space science, and have fun while doing it! The games section of our online store includes a climate change card game and the Traveling Nitrogen game!

Windows to the Universe Community

News

Opportunities

You might also be interested in:

Science, Evolution, and Creationism

How did life evolve on Earth? The answer to this question can help us understand our past and prepare for our future. Although evolution provides credible and reliable answers, polls show that many people turn away from science, seeking other explanations with which they are more comfortable....more

What the Inside of Triton is like

Triton is mostly made of ice, therefore there is probably a small core of some rocky material at the center, covered with different kinds of ice. If Triton is warm enough inside, then there could be water....more

Life on Triton?

Triton is most like Jupiter's moon Europa. Like Europa, the interior of Triton may have been warm enough at one time to contain a liquid layer just under the surface. On Earth, we know that there are some...more

Triton

Triton was discovered by W. Lassell in 1846. Of the 8 moons, it is the 2nd farthest from Neptune. Triton may be one of the largest of the icy moons with a diameter that is about half the distance across...more

Triton Composition

Not only ice but several different kinds of snow (crushed ice) have been found on the surface of Triton. An idea of what the inside of Triton is made of can only be guessed because the Voyager spacecraft...more

Surface of Triton

This image of Triton reveals many neat features of its surface. The surface of Triton's surface is a mix of Ganymede's and Europa's surfaces. Old areas of Triton's surface have many craters and younger...more

The Poles of Triton

Triton is the largest moon of Neptune. It is a very odd moon. The poles of Triton are especially interesting. Triton has a polar ice cap at the South Pole. Earth has ice caps at its poles too. On Earth...more

A Look at what Neptune's Atmosphere is Made of

The atmosphere of Neptune is a lot like that of Uranus, and unlike that of Saturn and Jupiter. On Jupiter and Saturn, the atmosphere is mostly made of the simple molecules hydrogen and helium. The atmosphere...more

Shop Windows to the Universe

Young Voices for the Planet DVD in our online store includes 8 films where students speak out and take action on climate change.

Windows to the Universe, a project of the National Earth Science Teachers Association, is sponsored in part by the National Science Foundation and NASA, our Founding Partners (the American Geophysical Union and American Geosciences Institute) as well as through Institutional, Contributing, and Affiliate Partners, individual memberships and generous donors. Thank you for your support! NASA AGU AGI NSF