Current Events

  • 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

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    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.
  • Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley
    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Io...Read more

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    Massive Tornado Outbreak on Tornado Alley

    The week of May 19 brings dozens of tornadoes to Tornado Alley in the states of Oklahoma, Kansas, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri. On May 20th, a massive tornado struck Moore, Oklahoma, devastating communities - destroying over 100 homes and hitting two elementary schools and a hospital - with many casualties and deaths. Our thoughts are with our friends and colleagues suffering from these storms. For more on the May 20th storms, see the NOAA Storm Prediction Center Storm Report.
  • Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education
    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of ...Read more

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    Kansas Legislator Proposes Bill to Outlaw Sustainability Education

    A bill has been introduced in the Kansas legislature this week that would prohibit the promotion of sustainability. Here is a link to the one-page bill: http://www.kslegislature.org/li/b2013_14/measures/documents/hb2366_00_0000.pdf. See report on Bloomberg News.

Postcards from the Field

Explore collections of Postcards from the Field, virtual postcards from scientists and educators doing field research in places around the world. The links below lead to postcards about what it's like to do all sorts of field science - from studying animals like sharks and penguins, to exploring ice, rocks, the atmosphere, and the ocean. Scientists explore Earth in many ways. Take a look at these postcards and find out how.
<a href="/people/postcards/vocals/dione_rossiter.html">Dione Rossiter</a> is a scientist that participated in a research expedition to understand the climate of the southeastern Pacific in fall, 2008 - the <a href="/vocals/vocals_intro.html">VOCALS campaign</a>. She got to fly a her scientific instrument aboard a research aircraft above a layer of <a href="/earth/Atmosphere/clouds/stratocumulus.html">stratocumulus</a> cloud that seemed to go on forever.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Dione Rossiter</em></small></p>What's it like to visit the <a href="/earth/Water/deep_ocean.html">deep sea</a> in a manned submersible? These postcards will share some of that excitement with you. The submersible, <a href="/earth/interior/alvin2.html">Alvin</a>, makes dives into the deep sea. Check out a <a href="/people/postcards/alvin/photo_album.html">photo album</a> of images from the dive, and view the postcards below!<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Tim Killeen</em></small></p>A view of Arica, Chile, at the beginning of a <a href="/people/postcards/vocals/vocals_post.html">research campaign to study climate science in the southeastern Pacific</a>. Arica is near the <a href="/earth/atacama_desert.html">Atacama Desert</a>, one of the most <a href="/earth/extreme_environments_hot_cold_dry.html">arid</a> and barren places on Earth.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Carlye Calvin, UCAR</em></small></p>Oh no! It doesn't look good for these Adelie penguins in the Antarctic. Sea ice covers the top of the ocean next to the Antarctic continent and the Ross Sea. Large cracks open up in the expanse of ice as the ice melts which allows whales to get into parts of the Ross Sea that have not been disturbed or fished for months. Find out more about this <a href="/people/postcards/penguin_post.html">penguin research campaign</a> in December 2006 - January 2007.<p><small><em>Image courtesy of <a href="/bio/jean_pennycook.html">Jean Pennycook</a></em></small></p>Did you know that deep beneath the surface of the ocean lie hydrothermal vents, which release superheated fluids at the ocean bottom? These fluids are rich in chemicals and minerals that support communities of very <a href="/earth/Life/smokers.html">unique organisms</a>, such as the bacteria, large tubeworms, and crabs you see in the picture above!<p><small><em> Image courtesy of Tim Shank, WHOI</em></small></p>Observatories are located in some of the most remote places on Earth. Scientists need to be far away from the <a href="/the_universe/light_pollution.html">city lights</a> to see the faintest stars and galaxies.Check out these <a href="/people/postcards/observatory_post.html">postcards</a> to see what its like to use a telescope at an observatory!<p><small><em>Image courtesy of Katrien Uytterhoeven</em></small></p>

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Historical Events

5/22 ~7.9 magnitude earthquake hits near Xining, Tsinghai, China in 1927
5/24 Nicholas Copernicus, a Polish astronomer, died on this date in 1543 Details
5/30 7.5 magnitude quake hits Quetta, Pakistan in 1935

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Did you know?

Did you know that early whales gave birth on land?

Did you know that individuals don’t evolve, but populations do?

 

Earth and Space Science Concept of the Day

Do you know what this word or phrase means?

Chinook
xChinook : A dry down-slope wind which occurs on the downwind side of a mountain range. It is a rain shadow wind which results from the subsequent (adiabatic) warming of air which has dropped most of its moisture on windward slopes.

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Research Highlights

More than One: Long-Reining Microbe Controlling Ocean Nitrogen Shares the Throne

Marine scientists long believed that a microbe called Trichodesmium, a member of a group called the cyanobacteria, reigned over the ocean's nitrogen budget. New research results reported on-line today...Read more

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The Spring 2011 issue of The Earth Scientist is focused on modernizing seismology education. Thanks to IRIS, you can download this issue for free as a pdf. Print copies are available in our online store.

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