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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 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.
This is an image of a Venusian volcanic dome.
Click on image for full size
NASA/JPL

Venus Domes

These domes may look a little bit like craters, but they are really flat-topped volcanoes.

Mt Pelee in Martinique, West Indies, and Lassen Peak and Mono domes in California are examples of similar lava domes on Earth.

These domes are formed the same way some islands are built on Earth, by a hot plume, or bubble of material from the deep interior of Venus, which rises to the surface. These plumes push out the crust and cause volcanic activity.

Among the different kinds of domes on Venus are:


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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

More Venus Domes

This is a Venus dome viewed from the ground. The Magellan radar-mapper made a view like this possible. ...more

Mt. Pelee

Mt. Pelee is not a very tall volcano, in fact it is an example of what is called a "lava dome". An extremely destructive eruption of Mount Pelee occurred in 1902. A coastal town, about 4 miles downslope...more

Lassen Peak

Lassen Peak is an example of what is called a "volcanic dome". The most recent eruptive activity occurred at Lassen Peak in 1914-1917. The eruption began on May 30, 1914, with a small vent near the summit...more

Venus Crowns

On Venus, domes can sometimes rise up and then collapse. Collapsed domes are called "crowns". Crowns are a signature of volcanism on Venus. Other kinds of domes on Venus are: pancakedomes (shown here)...more

Alpha Regio

Alpha Regio is an example of what is known as a "Plateau Highland" of Venus. The only volcano known to be found on Alpha Regio is Eve Mons. A Plateau Highland is like a continent, and is different from...more

Volcanism of Venus

The Magellan mission to Venus confirmed that the surface of Venus is definitely volcanic. As shown in this picture, lava flows extend to hundreds of miles across the plains in the foreground. The surface...more

Aphrodite Terra

Aphrodite Terra, the Greek name for the goddess Venus, is about the size of half the continent of Africa, and is to be found along the equator of Venus. Aphrodite Terra is different from Ishtar Terra in...more

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