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  • 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

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    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

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    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

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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.
This is an image of Venus.
Click on image for full size
NASA/JPL

The Earliest History of Venus

The terrestrial planets formed in two ways, either:

  • very warm, separated into layers, with lots of water on the surface, with volcanic activity, as well as continental drift.
  • cold and rocky, needing to be warmed from the inside before activity is seen on the surface. The planet never separates into layers, and the planet never forms a core.
With Venus, the first case is probably the most likely.

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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

The History of Venus

The Earth-planets formed with the gathering of rocky material and volatiles out of the primitive solar nebula. As they finished forming, the surface continued to be hit by the remanent of planetary material...more

Alpha Regio

Alpha Regio is the home of Eve Mons, a volcano. ...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 Venus' equator. Aphrodite Terra is different from Ishtar Terra in that,...more

Beta Regio

Beta Regio is an example of a volcanic rise, and is more like an island than a continent. Volcanic rises such as Beta Regio sometimes contain deep troughs. The troughs may be evidence of a surface inmotion....more

Ishtar Terra

Ishtar Terra is one of the two main continents of Venus, and is found near the north pole. Ishtar Terra is about the size of the United States. Ishtar Terra contains the four main mountain ranges of Venus....more

Venus Channels

This image clearly shows a bed where something once flowed. Without proper measurements, scientists can only guess what sort of liquid may have flowed through this channel. On Earth, such channels might...more

Venus Coronae

The feature of Venus' geography called a "Corona" is a deep, curving, trench surrounding an elevated plain. Coronae is the name for more than one corona. This is an image of Artemis Corona which is found...more

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