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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 example of Venus volcanism.
Click on image for full size
NASA/JPL

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 of Venus is an example of the fact that there are many different kinds of volcanism besides the building of volcanic cones such as those found on Earth. Among the different kinds of volcanism exhibited by 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

Magellan

On May 4, 1989, Magellan was carried into space by the Atlantis space shuttle, which launched it toward Venus. It arrived on Aug. 10, 1990 and inserted itself into a highly elliptical orbit around the...more

Volcanoes

There are several ways in which a volcano can form, just as there are several different kinds of volcanoes. Volcanism is part of the process by which a planet cools off. Hot magma, rising from lower reaches...more

Volcanoes of Venus

Venus has a number of shield volcanoes such as those found on Earth. Among the volcanoes of Venus are Sif Mons (shown here with a lava plain) and Gula Mons on Western Eistla Regio, Rhea Mons and Theia...more

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...more

Volcanic Rises

Volcanic rises are more like islands than a continents. They are thought to be formed by plumes, in a similar fashion to island formation on Earth. Measurements suggest that there is hot magma deep beneath...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

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