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1500 questions
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Identifying a desert landform
I saw this landform on Google Earth on the border of Algeria/Tunisia/Libya and wondered what it is called (so that I can read up on it and find out how it forms - I am not a geologist):
Here is a 3D view: (Press Ctrl + drag left mouse button to…
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What is the residue after plant matter is completely decomposed?
What typical fraction of decomposing plant matter, left on the surface rather than buried, is not released in gaseous form?
My simple world view is that the plant structure has all come from the air, water content in the ground and a few nutrients…
Puffin
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Causes and concentration of red rain of Kerala
The red rain phenomenon in Kerala, India has been reported several times in history (1896, 2001, 2012). The color of the rain seems to be associated with the presence of airborne spores of the algae Trentepohlia annulata. My questions are:
What…
arkaia
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Methane from fracking?
Methane has spiked sharply since 2014: BBC Methane surge needs 'urgent attention'.
This coincides with a large increase in fracking. So I'm wondering if there could be a connection? I don't think the target formations could release significant…
Gordon Stanger
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Could Global Climate Change increase the average moisture in the air?
Given several hundred years, assuming global climate change results in the melting of the polar ice caps which leads to an increase in surface area of the oceans and an overall warming of the earth (although I'm not quite certain to what extent the…
Kim
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Prompt gravity signal induced by the 2011 Tohoku-Oki earthquake - could this really be useful for warnings?
Edit: Two new items may shed more light on this question:
BBC: Gravity signals rapidly show true size of giant quakes links to:
Science: Observations and modeling of the elastogravity signals preceding direct seismic waves
The Nature…
uhoh
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8
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Why is it colder in the mountains than at sea level?
I have heard numerous reasons why that is. I just want to know which one is right.
user6847056
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What is meant by phase-change in mantle?
Phase transition usually means changing from liquid to solid phase. But in geology literature we come across transitions from one mineral to other mineral. For example olivine-spinel transition at 410 km.
What is difference between this transition…
Ather Cheema
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Difference between "Geology" and "Physical(Natural) Geography"?
I know "Geology" is a branch of "Natural sciences" and is for studying natural and physical phenomena related to earth. But "Physical Geography/Natural Geography" seems to study exactly the same thing. What is the main difference between these two…
Hamed Begloo
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How much garbage goes into the Pacific Ocean every year?
In this article, they mention that:
More than 4.8 million metric tons [of] plastic waste gets dumped into the world’s oceans from land each year. And this number is just a conservative estimate. Researchers believe the real amount could be as high…
f.thorpe
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Does the meridional overturning circulation slow down the temperature increase from global warming?
Does it result in an increased exchange of surface heat and deepwater heat, which, in turn, help increase the amount of CO2 and heat that the deep oceans absorb?
Related-On-Wikipedia: Meridional overturning circulation (Thermohaline circulation)
InquilineKea
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8
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Could a reported rainfall pH of 3.1 actually be realistic?
In this Chemistry question Is there any reason to fear personal exposure to rain with a pH of 3.1? I haven't gotten any answer, but there was some discussion about the reality of the measurement.
So I'll ask here, is a sustained rainfall with a pH…
uhoh
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What determines the differences in results between various weather models?
It's often said that the ECMWF model is more accurate than the GFS. But what are the reasons why? Also, how does the NAM compare with these two and other forecasting models?
InquilineKea
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8
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Would a global cooling event disable solar energy usage?
Imagine that we've improved the level quality, affordability, and ease of use of photo-voltaic solar, and it's use is widely distributed in the USA. We've improved the grid for power distribution, we increase wind, hydro, geothermal sources for…
PoloHoleSet
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How is the radiative efficiency of a given gas (like a given CFC) analytically calculated?
E.g. the gases listed at http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg1/en/tssts-2-5.html . Do they calculate them analytically or theoretically?
InquilineKea
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