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1500 questions
23
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2 answers
Natural nuclear explosions
I'm aware of the Oklo reactor and other natural nuclear fission reactors, in which geological processes can lead to the formation of a sustained, self-regulating uranium fission reactor.
Is it also possible for geological processes (on Earth or…
N. Virgo
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23
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Why are cobalt deposits so unevenly distributed?
The Democratic Republic of the Congo's Katanga Province contains almost 40% of the world's reserves of cobalt [1].
Why are deposits concentrated so strongly in such a small portion of the earth?
I would have thought that this is due to similar…
F Chopin
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22
votes
2 answers
How high can a mountain possibly get?
Mount Everest is 8,848 metres (29,028 feet) above sea level and is the result of a continental plate smashing into another continental plate. Can a tectonic process build a mountain that's even higher? (Volcanoes excluded!)
Knob Scratcher
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22
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Plate Tectonics: Is it possible to have an ocean-continent divergent boundary
I am procedurally generating planets for an open world space sandbox game. I am using a rough simulation of tectonic plates to create mountain ranges and other geological features.
A planet surface consists of several plates, which consists of…
Jacques Nel
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22
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3 answers
Are there any techniques for imaging the deep Earth besides seismic waves?
It is well-known that we can learn a lot about the structure of the lower crust, mantle, and core by observing the ways in which they refract different kinds of seismic waves.
Do we have any other ways of imaging the deeper parts of the Earth,…
senshin
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22
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3 answers
Is there any explanation for the large amount of sea ice around Antarctica in 2014?
As can be seen from the below data, for the past year or so (2014), sea ice surrounding Antarctica has been well above normal. Currently, Antarctic sea ice is at an all-time record high for this time of year, 1,344,000 square kilometers above…
DavePhD
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22
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3 answers
Is fracking likely to produce earthquakes?
Post Christchurch-2011 earthquake, there was much concern that fracking in the surrounding areas might lead to further quakes, as was rumoured to have happened elsewhere in the world.
Is there evidence that fundamentally validates or discredits…
Mark Mayo
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22
votes
12 answers
How to quickly or easily prove the world is spherical?
A relative of mine has recently introduced me to the modern flat earth theory, which she believes in. Setting aside for the moment that it is ridiculous, and that sending up some balloons with cameras on would provide evidence to the contrary, how…
dutch
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22
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1 answer
How can the world's sea level rise and fall simultaneously?
I have just been reading this article on Gizmodo (known for its hard science I know), that talks about sea level rising by up to 3 feet(!).
In the article and video, created from information from NASA it seems, it states that over the last 23 years…
TheMagicPirate
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22
votes
3 answers
Why is March colder than September in Northern Hemisphere?
Forgive my ignorance of the subject but I was always wondered about the exact reason of this phenomenon.
Vernal equinox happens around March 20, whereas autumnal equinox happens around September 22, so wherever you are in Northern Hemisphere, the…
Sebastian K
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22
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5 answers
Is there a database of global rainfall time series?
Is there any institute out there collecting time series data of precipitation, and making them accessible online? I need data for a few different locations, but:
Low spatial resolution is fine. For example, if I need rainfall time series for…
natario
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22
votes
1 answer
Why are oceanic plates denser than continental plates?
In the theory of tectonic plates, at a convergent boundary between a continental plate and an oceanic plate, the denser plate usually subducts underneath the less dense plate. It is well known that oceanic plates subduct under continental plates,…
Kenshin
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22
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2 answers
Peak phosphorus - what are the sinks?
The minable phosphorus reserves are limited. Where is the mined phosphoprus landing, what are the global phosphorus sinks?
I would assume that most phosphorus is used for fertilizer and ultimately ends up in the water (via consumption by plants,…
mart
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22
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In what geological situations can I find gold?
I've heard that gold ore is often associated with quartz veins. What geological processes enable gold particles to naturally cluster together like this? What characteristics/properties should I look out for on the surface of a rock that are likely…
Paul
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22
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1 answer
Estimating the permeability tensor of an oil field by remote sensing
I work a lot with numerical methods to solve multiphase flow in porous media for oil applications. In our field, we often use Darcy's law which states that the flux is negatively proportional to the pressure gradient by a factor called the…
Paul
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