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1500 questions
8
votes
2 answers
TRMM rainfall measurement for synoptic systems
I have gone through the website of TRMM that explains how the TRMM satellite gather precipitation data- http://pmm.nasa.gov/node/158. During the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM), we have synoptic systems that deliver rainfall during the months of June…
user1066
8
votes
2 answers
The climatological variance of albedo, soil moisture in weather models
Looking at WRF currently but I am sure this applies to most weather models there is a file (specifically LANDUSE.TBL) that specifies USGS derived albedo, soil moisture and other parameters on a biannual basis - one for summer and one for winter.…
user1066
8
votes
2 answers
Distance to epicenter vs distance to focus
I am not really a "budding seismologist." I am a chemistry/physics teacher teaching an Earth science class (low academic level) in a small-town high school. (My college coursework in earth sciences = 0) I understand the concept of triangulation to…
Darwin Smith
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8
votes
0 answers
Shallow water height as vertical coordinate
In atmospheric physics we use often a variety of vertical coordinates, $z$ the height above some reference surface, or $r$ as distance from the planetary center.
However sometimes it simplifies the equations we want to solve by using other…
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
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8
votes
1 answer
Calculating the displacement of a fault
In the calculation of scalar moment magnitude of an earthquake we have the formula
$$M_0=\mu AD$$
where:
$\mu$ is the shear modulus of the rocks involved in the earthquake (in Pa)
$A$ is the area of the rupture along the geologic fault where the…
shrey
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8
votes
1 answer
About Earthquakes and their properties
I know this sounds like a crazy observation but San Francisco has a lot of HUGE buildings in the downtown area , millions of tons or probably more. Many Scientists think a big earthquake there is 'overdue' or maybe 'delayed' for some reason. I was…
201044
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8
votes
1 answer
About the effectiveness of sand-bags
Are there any recognized studies on the effectiveness of sand-bags in protecting property in some disaster or flood? Many times on the major news they talk about how sand-bags are used in a flood , how many people 'pull' together and make a great…
201044
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8
votes
1 answer
Should total ground heat flux be 0?
In the context of the land surface, the ground absorbs heat from radiation (also some times from precipitation and advection), and releases heat through evapotranspiration, advection and radiation, and run-off. If it were a closed system, you would…
naught101
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8
votes
1 answer
How to Calculate the Equilibrum Function for use in Tide Calculations using Harmonic Constituents
I have found a wealth of information using Harmonic Constituents to calculate tide levels. H(t) = Amplitude * cos ( t * harmonicSpeed + phase lag). Yet when I try to apply this to constituents from the NOAA the results never match the tables…
user824
8
votes
1 answer
How has river to ocean flux changed over the last 500 million years?
Do we have any rough indices of how this flux has changed? I'm particularly interested in knowing whether the flux was higher or lower during the time of Pangaea, or during the time of the unusually warm Eocene (or at least up to the earliest time…
InquilineKea
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8
votes
1 answer
Checking the bedrock with radiowaves - how does it work?
I've heard long ago that the rock material deeply below surface are checked by a device that acts like radar - it sends radiowaves into the ground, and geologists find out from reflections that what type of rock can be found there.
What's the name…
Zoltán Schmidt
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8
votes
1 answer
What is the long term impact of large scale removal of material from subterraneal caches on the structural integrity of the soil?
For example, sinkholes can be human induced:
New sinkholes have been correlated to land-use practices, especially
from groundwater pumping and from construction and development
practices. Sinkholes can also form when natural water-drainage
…
Isopycnal Oscillation
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8
votes
1 answer
Statistical weather prediction
Assuming I have time evolution of air temperature, air pressure, wind speed, wind direction, relative humidity and cloudiness, how can I predict weather based on this information?
I know that high air pressure increases chance of more concentrated…
Caters
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8
votes
1 answer
Correlating the Caledonian and Appalachian Orogenies
The Caledonian mountains and Appalachian mountains are recognised to be the roots of the same Palaeozoic orogenic belt. This has since been split in two with the opening of the Atlantic.
On the European side, two orogenies are recognised: the…
winwaed
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8
votes
1 answer
What's with this anomaly in this sounding (the CAPE and CIN readings)?
This sounding is from 2 hours after the 2.6 mile wide El Reno tornado on May 31 2013.
Kaz
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