August 27, 2015
Arctic climate change marked by warmer, wetter conditions
At least since satellite observations began four decades ago, climbing temperatures have chipped away at Arctic sea ice, causing earlier spring …
The EARTH archive
August 2015
Explore the archive by subject.
47 articles · Page 1 of 2
August 25, 2015
Hazardous Living: Maps, according to geologists
If you have geologist friends, you may have run across some humorous world maps on social media lately. These maps have garnered lots of …
August 21, 2015
Snake forebear had two back legs but no front legs
The more than 3,400 species of snakes alive today may have descended from one ancestor that lacked forelimbs, but which had small vestigial hind …
August 21, 2015
Sea-level rise accelerating
Studies tracking sea-level rise over the past few decades have been all over the map, with reports variously indicating that the rate of rise has …
August 21, 2015
Ocean 'sneezes' spread algae-infecting virus
Microscopic phytoplankton, or microalgae, permeate ocean surfaces, sometimes forming huge blooms visible from space. Nutrient concentrations in …
August 21, 2015
Seismometers listen for falling rocks
Scores of natural rockfalls occur in California’s Yosemite Valley every year, often with little or no advance warning, posing hazards to people …
August 21, 2015
Oldest birds unearthed in China
The discovery of two well-preserved fossils in the Sichakou Basin of northeastern China has pushed back the known evolutionary record of birds by …
August 21, 2015
Ancient marine reptiles born alive and ready to hunt
Mosasaurs, giant marine reptiles found in all the world’s oceans during the Late Cretaceous, may have reached up to 18 meters in length, and they …
August 21, 2015
Earth-like atmosphere enough to set some exoplanets spinning
Earth is “Exhibit A” in showing that planetary rotation — which moderates global climate, keeps a lot of water in liquid form and generally makes …
August 21, 2015
Map shows where lightning zaps most
Lightning strikes far more often over land than sea and is more concentrated closer to the equator — both testaments to the greater atmospheric …
August 21, 2015
De-evolving the bird beak
The transition from dinosaurs with snouts to birds with beaks was a pivotal change in the evolution of dinosaurs into birds during the Late …
August 20, 2015
Energy Notes: February 2014-2015
U.S. Oil & Petroleum Imports (million of barrels per day) ' Oil and petroleum imports data are preliminary numbers taken from the American …
August 20, 2015
Down to Earth With: Engineer Jeffrey Bielicki
With degrees in mechanical engineering, business administration and public administration from a variety of prestigious universities, one might …
August 7, 2015
Volcanic lightning turns ash into glass
Within the ash plumes of explosive volcanic eruptions, collisions among countless pyroclastic particles sometimes lead to the buildup of static …
August 6, 2015
Geomedia: Toys: LEGO® geoscientists break through the brick ceiling
Many adults probably remember the childhood fun of LEGO® toys, the plastic bricks from which you could build forts, cars, houses, planes, cities …
August 6, 2015
Fate of atolls not necessarily tied to sea-level rise
The western Pacific Ocean is home to many atolls: rings of low-lying islands built from calcite sands and the erosional remnants of coral reefs. …
August 6, 2015
Thorny plant marks West African diamond deposits
Editor’s note: This story was updated on Oct. 9, 2015, to fix an error in the size of the kimberlite pipe. West Africa is famous for diamonds, …
August 6, 2015
Trip-planning resources
If you are thinking of making one or more of your field trips accessible, the International Association for Geoscience Diversity (IAGD), an …
August 6, 2015
Geology for everyone: Making the field accessible
On Oct. 18, 2014, at the annual meeting of the Geological Society of America (GSA) in Vancouver, British Columbia, the society hosted, for the …
August 3, 2015
Where on Earth? - August 2015
Clues for August 2015: The well-weathered granite on this craggy (and definitely not “smooth”) hilltop is part of a batholith formed near the end …
August 3, 2015
Getting there and getting around Texas' Trans-Pecos
If you’re driving through West Texas on Interstate 10, which runs from Jacksonville, Fla., to Santa Monica, Calif., you’ll pass right through the …
July 17, 2015
Energy Notes: January 2014-2015
U.S. Oil & Petroleum Imports (million of barrels per day) ' Oil and petroleum imports data are preliminary numbers taken from the American …
July 17, 2015
Mineral Resource of the Month: Gemstones
U.S. Geological Survey mineral commodity specialist Donald W. Olson has compiled the following information on gemstones, which are prized above …
July 17, 2015
Ice (Re) Cap: August 2015
From Antarctica to the Arctic; from polar caps, permafrost and glaciers to ocean-rafted sea ice; and from burly bears to cold-loving microbes, …