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1500 questions
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2 answers
How is carbon distributed among the atmosphere, the oceans, the biomass and the unburnt fossil fuels?
In relation to my other question about carbon cycle and climate change, i would like to know some estimates of the carbon distribution among the atmosphere, the oceans, the biomass and the unburnt fossil fuels.
Here are more specific parts of this…
Alexey
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Are there situations where the groundwater table doesn't follow the morphology of the surface?
In most or all geological site reports I read, the groundwater table (of the uppermost groundwater layer) always followed the morphology of the surface. Is this always the case? Are there signs for situation where this might not be the case,…
mart
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How much silicon is in the Earth's core, and how did it get there?
With some informal conversation with a peer of mine, he had suggested that there is evidence (which he couldn't find,but had remembered reading) that there was Silicon in the Earth's core. I referred to him to a rather famous paper by Micheal Drake…
Neo
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5 answers
How is rainfall measured when the news speaks of "two inches of rain"
I left a wheelbarrow outside overnight and it rained heavily. This morning, the water in the wheelbarrow is five (5) inches deep. It's not sitting under an eave where water might have been channeled to it, but out in the back yard fully exposed to…
Tim
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16
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1 answer
How much would the Greenland landmass isostatic rebound contribute to long term climate change?
In reading the question What would the geology and climate of a supposed landmass near the pole be like, assuming a thoroughly warmer planet?, it came to mind that another factor may cause a shift in the long term climatic patterns should the…
user889
16
votes
1 answer
How much fossil fuel came from the Carboniferous?
It is said that most of the fossil fuels in existence today (coal, oil, gas) came from the Carboniferous period. A unique set of circumstances lead to the creation of fossil fuels, which depends on anaerobic decomposition:
Plants evolved bark as an…
congusbongus
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Potential explanations of Red Sea crossing
I am looking for a believable explanation of the Red Sea Crossing in the Bible. This would involve either strong winds(which is mentioned in the Bible) or plate tectonics which could cause land to rise up and fall again.
My problem with wind is that…
user1278255
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2 answers
How did this rock dome (pictured) form?
I saw this rock formation near Hveravellir, Iceland. It is probably of volcanic origin and looks like a dome. It is nearly symmetric and appears to consist of hardened lava maybe, with several very big cracks that divide it into sections. It is…
h22
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6 answers
Is the Earth's hot inner core necessary for life?
The inner core of the Earth has an enormous temperature of around 4300 degrees Celsius. Is this large inner core temperature an important factor contributing to the ideal temperature that is necessary to maintain life as we know it on the Earth's…
Kenshin
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How will climate change affect the 3D distribution of lapse rate in the atmosphere?
The lapse rate is the rate at which temperature decreases with height. By "3D" distribution, I mean distribution across all latitudes, longitudes, and heights.
Would climate change change the lapse rate more in the poles than the tropics? Would…
InquilineKea
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Why won't Yellowstone explode?
From my understanding Yellowstone is a massive super-volcano, so why isn't it active? Where has its (correct me if I'm using the wrong term) hot-spot gone? Can it still erupt?
tox123
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6 answers
Geothermal instead of fossil and nuclear?
Why aren't we taking advantage of geothermal heating to produce electricity around the world, instead of burning fossil fuels and using nuclear?
Wouldn't it be a lot cheaper than building new power stations that cost billions?
If we can drill oil…
George
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How will cloud feedback effects on the climate change as the result of global warming?
So global warming will increase the tropospheric temperatures, which, in turn, would make the clouds higher than they otherwise would be.
And higher clouds (especially cirrus clouds) tend to trap in more long-wave radiation. It's the low clouds…
InquilineKea
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3 answers
Why did the Australian bushfires cause pitch darkness during the daytime?
Saturday 4th January was truly an extroadinary and terrible day for the south-east corner of Australia. Skies turned pitch black at around 3-5 pm, when normally these areas would be in daylight. I have never been aware of this sort of phenomenon. Is…
Al2110
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16
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4 answers
Why does warm air "hold" more moisture?
It is often explained that warm air holds more water because warmer water is less likely to condense. This and other explanations just seem to be circular arguments. If the warmer air picks up enough moisture it will saturate and then water will…
Clark
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