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1500 questions
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Will global climate change alter the interannual and/or intraseasonal variance of temperature and/or precipitation?
A quick skim of the regional chapters in AR5 shows predicted changes to average temperature and precipitation. If I understand (in rough terms) the modelling methodologies used, a variety of models (an ensemble) are run many times each, each with…
generic_user
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14
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What is this strange feature on Mars in Valles Marineris
While I was browsing Mars on Google Earth, I stumbled upon an interesting feature on one of the slopes of Valles Marineris. The feature seems unique in the sense that I couldn't find any similar element on the valley.
It made me think of sand that…
Tony
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Where does the water from rain in rain forests come from?
When discussing a hypothetical world without oceans and just forest it occured to me that I wasn't so sure there would be any rain in the first place, due to the lack of oceans. Searching on Google however I found out that trees transpire a whole…
David Mulder
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How important is understanding linear algebra in groundwater modeling?
I am considering taking a course in linear algebra and wanted to get a survey to see how important it is. My goal is not just to understand how to push the buttons in some software (e.g. GW Vistas, Aquiferwin32), but to really understand how…
Anthony
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14
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2 answers
Why is a seismogram interpreted as a convolution?
I remember reading in a geology book that a seismogram is a convolution between a source signal and propagation effects. In layman's terms, what does this really mean?
Paul
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14
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How are subsurface wave speeds determined without subsurface sensors?
This is something I've never quite understood from a geology class I took years ago:
Consider the following picture (courtesy of wikipedia)
Obviously, we can't possibly have sensors deep in the mantle (or core). So, how exactly are these wave…
Paul
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14
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3 answers
How have global sedimentation rates changed over the last billion years?
Do we have a graph of how sedimentation rates changed over time?
InquilineKea
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14
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3 answers
How and where do double-terminated crystals form?
How and where do double-terminated crystals form?
Most terminated crystals form by 'growing' out of a rock. Which causes one side to be flat,(or whatever the shape of the rock it 'grew' out of was shaped like), and the other side to be 'terminated'.…
Azzie Rogers
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14
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6 answers
Is there value in using a model that fails at validation against measurements?
Say we have a model that describes a physical or dynamical system, for example, a hydrological model. If the model results do not match the measurements of the quantity being simulated, i.e. the model validation fails, is there any value in using…
user6784
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'Peak water' in the Ogallala Aquifer, USA?
According to the United States Geological Survey Report (USGS) Groundwater Depletion in the United States (1900–2008), the Ogallala Aquifer (or High Plains Aquifer) is a vital source of groundwater for a major agricultural region in the United…
user889
14
votes
1 answer
How are Richter magnitudes of past earthquakes estimated?
In reading about historical major earthquakes, in particular, the Great Shaanxi Earthquake that killed approximately 830,000 people in July, 1556, there is a claim made about the approximate Richter scale magnitude:
Later scientific investigation…
user889
14
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2 answers
How do we measure the total heat content contained in ocean and atmosphere?
This is similar to How is ocean heat content measured?, but here I'm thinking about the total content rather than fluxes in the content between land and ocean.
InquilineKea
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14
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Color of ocean waters and Ekman pumping - what is the connection?
Is there a connection between the colors of oceanic waters near the coast and Ekman pumping? Along the coastal areas of the Bay of Bengal where I live, occasionally during the monsoon, the colors of the waters become aquamarine, only to become sky…
user1066
14
votes
4 answers
How to get cell indices from latitude and longitude in WRF model grids?
I am using Weather Research and Forecasting model WRF and the WRF Preprocessing System WPS and could not get a satisfying answer from wrfhelp. Can anyone guide me in transforming latitude and longitude to grid points especially for nested grids?…
user1066
14
votes
1 answer
Successful Earthquake predictions
Have there been any instances where seismologists have successfully predicted the occurrence of earthquakes?
If so, then why has the number of scientists working on this area has declined (as compared to topics like Hazard Assessment) ?
shrey
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