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1500 questions
10
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1 answer
What principles do we consider when selecting an air pollution monitor location?
I'm working on a project aiming at finding some potential point as a new air pollutant monitor site for a city to measure $SO_2$, $NO_2$, $PM_{2.5}$, etc.
After modeling the surface concentration of the area, here is my select standard:
The…
Han Zhengzu
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10
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3 answers
Why is the elevation of the Iberian Peninsula so high?
The Iberian peninsula lies more than 600 m above sea level, on average, far above similar geological regions in western Europe. Even tectonically undeformed areas in the inner basins present a topography and a sedimentary infill sometimes higher…
DrGC
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How deep could the surface of the Earth's crust get?
In theory, how deep can a natural formation on the surface of the Earth's crust be? What are the limits to this depth?
Zoltán Schmidt
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Why does the rising of high clouds due to climate change impart positive radiative feedback on radiative forcing?
As seen in the figure below.
The larger the temperature difference between surface and cloud, the more positive the radiative forcing is from the cloud.
So as the cloud moves up, it supposedly should move into a colder altitude. But doesn't climate…
InquilineKea
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What is the smallest grid spacing that Eulerian air quality models should use?
The University of Washington runs the Advanced Research Weather Research & Forecasting (WRF) model in predictive mode, and then tests the skill of the model anywhere from 12 - 84 hours out from the initialization time. The accuracy of the wind and…
f.thorpe
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10
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1 answer
Does this optical phenomenon have a name?
Last summer, I snuck out with a row boat around 4am. Eventually with the sun risen but still quite low in the horizon, I was rowing in the middle of the absolutely still lake when I witnessed an optical phenomenon unlike anything that I've ever seen…
user158589
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10
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1 answer
Formation of flint & chert in limestones/chalk
Chert and flint are commonly found in chalky deposits (and have obvious importance in human history as tools). What are the processes of diagenesis of these silica-rich nodules in otherwise silica-poor horizons?
kaberett
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10
votes
2 answers
How to measure ocean vertical velocity?
While horizontal velocities in the ocean are relatively easy to measure, what methods are available to measure vertical velocities? Is there some indirect way to estimate vertical velocities from observations?
arkaia
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10
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2 answers
Does lapse rate apply below sea level?
In many parts of the world there are dry lands below sea level, such as parts of the Netherlands. Since we know that temperature decreases with increasing altitude, does it mean that temperature will increase as we go lower below sea level?
zbz.lvlv
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Is it physically possible to see mountains from 500 km away?
Quoting from lecture notes of Andrew young at San Diego State University:
For less extreme, but very reliable, observations, consider some listed by Commander C. L. Garner of the Coast and Geodetic Survey in 1933 [...] He also credits the 1911…
Gerald Fluhrer
10
votes
1 answer
Simplest formula of a calcium phosphate mineral?
I had a homework question:
Given the formula:
$$\ce{Ca}_x\ce{(PO4)}_y\ce{OH}$$
Find the lowest possible values of $x,y$ and state (look up) the mineral name.
Based on the anion charges I know, and trying to balance them, I would…
Mecury-197
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10
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3 answers
Can volcanos change the climate?
I have heard politicians claiming that volcanoes are the sole cause of global warming and using so called "NASA data" to show that the Earth is actually cooling instead of warming.
While the nature of this site is for specific questions and not for…
Lucian09474
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1 answer
Why are there different vertical gradients of temperature in different layers of the atmosphere?
The temperature of the troposphere decreases with altitude whereas it is opposite in the stratosphere and again fluctuates. Why is this so?
Jayanth Kumar
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10
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1 answer
What color(s) would Earth be without water or life?
Many of the celestial bodies in our solar system have well-established color schemes, at least in the minds of the public. Mars is pale-red and black, Venus (beneath the clouds) is generally shown in rich yellows and oranges, the Moon ranges from…
Nerrolken
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10
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Explanation for growing circular echo on weather radar?
Does anybody have an explanation for the growing ring/growing circular echo that I occasionally see on weather radar? Attached is a gif of a NEXRAD loop showing areas around Denver, CO, Aug. 2, 2015 3:46 PM to 4:32 PM local time.
Patrick
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