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1500 questions
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Is it theoretically possible to artificially create amber?

It is said of amber that it requires thousands of years of time and much pressure to produce amber from tree resin. This was also said of diamond as well, but we now produce artificial diamonds by the ton. So the question is, could we not make…
Cyberherbalist
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How does heat get transported between the surface layer, twilight zone, and the deep ocean?

Just as importantly, how do we measure the heat that's transported from the surface layer into the twilight zone and deep oceans?
InquilineKea
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What are the factors that dictate a given topology for seismometer placement around a volcano?

The image below (borrowed from [#1]) shows the topology of the seismometers around the volcano Stromboli. In the text, they explain the following: The seimometers were set on the flanks of the volcano, forming three rings around the crater …
jonsca
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Why don't terrestrial storms heat up the upper atmosphere?

I was reading some articles on Jupiter, when I stumbled across this article, which said that the Great Red Spot makes the upper atmosphere really, really hot. As in "hotter-than-lava". This apparently occured due to large sound waves and atmospheric…
Alastor
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What makes the conditions at the core/mantle boundary ideal for aluminum to combine with other elements besides oxygen?

Recently, steinhardite was accepted as a new mineral by the International Mineralogical Association. It's quite an interesting story in its own right. There's an interesting article in New Scientist about it, but it's paywalled. The formula for…
jonsca
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How does the composition of volcanic rock change as it makes its ascent towards the surface?

A schematic for the fluid mechanics of a volcano is represented below. Graciously borrowed from Figure 1 of the reference cited below From the caption of that figure: During explosive eruptions, bubble walls rupture catastrophically at the …
jonsca
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What are these "ship wrecks" (pictured) in the old volcano crater?

They consists of stone, of course, but have strange U cross section, as if they were the remaining of some ships without the head and tail section. Could anyone tell how have they formed? They almost perfectly in the center of the old, flat volcano…
h22
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Why is the Coriolis effect zero near the equator?

I came to know that Coriolis effect is maximum at the poles and negligible at the equator. I could not figure a logical meaning behind it. Could someone please explain? Also, does it have anything to do with the trade winds and the ITCZ?
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How to convert units of averaging kernel from DU/DU to ppbv/ppbv

For validation of model data, I want to compare the ozone data from model to the satellite results downloaded from the following link: The satellite data are in DU(Dobson Unit) while the model data are in ppbv. To make them comparable, I converted…
Mala Pokhrel
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How cold would the Earth have to be for the oceans to freeze entirely?

I imagine it is difficult for the ocean to freeze solid due to the low freezing point of salt water and the insulating effect of the formation of sea ice over the cool but still liquid ocean water. Certainly for the ocean to freeze entirely, I think…
user13823
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4 answers

Why does the Arctic warm so fast despite being so white?

It may be a silly question but why does the Arctic warm so fast despite being so white ("albedo" is the word, I believe)? Isn't all that whiteness supposed to deflect all those pesky sun rays back into space (or wherever)? I heard on BBC that they…
Sergey Zolotarev
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Why does this shoreline change this way?

There are different reasons why a shoreline can change, including tides. But I've found a phenomenon that I can't explain. It happens in a Mediterranean beach called L'Esparrelló/La Caleta (link to Google Maps). The central part on this beach (maked…
Ivan
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How authentic was the movie scene in "The day after tomorrow" related to the understanding of the north Atlantic current system?

Today's The Guardian headline was that Climate crisis: Scientists spot warning signs of Gulf Stream collapse. It reminded an old movie called "The Day After Tomorrow", which suggested the possible global events if the north Atlantic current got…
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What significant factors influencing geological change are still occurring?

I am teaching a secondary school course on my state's local history. The textbook begins with the history of the first humans, yet I think it is unfair not to start back much earlier, introducing the geologic history. Students finished a lesson on…
Village
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Relation of El Niño to Monsoons

Scientists are forecasting a weak to moderate El Niño event to emerge in the coming months, what causes this to happen? Once developed, how will the El Niño conditions effect progressive monsoon systems?
user668