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Encounters With Giant Sharks In The Arctic

It was one of these extremely rare days of calms seas far north in the world. When visiting the...

On Water And Subsidence In Mexico City

Mexico City has the best hotel shower ever. I am not one to spend a long time in the shower, but...

Citizen Science Then And Now. Want To Play The Game?

Our cabin is situated in one of the most remote places in Norway. My family got the place in the...

World Biodiversity Day: Wetlands, Biodiversity And The Role Of Earth Observations

It is somehow ingrained in my body, I think. The appreciation of biodiversity. I know I love wetlands...

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Bente Lilja ByeRSS Feed of this column.

Earth science expert and astrophysicist writes about Earth observation, geodesy, climate change, geohazards, water cycle and other science related topics.

Today I do research and provide... Read More »

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Saturday in Space: Solar Coronal Rain

Saturday in Space: Solar Coronal Rain

Feb 23 2013 | comment(s)

My favorite star, our very own Sun, has a multitude of spectacular features she shows off with grandeur. In fact, the Sun was the subject of my thesis and so she is extra special to me.

When you think about all the billions and billions of stars out there in the vast universe, we are very lucky to live so close to one of them. This ball of fire, an electromagnetic plasma wonderland, is still quite a mystery to us. With the help of the likes of NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) we keep adding new information and perhaps understanding to our knowledge capital. I like to think so.
Saturday in Space: Belated Valentine Special

Saturday in Space: Belated Valentine Special

Feb 17 2013 | comment(s)

My Heart and Soul is in space. There is not a shred of doubt about that. Since I was a little girl my head has been turned in an upward direction - often both physically and mentally. Come Valentine's Day and my thoughts go straight into space.

Heart and Soul Nebulae
Meteor Spectacularly Enters Earth's Atmosphere Above Russia

Meteor Spectacularly Enters Earth's Atmosphere Above Russia

Feb 15 2013 | comment(s)

What a spectacular coincidence! A meteor hitting Earth on the day the asteroid 2012 DA14 is passing close by!

When I was contemplating what kind of natural disasters I should throw in the scenarios for my Planet Earth: Extreme Beauty - Extreme Danger I was considering a big asteroid NOT missing the target for once. I chose a major blast from the Sun instead as that is something that happens more frequently anyhow, at least at certain points in time of the Sun spot cycle.
Landsat 8 Satellite Launch: Saving And Making Money With Earth Observations

Landsat 8 Satellite Launch: Saving And Making Money With Earth Observations

Feb 11 2013 | comment(s)

NASA has got the hang of it now. Creating an almost unbearable suspense before the launching of a new satellite, that is. Actually, the last time NASA tortured us with excitement was in connection with a landing, and not a launching. I am of course referring to Curiosity's landing on Mars. That went well, to put it mildly. Both the 'show' and now the results that are ticking in from the mission. Currently it is drill baby, drill mode on Mars!

Landsat 8 satellite
Saturday in Space: Chinese Year of The Snake - in Space 春节: 蛇

Saturday in Space: Chinese Year of The Snake - in Space 春节: 蛇

Feb 09 2013 | comment(s)

The Chinese Spring Festival or Chun Jie starts tomorrow 10th February. In case you are unfamiliar with the annual animals in the Chinese calendar we are now entering the year of the snake - 蛇 She ( water version). For most westerners the Spring Festival is known as the Chinese New Year.
8.0 Earthquake Generated A Tsunami Between Santa Cruz Islands And Solomon Islands

8.0 Earthquake Generated A Tsunami Between Santa Cruz Islands And Solomon Islands

Feb 06 2013 | comment(s)

Puh! Another big one. Earthquakes of magnitude 8.0 are big to put it mildly. Luckily it happened deeper in the crust than first anticipated and thus the resulting tsunami wasn't as devastating as it very well could have been. While writing this 5 people are reported dead, but I am not so sure about the source of that information (only from news media).

The Solomon islands in the Pacific Ocean are situated right smack on the Ring of Fire - a 'ring' formed by tectonic plates meeting and rubbing up against each other. Along the Ring of Fire there is a lot going on in terms of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions easily spotted on maps with historic data of tectonic activity.