Geology

Washington Thrust: Birth of a Mountain Range

Two hundred million years ago, Washington was two large islands, bits of continent on the move westward, eventually bumping up against the North American continent and calling it home. Even with their new fixed address, the shifting continues; the more ext ...

Blog Post - Heidi Henderson - Feb 25 2011 - 1:57pm

Chromium- The Secret Ingredient In Early Earth Formation

Early in the formation of the Earth, some forms of the element chromium separated and disappeared deep into the planet's core, according to a new study in Science. The team studied a class of meteorites called chondrites, which are leftovers from the ...

Article - News Staff - Feb 28 2011 - 6:44pm

My Favourite Geological Photo- AW #32

The theme of the latest Accretionary Wedge (a carnival of geoblogs) is “Throw me your ‘favorite geologic picture’ mister”, so here is mine: ...

Blog Post - Gareth Fabbro - Mar 6 2011 - 12:36pm

Japanese Earthquake Causes 'Supermoon' Concern

Astrologers are feeling pretty good today.   Because it's made up and not science, anything happening anywhere near a date they predict can be attribution, so talk of a 'supermoon'- a new or full moon at 90% of its closest perigee- followed ...

Article - Hank Campbell - Aug 24 2012 - 8:45am

The Upside To An 8.9 Earthquake: It Happened In Japan

The 8.9 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Japan was a devastating event and did unknown amounts of damage.    There is risk of fire, water shortages, power outages and radiation leaks, not to mention 1,000 dead.   (To separate mass media hype from fact ...

Blog Post - Hank Campbell - Mar 24 2011 - 3:08pm

Ancient Earthquakes- Researchers Devise Fossil Seismographs

Earthquakes are big news due to the devastating 8.9 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan on Friday.   As a result, some are curious about the worst earthquakes and resulting tsunamis we know about.   Prior to the 20th century, methods for measuring were ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 24 2011 - 3:06pm

Tokyo Still At Risk From Earthquake Aftershock

What do the Ansei-Nankai and Ansei-Tokai earthquakes of 1854 have in common with the 1944-1946 Tononkai and Nankai earthquakes in Japan?   They each suffered massive aftershocks shortly thereafter.    The Ansei-Nankai and Ansei-Tokai earthquakes were 8.4 m ...

Article - News Staff - Mar 24 2011 - 3:06pm

Japan Earthquake Increases Flood Risk In Fukushima

Japan Earthquake Increases Flood Risk In Fukushima During the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake in Japan, the ground level sank along the coast near Onahama Port,  Fukushima Prefecture. This has caused recent average tide levels to rise by about 40cm. A tide level r ...

Article - Patrick Lockerby - Mar 24 2011 - 3:04pm

Japan Tohoku Earthquake And Tsunami Warnings – Reading The Signals I

At the Top of the World. The massive 9.0 M earthquake at Tohoku, Japan, 11. March 2011 literally shook the entire planet. The signals were read even at the top of the world, close to the north pole. Read on to learn about earthquake and tsunami observatio ...

Article - Bente Lilja Bye - Mar 24 2011 - 3:02pm

Natural Hazards: Are Nevada Leaders About To Commit Political Suicide?

Have you noticed that whenever a [natural]disaster strikes we quickly look around to find a guilty party? The first place we look is among politicians. The politicians are not to blame for the natural disaster of course, at least not the nature part of it. ...

Article - Bente Lilja Bye - Apr 1 2011 - 3:46pm