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Earth Sciences

Earth Sciences is the study of the Earth in terms of Geography, Geology, Geophysics, etc. It combines the use of Sciences such as Biology, Chemistry, Physics and Mathematics to understand the Earth System.

34,763 Questions

According to the most accurate clocks that we have will 31 December 2008 be any longer than 1 January 2009?

The world's official timekeepers have added a "leap second" to the last day of the year on Wednesday, to help match clocks to the Earth's slowing spin on its axis, which takes place at ever-changing rates affected by tides and other factors. The US Naval Observatory, keeper of the Pentagon's master clock, said it would add the extra second on Wednesday in coordination with the world's atomic clocks at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time, or UTC. That corresponds to 23:59:59 GMT, when an extra second will tick by - the 24th to be added to UTC since 1972, when the practice began. UTC is the time scale kept by highly precise atomic clocks around the world, accurate to about a billionth of a second per day, the Naval Observatory says. For those with a need for precision timing, it has replaced Greenwich Mean Time, or GMT. The decision to add or remove a second is the responsibility of the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, based on its monitoring of the Earth's rotation. The goal is to make sure clocks vary from the Earth's rotational time by no more than 0.9 seconds before an adjustment. That keeps UTC in sync with the position of the sun above the Earth. Mechanisms such as the Internet-based Network Time Protocol and the satellite-based Global Positioning System depend on precision timing. The first leap second was introduced into UTC on June 30, 1972. The last was added on December 31, 2005. They have been added at intervals ranging from six months to seven years, Daniel Gambis, head of the IERS Earth Orientation Centre at the Observatoire de Paris, wrote in an explanatory piece this month (http://hpiers.obspm.fr/eop-pc/). Among the reasons for Earth's slowing whirl on its axis are the braking action of tides, snow or the lack of it at the polar ice caps, solar wind, space dust and magnetic storms, according to the US Commerce Department's National Institute of Standards and Technology, another timekeeper. By contrast, a leap day, February 29, occurs once every four years because a complete turn around the sun - our year with all its seasons - takes about 365 days and six hours. In 1970, an international agreement established two time scales: one based on the Earth's rotation and another on highly accurate atomic clocks. The US Naval Observatory's master clock is based on a system that now includes 50 atomic clocks, 36 based on the element cesium and 14 known as hydrogen masers. With the Earth's rotation gradually slowing, the periodic insertion of a leap second into the atomic time scale is needed to keep the two systems within a second of each other.

Be very careful how you interpret the adding of leap seconds, though. You might think that the addition of 24 leap seconds since 1972 (or whatever the current count) means that the earth is now rotating at 24 seconds per day slower than it was in 1972. This is not the case; the real explanation is counter-intuitive.

What are 3 characteristics of main sequence stars?

Main Sequence stars are an average size, and as the surface temperatures of the star increase, the luminosity increases. The luminosity increases from red to blue-white is mostly related to an increase in star size and the resulting higher temperatures.

What is the Chixalub crater?

There are signs of a massive - ENORMOUS! - meteor crater in the Caribbean Sea, off the coast of Mexico at a place called Chicxulub, at the northern tip of the Yucatan peninsula. It is about 65 million years old.

All the dinosaurs died off about 65 million years ago. So did 85% of all life on Earth.

Could there be a connection? About 30 years ago, the scientist Luis Alvarez thought that the at-that-time accepted theories of what might have killed off the dinosaurs - a plague, a new predator, volcanoes - were too simplistic. Alvarez theorized that a cosmic impact might have played a factor. He was widely ridiculed for years, but his explanation is now widely accepted as correct.

What is the composition of the atmosphere of Jupiter?

The atmosphere of Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of methane, ammonia, water vapor, and other trace gases. It also contains various organic molecules and complex compounds.

Out of carbon helium hydrogen oxygen and uranium which is the main source of the suns energy?

Hydrogen The sun is just made up of Hydrogen 74.9% and Helium 23.8%. The suns high pressure, and temperature fuses hydrogen into helium. The process is called Nuclear Fusion, this releases a lot of energy.

The earth revolves around the sunsaid the teacher?

Teachers are sometimes correct, as in this case. The Sun is in the center of the solar system, while the Earth revolves around the Sun.

How do you be down to earth?

"Down to earth" is a colloqialism that is said about a person who is and conducts himself truthfully, honestly and gives of himself without reservation. Another such colloquialism is "salt of the earth"

Where might water be found on the moon?

Water on the moon can be found in the form of ice deposits in permanently shadowed craters near the poles. This water is likely preserved from comets impacting the moon's surface. There may also be water molecules embedded in the lunar soil and rocks.

What are not some characteristics of bacteria?

Well, if you're talking about characteristics that do NOT apply to bacteria but still apply to living things, then here's a list:

- belonging to the domain Eukarya (eubacteria belongs to Bacteria, and archaebacteria belongs to Archaea)

- being eukaryotic (having organelles and a nucleus)

- not having a cell wall (as both do, although eubacteria has peptoglycogen in its cell wall)

I noticed that this is under "Mycology or Fungus", so here are a few differences between fungus and bacteria:

- fungus have chitin in their cell walls

- fungus are *usually* multicellular (though not always)

- fungus get their food through absorption

When was the star Antares discovered?

Antares has been seen and noticed by all creatures looking at the night sky. Millions of years ago it was an important star in the heavens. Antares (α Scorpii, α Sco, Alpha Scorpii) is a red supergiant star in the Milky Way galaxy and the sixteenth brightest star in the nighttime sky (sometimes listed as fifteenth brightest, if the two brighter components of the Capella quadruple star system are counted as one star). Along with Aldebaran, Spica, and Regulus it is one of the four brightest stars near the ecliptic.

All these stars must have been known to the first astronomers, the Babylonians.

What is the chemical in yew tree bark?

The chemical in yew tree bark is taxol, which is a powerful anti-cancer compound that has been used in cancer treatments.

What is the name of a place that uses telescopes and other scientific equipment for research and astronomy?

An observatory is a place that uses telescopes and scientific equipment for astronomical research. Observatories are often located in remote and dark locations to minimize light pollution and atmospheric interference.

What is the earth made up of molten rock or magma?

The Earth's outer core is made of molten rock, or magma, but the Earth's mantle and crust are mostly made of solid rock. Magma is formed when rocks located deep in the Earth's mantle melt due to high temperatures and pressures.

How long will the Earth live approximately?

The Sun is gradually getting hotter (very slowly; millions of years before it's enough to be noticeable). In a couple of billion years it will increase enough that surface temperatures on Earth will be above the boiling point of water. It's not likely that any life will survive that. The Earth itself will still be around, it'll just be much like Venus is today: very hot and very dry. It will be another couple of billion years after that before the Sun turns into a red giant star, which will be large enough to consume Mercury and Venus and may be large enough to consume Earth as well.

Would you expect weathering to take place on the Moon Mars and Venus?

Not like on Earth. The moon has no atmosphere, so there is no wind or air at all to cause erosion. However, the moon is bombarded with objects in space that normally would burn up in our atmosphere, resulting in all of the craters that can be seen from the Earth.

Is a chigger an aphid?

it's a bug in your lawn out here in n.m. & no u can't give it to anyone else unless you have it as a pet ha,ha.

What does moderating climate mean?

Moderating climate refers to the ability of certain geographical features, such as oceans or mountains, to influence and stabilize local temperatures. These features can help to regulate temperature extremes by absorbing or releasing heat, creating a more temperate climate in an area.

How does the moon's surface help you breath?

The moon's surface does not directly impact breathing on Earth. The moon doesn't have an atmosphere like Earth, so there's no air or oxygen there for humans to breathe. The moon's gravity also is much weaker than Earth's, so our ability to breathe is not affected.

How is earth like an island?

Earth can be compared to an island because it is a finite and isolated system in the vastness of space. Just like islands, Earth has limited resources and ecosystems that need to be carefully managed to sustain life. In both cases, understanding and protecting the unique environment is essential for the survival of the inhabitants.

How did Canis Minor get its name?

Canis Minor translates to "smaller dog" in Latin, likely due to its proximity to Canis Major, the "larger dog" constellation. The Greek poet Aratus may have named it in the 3rd century BC. The brightest star in Canis Minor, Procyon, means "before the dog," possibly indicating that it rises before Canis Major in the night sky.

How do temperatures on the moon differ from those on Earth?

Temperatures on the moon can vary significantly, ranging from extremely hot during the day (up to 127 degrees Celsius) to very cold at night (as low as -173 degrees Celsius). This is due to the lack of atmosphere to regulate temperatures like on Earth where the atmosphere traps heat.

Why is the nitrogen cycle important for the growth of plants?

Nitrogen actually is a big part of chlorophyll which is the chemical that gives plants their dark green color. During fall plants turn colors other than green because they lose their chlorophyll. So Nitrogen does give plants the dark green color that looks so great. However, if you get too much nitrogen in the soil, then it will start hurting the plant.

What does earth's axis point towards?

Currently the Earth's pole points toward Polaris in Ursa Minor. 5000 years ago it pointed towards Vega.