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1500 questions
18
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Can climate models reliably predict meteorological extremes?

This question is related to and extension of my previous question which was about the methodology used to predict future climatic extremes: What is the methodology to analyze future climatic extremes using the results of climate models? Although the…
rozsasarpi
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18
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2 answers

Why does the Hadley cell descend at 30 degrees latitude?

George Hadley's initial model of the Hadley cell described air as being heated at the equator, ascending, and then moving aloft pole-wards where it would cool and descend. Meanwhile surface air would move towards the equator to take the place of…
Kenshin
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18
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What influences tide-height the most? Can I guess the height by looking on a globe?

I hope that the question title is resonably clear: What are the most significant factors which influence the tide height? I'm aware of the following couple of them: Sun-Earth-Moon relative position (higher tide when co-linear) Size of the…
yo'
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18
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2 answers

Why did people draw so many continuous squares in the sand on the beach at Cape Juby?

At Cape Juby, Morocco, we can see with Google Maps a rectangle of 3 km long, in which there is hundreds of little squares. What method was used to draw these squares on the sand? More importantly, why are these square drawn?
MagTun
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18
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3 answers

What is the difference between eluvium and alluvium?

I was reading about kimberlite on Wikipedia and it mentioned eluvium. I've heard of alluvium, alluvial fans, alluvial deposits, etc. However, when I looked up eluvium, it sounded exactly like alluvium. Indeed, looking at the Wikipedia articles, the…
Richard
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18
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1 answer

Paleogene transantarctic seaway

Lawver & Gahagan (1998; 2003) hypothesized, based on sea level records and the isostatically adjusted bedrock surface of Antarctica, the existence of a Trans-Antarctic Seaway linking the Ross Sea and the Weddell Sea, between the Antarctic peninsula…
plannapus
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18
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2 answers

What does it mean for waves to "feel" the bottom?

While typically waves are said to "feel" the bottom when the depth of the water is less than half the wavelength, what does it mean for the waves to "feel"? Furthermore, why does this happen at the depth of half the wavelength?
zergsomg
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18
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2 answers

What happens to global temperature when we stop all the vehicles for a year?

I know this is a very simple or naive question but am just being curious. How would the global temperature change if all vehicles stopped for a whole year?
Seeker
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18
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2 answers

Are there secondary causes of sea level change?

Aside from the fraction of water stored as ice on land and temperature of the water, are there other factors that change sea level, and if so what are is the magnitudes of the these changes? For example, by how much does sediment and soluble matter…
DavePhD
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What is the importance of mixing caused by outgassing in the ocean?

I have been asked the following question for which I have no clear answer: What is the relative importance on mixing of the vertical flow of gases (e.g., Oxygen produced by photosynthesis, CO2 produced in respiration, methane produce from hydrates)…
arkaia
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18
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1 answer

How long until Earth's core solidifies?

How much longer does Earth have until the core turns solid? Does global warming change these estimates at all?
Scottie
18
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1 answer

Why do tropical cyclones not tear themselves apart?

A tropical cyclone is the generic term for a hurricane, typhoon, or tropical storm. Tropical cyclones derive their energy from evaporation of water at the ocean surface which ultimately recondenses when it cools to the saturation point. The…
Chris Mueller
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18
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2 answers

Does Earth's core actually turn "backwards" at times?

Recent news articles related to this paper report the claim that Earth's solid inner core sometimes rotates backwards. The literal claim (as it appears in headlines) seems to make no sense given a basic understanding of friction and conservation of…
Anthony X
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18
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5 answers

Why do gold deposits form only in certain areas of the earth?

In the map above you can find that most elements are spread evenly throughout Earth's crust and that they are available all around the Earth. However, gold can only be found in certain areas of the planet such as Australia and Canada. Is there a…
Nirvik Baruah
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18
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3 answers

Why would it be drier indoors during the winter vs the summer?

Yesterday during the day, inside my house it was 16% relative humidity. Outside it was 69% relative humidity and cold, around 35 degrees Farenheit. It is always 72 degrees Farenheit inside the house. During the warmer months the humidity in the…
Tyler Durden
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