The NOAA National Geophysical Data Center maintains a data set of annual magnetic north pole coordinates going back to the year 1590, derived from early measurements from ships logs to modern day techniques. Noting that there has been lots of reporting of pole shift lately, to the point where the phenomenon is actually causing real-world…
Permalink The recent changes at Tampa Bay International Airport regarding magnetic pole re-calibration and runway closure, chart alignment and runway number paint, could become a normal procedure for airports across the land. As an example nearby Peter O’Knight Airport is also scheduling similar changes at their facility. It’s no surprise to many people that the…
Permalink Remember that volcano that disrupted European air traffic for a few weeks during April, 2010? Have any idea how big its magma chamber would be if it were shaped like a sphere? Volcanoes are rated on a scale called the Volcanic Explosivity Index, or VEI. The VEI scale ranges from 1 to 8, and…
Permalink The upcoming solar cycle maximum is due to peak during 2012 and 2013. We will be seeing more and more images of the sun as an increasing number of sunspots, solar flares, and CME’s (coronal mass ejection) get our attention and make the news over the next few years. Given the interest of this…
Permalink As interest heightens while we approach the next 11-year solar cycle maximum during 2012 – 2013, Interesting facts about the sun The sun has three layers, Radiative Zone (innermost layer of nuclear fusion) Convective Zone (where the heat moves slowly from the inner layer to the surface) Photosphere (the layer that we can…
Permalink I choose to look at the world ending 2012 hype from a scientific point of view as I search and read information on the subject. There are lots of differing explanations regarding the various galactic alignments and their significance. There are many religious viewpoints, predictions, and prophecies that are swirling around the topic, any…
The average time between Katla eruptions since 80 BC is 52 years. The Icelandic volcano has pretty much followed this average time between eruptions except for a few instances, one of which extended 190 years leading to the eruption of 1150. However there is some controversy regarding an eruption in the year 1000 (which would…
Permalink A significant danger from volcanoes is the volcanic ash that can be ejected high into the atmosphere and cause severe local or regional damage, or even world wide longer term disruption. Luckily, the majority of current and recent volcanic activity has not resulted in severe damage beyond local vicinities. But there are lots of…
Volcanoes What are volcanoes? How Are Volcanoes Formed? A volcano in eruption is one of the most dramatic, fascinating, terrorizing, and awesome displays of the destructive power of nature. A mountain that suddenly blows up into a mountain of fire, gases, rock and ash can change our lives in a hurry! Mantle The earths…
Observing the volcanic ash cloud and the disruptions to northern Europe from Iceland’s recent volcanic eruption has caused me to think about other scenarios which would have grim and wider consequences from an event called a Super Volcano. Our experiences with volcanoes have for the most part been with classifications that are somewhat tame in…
