The longest geological cycle identified is described as about 600 million years in "Megacycles", the proceedings of a geological conference, Edited by G Williams. However Prof. S. Afanasiev of Moscow has determined the cycle very accurately to be 586.24 million years using his Nanocycles Method. It so happens that cosmologists, Broadhurst, T.J., Ellis, R.S., Koo, D.C. & Szalay (Nature 343, p 726) have observed regular mega-walls of galaxies at spacings that they describe as 128 Mpc/h, which based on the latest Hubble constant values would correspond to 588 million light years. Some cosmologists have suggested that the regularity might result from standing waves. Standing waves in space of wavelength 586 million light years would oscillate in 586 million years. In addition, if there are present harmonics of these waves as both the geological cycles and the additional peaks in the galaxy survey indicate, then powerfully energetic events would recur on Earth at these intervals. This agreement on the wave sizes actually allows a much more accurate Hubble constant to be determined from Afanasiev's accurate cycle period.

A documentary about volcanic eruptions.

A documentary about volcanic eruptions.

Building upon a legacy of coastal science at Scripps, high-tech tools are opening new avenues for researchers to track sand movements and further explain beach systems.

Biological activity in the oceans might make the difference between clear skies and cloudy, Scripps researchers say.

This course will introduce you to a variety of topics from different disciplines within the Earth sciences, with the aim of piquing your interest in areas of current research being conducted here at Penn State.

A geologist probes the earliest secrets of the planet looking for traces of ancient life forms.

Originally posted by SDSC on SDSC's CI Channel at: www.cichannel.orgKim Bak Olsen, Associate Professor Department of Geological Sciences at San Diego State University, California discusses earthquake simulations.

Fifty years after Sputnik, satellites peering down on Earth have become valuable scientific tools to study the global environment and offer much needed insight into the future of our planet.

Using the Extend 'connect-the-components' visual programming, students can model and simulate ecosystems including social and economic forces as well as study parameter variations to develop an understanding of ecosystem function and productivity.

By making 'what if...' changes in the model, the effects of various proposed decisions about the environment can then be shown.

EDM includes three ecological systems: Ponds, Grasslands, and Logging. Students can predict results of changes in the models and explore relationships.

First, you diagram a model of the system showing parts and connections among them. For example, components of the model, such as the sun, are placed on the computer screen. Each component is linked to the others with a mathematical relationship, such as the transfer of the sun's energy to plants.

Values are entered into block dialog boxes to characterize the interactions of the components, such as the amount of sunlight at a particular location or the initial number of bluegill in a pond. When the simulation is run, you can see the growth curves of the various components of the system.

Our four goals for the course are: 1) To help you become better-informed citizens on topics that may affect you in the future such as:  groundwater pollution, biodiversity, volcanic hazards, etc., 2) To demonstrate what is and is not believable about science--those subjects on which scientists are usually correct versus those on which scientists have no special expertise., 3) To give you enough geological background that you will get more out of your next visit to a national park, and 4) To show you enough beautiful places that you can’t wait to go out and visit some of them.

Originally posted by SDSC on SDSC's CI Channel at: www.cichannel.org. Geoscience in Cyberinfrastructure by Dogan Seber

Sampling of aquatic microorganisms reveals a surprising feature of many open water systems - stratification.

Students can model the effects of reducing nutrient loads to surface waters on microbial populations and oxygen levels within the Mississippi River basin and Gulf of Mexico Hypoxia Zone.

Planktonic and benthic microbes occupy distinct zones in stratified water columns. Explore how the benthic consumer populations respond to environmental cues such as changes in sunlight, wind effects, or increases in organics due to pollution with the model HypoxiaZone.

Although hypoxia zones are natural phenomena, increasing pollution from human activities and natural events is affecting the size and persistence of these zones in ways that threaten to disrupt the natural ecology of the systems.

Deciphering the secrets of past climate hidden in ice cores depends on the technical skills and ingenuity under pressure of drillers from ICDS, the University of Wisconsin-Madison's Ice Coring and Drilling Services. In this video, ICDS staffers Lou, Mike and Jay explain why they enjoy the life of drillers, braving extreme cold in some of the remotest regions of the globe. Mike says drilling requires both science and art, and why he keeps his hand on the cable even when it's minus 20; Lou talks about feeling connected to the equipment in order to keep it running properly, and Jay explains the satisfaction of having fun amidst beautiful scenery, and helping obtain good data for the researchers.

The inception of the "Keeling Curve," a history of atmospheric carbon dioxide levels, marked a key moment in American science history. The record began in March, 1958 at a small observatory on the top of Hawaii's Mauna Loa.

Research News from Iowa State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Lisa Schulte, Iowa State University Landscape Ecologist, discusses her latest publication Homogenization of northern U.S. Great Lakes forests due to land use.

After two decades watching atmospheric oxygen levels drop, a Scripps researcher's conclusions about climate could leave one feeling light-headed.

Resonance is the quality of transmitting even tiny signals between systems that are tuned to the same frequency. Given that cycles of common period are found pervading many different disciplines, perhaps an explanation may be found in resonance. An example is the 160 minute (and associated 80 minute cycle) cycle, found in biological systems, outer planetary spacings, the rotation rates of planets, asteroids and binary stars, solar oscillation and flux and galactic cores. A cosmic pervading vibration is the most likely cause, but this is not even considered in conventional cosmology.

The historic city of Venice, Italy is sinking. City leaders have called upon Scripps and a multifaceted team of experts to help decipher the mysteries lying beneath its waters and save the city.