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Earth and Atmospheric Sciences

Hurricans and Tropical Storms_NASA_070522A
[NASA - Two hurricanes and two tropical storms in the Atlantic basin on September 4, 2019 as seen from the GOES-16 satellite.]
 

- Overview

Understanding the past and present to guide the future. 

Atmospheric Science is the study of weather analysis and predictability, climate and global change, the circulation of the atmosphere relating to weather systems and their impact on the Earth, air quality, and other atmospheric processes that affect us. 

Discovery and understanding in Atmospheric Science is critical to our resiliency, and preparedness ­so that we may meet the most pressing challenges of our atmosphere-dependent systems. 

Earth science can be considered to be a branch of planetary science, but with a much older history. Earth science encompasses four main branches of study, the lithosphere, the hydrosphere, the atmosphere, and the biosphere, each of which is further broken down into more specialized fields. 

 

- Earth Science

Earth science or geoscience includes all fields of natural science related to the planet Earth. This is a branch of science dealing with the physical, chemical, and biological complex constitutions and synergistic linkages of Earth's four spheres, namely biosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere. 

There are both reductionist and holistic approaches to Earth sciences. It is also the study of Earth and its neighbors in space. Some Earth scientists use their knowledge of the planet to locate and develop energy and mineral resources. Others study the impact of human activity on Earth's environment, and design methods to protect the planet. 

Some use their knowledge about Earth processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and hurricanes to plan communities that will not expose people to these dangerous events.  

 

- Atmospheric Science

Atmospheric science is the study of the Earth's atmosphere and its physical processes. It can be considered a subdiscipline of environmental science. 

Atmospheric science is traditionally divided into three topical areas:

  • Meteorology: The study and forecasting of weather
  • Climatology: The study of long-term atmospheric patterns and their influences
  • Aeronomy: The study of the physics and chemistry of the upper atmosphere

Atmospheric science also includes:

  • Weather analysis and forecasting
  • Climate and global change
  • The circulation of the atmosphere about weather systems and their impact on Earth
  • Air quality

 

Atmospheric science uses experimental instruments such as: Satellites, Rocketsondes, Radiosondes, Weather balloons, Radars, Lasers.

Some examples of atmospheric science include:

  • Depletion of ozone in the stratosphere
  • Degradation of air quality in many urban areas
  • The continuing increase in the atmospheric concentration of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases
 
 

- What Causes Earthquakes?

Earthquakes are the result of sudden movement along faults within the Earth. The movement releases stored-up 'elastic strain' energy in the form of seismic waves, which propagate through the Earth and cause the ground surface to shake. 

Earthquakes occur when the pressure between tectonic plates becomes so great that they break apart. This happens along fault lines, which are cracks in the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet.

Here are some reasons why earthquakes occur:
  • Tectonic plate movement: The movement of tectonic plates causes pressure to build up in the rock strata on either side of a fault. When the pressure becomes great enough, it is released in a sudden movement.
  • Volcanic eruptions: Volcanic eruptions can cause minor earthquakes.
  • Underground explosions: Underground explosions can cause minor earthquakes.
  • Collapse of rock formations: The collapse of rock formations on the Earth's surface can cause minor earthquakes.
  • Human activities: Human activities can cause earthquakes.

Some warning signs of an impending earthquake include: unusual animal behavior, small tremors or foreshocks, ground uplift or subsidence.
 

- Methods for Predicting Earthquakes

Many different avenues of prediction have been explored, such as using observations of warning foreshocks, changes in magnetic fields, seismic tremor, changing groundwater levels, strange animal behaviour, observed periodicity, stress transfer considerations, and others.

While there are no reliable methods to predict earthquakes, scientists use a variety of methods to forecast them:
  • Study past earthquakes: Scientists analyze observations of past earthquake activity, including the frequency of large earthquakes in a specific area. They also study the rate at which strain accumulates in the rock.
  • Use radon detectors: A network of radon detectors can act as an early detection system for earthquakes. Radon is a radioactive gas that fissures in rocks emit before an earthquake.
  • Monitor the ionosphere: The Laboratory project QuakeCast uses machine learning to monitor the Earth's ionosphere for electron activity that may precede an earthquake.
  • Use GSI sensor technology: GSI sensor units include sensors for temperature, pressure, conductivity, and other physical parameters. These units can be operated autonomously using artificial intelligence (AI) methods.

Other methods for predicting earthquakes include:
  • Observations of warning foreshocks
  • Changes in magnetic fields
  • Seismic tremor
  • Changing groundwater levels
  • Strange animal behavior
  • Observed periodicity
  • Stress transfer considerations


- AI-driven Tool Predicts Earthquakes

Machine learning (ML) algorithms can analyze patterns in seismic activity, geological data, and other factors to identify the probability of an earthquake occurring. 

Here's how one AI-driven tool predicts earthquakes:

  • The AI is given a set of statistical features based on the team's knowledge of earthquake physics.
  • The AI is trained to detect statistical bumps in real-time seismic data that researchers have paired with previous earthquakes.
  • The AI is trained on a five-year database of seismic recordings.
  • The AI gives its forecast by listening for signs of incoming earthquakes among the background rumblings in the Earth.
 
In a trial in China, an AI-driven tool developed by scientists at The University of Texas was 70% accurate in predicting earthquakes a week in advance.
 
 
 

[More to come ...]

 

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