Updated Articles and Resources

By Andrew Alden, About.com Guide since 1997

Provincial Time Terms Created: Sunday, May 19, 2013 Updated: Sunday, May 19, 2013
Not all geologic time units are settled and universal.
The JMA Earthquake Scale Created: Saturday, May 18, 2013 Updated: Saturday, May 18, 2013
Details of the modern Japanese seismic intensity scale.
The Comeback of Noah's Flood Created: Saturday, February 06, 2010 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Once flame-war fuel in the 1800s, the bibilical flood story of Noah is now just another marvel of modern science.
Geologic Gift Ideas Created: Saturday, October 21, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
A few suggestions for something to get your favorite geologist.
The Rise of Erosion Created: Friday, March 31, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
This old standby of the old geology is back on today's scientific cutting edge.
Connecticut Geology Created: Tuesday, March 14, 2006 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Born-and-bred Westerners may find that Connecticut's laid-back landscape is way cool.
A Research Cruise in Alaska, 1979 Created: Thursday, September 15, 2005 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
Pictures, reminiscences and information about a research cruise by the USGS in 1979.
A Day in the Mohawk Valley and Finger Lakes, New York Created: Friday, August 19, 2005 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
A day's drive from Albany to Ithaca and back covers the geology of the Mohawk Valley and Finger Lakes of New York.
Torino Scale of Cosmic Impact Events Created: Sunday, April 24, 2005 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
The Torino Scale measures the magnitude of the threat to life on Earth from asteroid and cometary impacts. If we're lucky, it won't be used in our lifetimes.
Volcanic Explosivity Index (VEI) Created: Friday, August 06, 2004 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
The Volcanic Explosivity Index presented by your About Geology Guide.
Earthquake Intensity Scales Compared Created: Friday, August 06, 2004 Updated: Thursday, May 09, 2013
A table showing how the various earthquake intensity scales stack up against each other
Quincy Quarries, Norfolk County Created: Sunday, May 05, 2013 Updated: Sunday, May 05, 2013
A selection of Massachusetts' geological attractions.
The Expanding Earth Animation Created: Friday, August 13, 2010 Updated: Sunday, May 05, 2013
The familiar expanding-Earth animation is an optical illusion based on a conceptual illusion.
Are there real magnetic and gravity effects at "mystery spots"? Created: Saturday, February 07, 2004 Updated: Sunday, May 05, 2013
Some roadside attractions claim strange geophysical effects, but those claims are hokum.
Holes in Rocks Created: Friday, December 28, 2012 Updated: Wednesday, May 01, 2013
Geologists have named a variety of holes.
Why Don't More Rocks Have Fossils? Created: Tuesday, April 30, 2013 Updated: Tuesday, April 30, 2013
How can sedimentary rocks exist with no sign of ancient life in them?
Oolitic Limestone Created: Sunday, April 28, 2013 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Some limestone preserves the ooids from the tropical seafloor.
Limestone Gallery Created: Friday, April 28, 2006 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Examples of limestone and its features.
How the Planet Is Powered Created: Sunday, April 28, 2013 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Radioactivity turned Earth from passive to active.
Mapping Deep Time: About Geologic Time Created: Wednesday, February 02, 2005 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
How we learned to keep track of geologic time without using clocks or numbers.
Radioisotopes from Space Created: Monday, May 05, 2008 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
Closing in on radiocarbon discrepancies through the space program pays off in knowledge about the Earth.
The Mountain Problem Created: Saturday, April 28, 2007 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
A century of geologic progress has changed our textbook picture of mountains.
About Magma Created: Friday, October 26, 2012 Updated: Sunday, April 28, 2013
About the molten stuff from which all rocks arise.
Carbon Sequestration Created: Friday, March 28, 2008 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Putting greenhouse gases into the ground is a promising technology
The 2001 NRC Report - A Gut Check on Climate Change Created: Wednesday, May 02, 2007 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
The National Research Council's June 2001 special report to the Bush Administration is a very good thing.
The Day After Tomorrow Created: Thursday, May 27, 2004 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
What's praiseworthy about this climate-change blockbuster is that it has a real villain, not Godzilla.
The Deep Present Created: Saturday, August 04, 2012 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
Geology's deep-time approach allows us to achieve a deep present.
Global Warming in a Nutshell 1: Climate Forcings Created: Saturday, July 23, 2005 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
A skeleton key to the enormous topic of global warming or climate change.
Doing Something About the Climate Created: Saturday, April 27, 2013 Updated: Saturday, April 27, 2013
What a difference a century makes when it comes to understanding the global climate.
How Geologists Use Their Five Senses Created: Thursday, April 25, 2013 Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Sensory techniques in the geologist's armamentarium.
Pholad Borings Created: Thursday, April 25, 2013 Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Pholad bivalves are significant eroders of beach rocks.
Natural Asphalt Created: Wednesday, March 04, 2009 Updated: Thursday, April 25, 2013
Natural asphalt is one of the major types of sedimentary rocks.