Beneath the Ocean Floor
Published: Nov 30, 2011
Abstract: In recent years it has been possible to explore geological activity on the deep ocean floor. Using a submersible research vessel such as the United States’ Alvin, scientists have been able to make personal visits to deep sea sites rather than merely collecting samples from drilling. One of the most interesting discoveries made was ‘black smokers’ mineral enriched hot springs (or sometimes coloured white instead of black) from active regions of mid-oceanic ridges. They even have their own specially adapted marine animals and may be key sites for the origin of life on Earth.
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What is ...
The Pangaea theory states that all present continents were once together and collectively called a ‘supercontinent Pangaea. The split up pieces slowly drifted apart and took the shape that we now see. Even now, the surface of the Earth is constantly undergoing changes.
The artificial modification of Earth systems to counteract the effect of man’s actions on nature such as increasing CO2 uptake by fertilising the ocean surface waters and screening out sunlight with orbiting mirrors. It is also known as climate engineering and climate remediation.
Transuranic elements are elements with an atomic number that is greater than 92. These elements are not stable and undergo radioactive reactions to form other elements. They are artificially manufactured in the lab by nuclear processes and by using particle accelerators.
A geological term used to refer to the state of gravitational equilibrium between the Earth’s lithosphere and asthenosphere in such a way that the tectonic plates float at an elevation which depends on their thickness and density. It explains the different topographical features present on the Earth’s surface.
The inverse of geoengineering, anthropogenic degradation is the environmental degradation caused by humans and their activities. These include all kinds of pollution caused by industries, farming and our day to day activities. Some people believe that pollution itself is only anthropogenic.
The development and strengthening of cyclonic circulation in the atmosphere. Cyclogenesis is an umbrella term for several different processes, all of which culminate in the formation of some sort of cyclone. It can occur at scales varying from the microscopic to the synoptic.
A wet underground layer of water bearing permeable rock or unconsolidated materials such as gravel, sand and silt. The rocks contain water-filled pores which allow water to flow through their matrix. Groundwater can be usefully extracted from this layer using water wells.
A suspension of fine solid particles or liquid droplets in a gas such as clouds, smog and smoke. The solid and liquid particles can remain suspended in air from a few minutes to a few months depending on particle size and weight.
It is the measure of the ignition quality of petrol or gasoline. The higher the octane number the less susceptible the gas is to premature burning in the combustion chamber. It denotes the percentage by volume of iso-octane in a combustible mixture.
It is a climate pattern that occurs across the tropical Pacific Ocean roughly every five years. It is characterised by variations in the temperature of the surface of the tropical eastern Pacific Ocean and air surface pressure in the tropical western Pacific.
An organism capable of synthesising its own food from inorganic compounds. Autotrophs produce their own sugars, lipids, and amino acids and are hence producers in the food chain. They do not use organic compounds to derive energy. Examples are plants and algae.
The Revelle Factor enables us to measure the resistance to atmospheric CO2 being absorbed by the ocean surface layer. The capacity of ocean water to take up surplus CO2 is inversely proportional to the value of the calculated Revelle Factor.