Farewell Friends.

Unfortunately, I must say my goodbyes. I have had SO much fun learning all about geology with you readers as well! This past few months have definetly been the best tiem of my life, and its such a privellage to be able to travel all over the world. If you want to follow your dream, and become a journalist about geology then here are my suggestsions:

If you visit Iceland: Bring lots of warm clothes, fleeces, long underwear, etc.. because let me just say. It. is. cold.

(http://www.offtoeurope.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/iceland-glacier.jpg)

If you visit Oregon: Bring your rain coat, because it rains quite a bit. Also some gloves wont hurt :)

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3340760786_2427757802.jpg)

If you visit the Carribean: Bring a swimsuit because the water looks super inviting. Also some snorkel gear if you are looking for an underwater adventure.

(http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/02/28/realestate/greathomes/gh-carribean_span.jpg)

If you visit the Himalayas: Bring some lighter clothes, rain coat also. It's helpful to have a few long sleeve shirts and long pants because at night time there are bugs everywhere!

(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2368/2509436304_ca712e828e.jpg)

If you visit California: Bring some shorts, tank-tops, and sunscreen because it is warm warm warm!

(http://www.california-birthcertificate.com/california.jpg)

And also, no matter where you go, bring a camera because you never know what could happen.

Well folks, I guess this is my final farewell.
Reporting for KWX- marine news, it's Isabella. 

Transform-Fault Boundaries-->California Edition

Hello science enthusiasts! Todays post is just about Transform fault boundaries and we will be traveling to back to the West Coast. No not Washington, no not Oregon, BUT YES. CALIFORNIA. Lets get excited people! If you want to find where we're at on GPS, the coordinates are 37 degrees 07'54.03'' N and 121 degrees 53'16.62'' W. And yes, still Isabella reporting for KWX- marine news ;). So sadly this is my last trip before I head back home because this is the last type of plate boundary I'm going to talk about with all of you geologists. I'll be staying at a hotel right near a science lab where I will have the pleasure of working with a man named Greg Barring. 


Here I go!

(http://www.traviscountyesdfirehire.org/jointhire/files/pic_airplane_757.jpg)

So Transform- Fault Boundaries are kind of hard to explinan but I will do my best translting what Greg says into something we all can understand. Basically, its where two different plates are sliding past each other horizontally. Its important to remember that most transform faults occur deep in the ocean and the areas where the sea-floor spreads look like a bunch of zig-zags. The most destructive though are the ones that occur on land like the one I will be referring to today. 

(http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp)

So folks, lets take a look at the picture that Greg provided for me. Here we have the San Andreas fault zone that goes through California connecting the East Pacific Rise with the South Gorda and the Juan de Fuca which I talked about in my convergent zone--> west coast edition. Greg says that the Pacific Plate has been sliding/grinding past the North American Plate horizontally, for 10 MILLION YEARS. The scientists in the lab say that although the rate at which the plates move past each-other varies, it averages out to about 5 centimeters per year.

(http://www.quickandeasyscienceexperimentsblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/san-andreas-fault.jpg)

If your wondering what the heck this is, its the San Andreas Fault!! Wow it sure is big. Greg and his partners believe that at the rate these plates are sliding past each other, L.A. will be NORTH of San Francisco in about 100 million years. It's unlikely we will live long enough to see this happen, but thats what we expect at this moment in time. 

(http://vulcan.wr.usgs.gov/Imgs/Jpg/CraterLake/Images/CraterLake82_crater_lake_and_wizard_island_09-82_med.jpg)

California's most recent earthquake occurred only a few days ago, a magnitude of 3.9. Looking at the statistics, earthquakes occur ALL THE TIME here (even if you can't feel it). There are also plenty of volcanoes in and near California, luckily those volcanoes have not erupted recently. In the picture above, this shows one of California's crater lakes. 

Well fellow geologists, This has been an informational post on Transform-Fault Boundaries, reporting for KWX- marine news, Isabella B. 

Thanks for reading!

Convergent Zones -->Himalayas' Edition

This is Isabella posting my final blog for KWX- marine news about convergent zones! For this special blog about continent to continent convergence, we will be traveling all the way to the Himalayan mountain range. I will be staying at the home of a scientist named Aadrika Mehra whom lives IN the Himalayas. Well..not inside of them but in the range that is! Here is a picture I took of the home.

Unfortunately when I uploaded it to my computer, something didn't work correctly so it's in black and white. At least you get a look at how they live here in the Himalayas! The one closest to you in the picture is where I will be staying for the next week or so :) Its really fascinating how different the life-styles are here vs. Iceland. If you want to find us on GPS the coordinates are 27 degrees 59'16' N and 86 degrees 55'40''

Okay so here is what a continental-continental convergence looks like

(http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp)

Now lets put the peices of the puzzle together! What could the Himalayan's be? First we need to continental crusts. So I asked Aadrika which continental crusts lie around the Himalayas and she said that there is the Eurasian plate and the Indian Plate. So two components: Check! Now lets get back to the  real mechanics of continental convergence.

(http://geography.howstuffworks.com/asia/the-himalayas.htm)

First off, unlike ocean-ocean, and ocean-continent convergence very little subduction happens because the two continental plates are very thick and when they collide their density is lower than the mantle. After this collision, slowly but surely after millions of years have passed, the convergence of the continental plates which is the reason why the Himalaya's (and the Tibetan plateau) are pushed up to the height they are now.

Lets get back to components. So look up at the picture about conergence, it also shows that a high plateau is needed to complete this puzzle, and that would be the Tibetan plateau! So now that we have finished being detectives, this shows how the Himalayan mountain range is a perfect example of continental convergence.

(https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicloVIWvJ6nrVX9lw8e-pGdmi-iF24dTGFww9gGFmugdX2k48Uqb21KXcfAu_HcDL_MBS2VkGQqO2GAwCvJ2ivmDblWDE70xNdoIJnM559VT54QG6Gxp1W-ZNLfKwWrKkKOXaf3PsNcE0/s400/HimalayanMountains.jpg)

There is frequent earthquake activity and sometimes the earthquakes can be quite violent. Geologist Aadrika believes its because the mountains are fairly young, and are still growing. There are only a few volcanoes that formed in the Himalayas because there was little melting because the rocks aren't pushed into very great depths. Earthquakes happen 24/7 in this mountain range, some more significant than others. The most recent quake that occurred which did a fair amount damage happened on June 1st in 2001.

Well friends, thats all I have to say about Convergent Zones! Our next topic will be transform plates (some pretty tricky stuff). I hope you all have enjoyed this post and follow me on my journey. Thanks for reading, this is Isabella reporting for KWX- marine news.

Convergent Zones -->Caribbean Edition

Hello readers! This is Isabella reporting for KWX- marine news and today I'm continuing my post on convergent Zones. I suppose I forgot to mention that there are 3 different types of convergent zones, so that means even after this, I will have one more post on convergent zones. Todays post will be about ocean to ocean convergence as opposed to yesterdays ocean to continent convergence. So I will be traveling to, WAIT FOR IT, the Caribbean Islands Martinique, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines and if you want to see where that is on GPS we are at 14 degrees 41'06.66'' N and 61 degrees 11'19.95'' W. I love this job because I get to travel to all sorts of wonderful places! :) :) :)

(http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/education/int/geog/envhaz/images/volcanoes/action/carribean_islands.jpg)

So in a way, the same thing happens with ocean to continent plates, as ocean to ocean plates. One plate subtucts under the other and when this happens, a deep trench is formed in the ocean. Today I'm meeting with geologist Carmen Peters and she is going to tell us all about this kind of convergence!

Carmen says that usually, the oceanic plate that subducts, is older and more dense than the other. When this kind of convergence occurs, undersea volcanoes often form. Over millions of years, the lava that comes out of the volcano when it erupts piles up on the ocean floor until the debris reaches above sea level to from an island volcano. These are usually strung out like they are in the image above. These are also known as island arcs!

(http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp)

If you refer to my other post, you may see that the images are quite similar. One difference, is that each island is a volcano in a sense so obviously volcano's are very present! The effects that this type of convergence can have is creating this "zone" of really deep earthquakes, an oceanic trench, and like the ocean to continent convergence, the destruction of the oceanic lithosphere. It's also important to note, there is tons of earthquake activity! In Oregon, there were earthquakes about once a week of 2.0 magnitude, but in the Caribbean, there are earthquakes nearly everyday averaging about a 3.8 magnitude. The most recently posted earthquake was a 3.6 magnitude and no damages were reported. This occurred March 27th 2011 and Carmen says she could barely feel it. One eruption they certainly could feel, occurred November 29th, 2007 with a magnitude of 7.4. Unfortunately, here in the Caribbean, not everyone is well prepared for the inevitable.

(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,313921,00.html)

Well folks, its been a long day of travel and I'm ready to turn it in for the night.

More to come tomorrow! 

This is Isabella reporting for KWX- marine news, stayed tuned for more info about convergent plate boundaries. 

Convergent Zones -->West Coast (U.S.A) Edition

Hello readers! It's Isabella reporting again for KWX- marine news with a special story today. Firstly, let me give a shout out to Hinrik VanSvolovets who was so kind and patient with all of my questions about divergent plate boundaries and I hope that my earlier post inspired all of you to further research divergent boundaries. Did any of you find out that in fact, you might just live on one? Im sure you readers are living all around the world but its always fun to personalize science :). Now lets get into more plate tectonics! Today we will be focusing on CONVERGENT PLATE BOUNDARIES . 


So...What the heck is a convergent plate boundary? What's does it do? Where do they occur? Well my mission over the next few days will be to answer those very questions. In order to do that, I'm going to be heading off to the Northern region of Oregon State Coast. (If you want to go find us on GPS were at 44 degrees 52'27.73'' N and 130 degrees 22'29.95'' W)

(http://mappery.com/maps/Major-West-Coast-Volcanoes-Washington-Oregon-and-California-Map.gif)

The reason I'm heading out to the West Coast, is because the Juan de Fuca (oceanic plate) is sliding under the westward moving, North American continental plate and this is called subduction. So basically, one tectonic plate moves under a different tectonic plate, because they are going towards each other instead of pulling apart like divergent plates. Rates of subduction are usually measured in centimeters per year, and the average rate of convergence is the same length (2-8 cm) as a human's fingernails grow each year! Kinda gross... but super cool!

(http://blog.syracuse.com/newstracker/2009/02/Long_Nails_Broken.jpg)

So here I am with geologist Richard Smith here to tell me, and all of you readers, more about convergent plates! I asked Richard to tell us, what happens when the oceanic plate subducts under a continental plate and he said that the continental plate is lifted up and a mountain range is created because the deepest part of the subducting plate breaks into smaller pieces. The Cascade Mountain Range is a perfect example of this! 

(http://www.viewfinderpanoramas.org/gallery/usa/ngardner-rainier.jpg)

The effects of a convergent boundry like this example, is a zone of earthquake activity (shallow around land, but deep underneath). Another effect is the destruction of the oceanic lithosphere because it is subducting underneath the continental plate. Earthquakes will occur over time, and some can be more major than others when subduction happens. Fun fact: We have little earthquakes all the time that we don't even feel!

(http://www.platetectonics.com/book/page_5.asp)

The largest earthquakes Oregon has ever faced happened in 1910 and 1993. The 1910 earthquake was a 6.8 but occurred to far offshore for real damage to be made but the earthquake in 1993 did the most damage because it was right beneath the land area of Oregon, even though it was only a magnitude of 5.9. It is clear that more activity has occurred in Washington, and California. The most recent earthquake in oregon was a 2.7, and this happened Tuesday, April 5th, 2011. 

More to come on convergent boundaries, 

Stay tuned readers!

Reporting for KWX- marine news, this is Isabella. 

Divergent Plates! --> The Icelandic Edition

This is Isabella reporting live for KWX-7 marine news! I just arrived in Ice-land last night at around 6 p.m. and the hotel was beatiful with an exquisit view of the Northern lights. Surely, its icy as its name may hint but surprisingly there is a lot of greenery to witness as well. Imagine a land of spurting geysers, glaciers, waterfalls and most exciting of all, a land that contains one of the most well known divergent plates in the world. 

                               (I took this one off my new camera I bought special for the trip!)

                            (http://blog.stylehive.com/images/uploads/062110_ranga9_200.jpg)

 After my big healthy breakfast bowl of Wheaties ;), I was ready for are long day of reporting information I collected from Hinrik VanSolovets, the marine-bio specialist in divergent plates. 

Firstly, in order to understand my report you must know about a divergent boundary! Divergent boundaries along centers which that are spreading causing the plates to move apart. As the two plates move away from each other, Magma from the mantle underneath the crust rises up into the newly formed space between the plates and solidifies because of the extreme change in temperature. This pile up of solidified magma forms a long chain of mountains on the sea floor, called an oceanic ridge. Here down below, you will see how the oceanic ridge is formed and how the oceanic crust separates.

                          (https://geology8b-9.wikispaces.com/file/view/d.jpg/88987877/d.jpg)

Now you might wonder, why Iceland? ICELAND because it lies across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and becomes wider EVERY year! Hinrik VanSolovets' research states that the North American and Eurasian plates don't always move at the same speed because the boundaries being measured may vary but the "average" rate of seperation between the plates is approximately 2.5 centimeters per year. This may not seem like a lot, but this is actually quite a bit of movement! The area we are currently stationed is 64 degrees 44'05.73'' N and 17 degrees 20'53.11'' W so if you want to find us on your handy-danndy G.P.S. go for it!

                                   (http://library.thinkquest.org/17701/high/tectonics/ptdiv.html)

Also, Iceland has a large concentration of volcanoes which are frequently active. The island has approximately 130 volcanoes and over the past 500 years, Iceland's volcanoes have have erupted about 1/3 of the lava output in the entire world! It's most active volcano is called Grímvötn. There are records of harmonic tremor around Grímvötn on October 2nd and 3rd in 2010 indicating a chance of eruption. Also, an increase in magma movement under the mountain occurred and was measured by GPS in the volcano. On November 1st, 2010 there was an inflammation in lake and glacier water suggesting that an eruption could happen in the near future but Hinrik VanSvolovets and his coworkers have been monitoring Grímvötn very closely. 

The volcanic eruption of Ice;and's history was Skaftáreldar in 1783 that lasted until 1785. This volcanic eruption was believed to have the most fatalities because the ash and poisonous gasses sickened many livestock, and humans as well. 

Hinrik VanSvolovets and other well educated marine-bio specialists feel taht the reason Iceland is such an active island, is because it falls on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

More to come next time!

Stay tuned to explore the realm of tectonics,

My name is Isabella and thanks for reading KWX-7 marine news

Who am I? And what's so cool about Geology?

My name is Isabella and I'm a new reporter for  KWX-7 marine news. I'm still learning the ropes, but basically my job is to travel all around the world to investigate scientific mysteries mainly relating to geology. What is geology? Well, the first word that pop's into your head might be, ROCK. 

(http://www.nataliedee.com/092307/i-rock.jpg)

The definition of Geology  is the study of the Earth, it's materials (what it's made out of), the way those materials are arranged (structure), and what is happening to them. So the earth is actually made up of more things than rocks believe it or not! There are all sorts of organism's that have inhabited the planet and geologists often measure how these materials, structures, and processes adapt as time passes.

(http://www.ncwcom.com/~jones/Geology/pictures/hist/layers.jpg)

I will also be teaching you about volcanoes, earthquakes, AND ...drumroll... PLATES. No, not dishes, but all sorts of plate boundaries! --> Divergent plates, Convergent plates, and Transform plates too! Be sure to stay tuned folks, there's more to come next time!

With a warm welcome to my blog,

may i say farewell for now 

Isabella!

P.S. My first trip is to Iceland, and we will be learning about Divergent plates :)