Types of Rocks Rocks are not all the same! The three main types, or classes, of rock are sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous and the differences among them have to do with how they are formed. Sedimentary Sedimentary rocks are formed from particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and other fragments of material. Together, all these particles are called sediment. Gradually, the sediment accumulates in layers and over a long period of time hardens into rock. Generally, sedimentary rock is fairly soft and may break apart or crumble easily. You can often see sand, pebbles, or stones in the rock, and it is usually the only type that contains fossils. Examples of this rock type include conglomerate and limestone. Metamorphic Metamorphic rocks are formed under the surface of the earth from the metamorphosis (change) that occurs due to intense heat and pressure (squeezing). The rocks that result from these processes often have ribbonlike layers and may have shiny crystals, formed by minerals growing slowly over time, on their surface. Examples of this rock type include gneiss and marble. Igneous Igneous rocks are formed when magma (molten rock deep within the earth) cools and hardens. Sometimes the magma cools inside the earth, and other times it erupts onto the surface from volcanoes (in this case, it is called lava). When lava cools very quickly, no crystals form and the rock looks shiny and glasslike. Sometimes gas bubbles are trapped in the rock during the cooling process, leaving tiny holes and spaces in the rock. Examples of this rock type include basalt and obsidian.

The Earth Profile

THE EARTH PROFILE

 

 

THERE ARE FOUR MAIN LAYERS THAT MAKE UP THE EARTH: 

 

1. Inner Core - A mass of iron with a temperature of about 7000 degrees F. Although such temperatures would normally melt iron, immense pressure on it keeps it in a solid form. The inner core is approximately 1,500 miles in diameter.

2. Outer Core - A mass of molten iron about 1,425 miles deep that surrounds the solid inner core. Electrical currents generated from this area produce the earth's magnetic field.

3. Mantle - A rock layer about 1,750 miles thick that reaches about half the distance to the centre of the earth. Parts of this layer become hot enough to liquify and become slow moving molten rock or magma.

4. Crust - A layer from 4-25 miles thick consisting of sand and rock.

The core, mantle and crust of the earth can be envisioned as a giant rock recycling machine. However, the elements that make up rocks are never created or destroyed although they can be redistributed, transforming one rock type to another.

Tornadoes

Tornadoes

What is a tornado?

A tornado is a violent rotating column of air extending from a thunderstorm to the ground. The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of up to 300 mph. They can destroy large buildings, uproot trees and hurl vehicles hundreds of yards. They can also drive straw into trees. Damage paths can be in excess of one mile wide to 50 miles long. In an average year, 1000 tornadoes are reported nationwide.

How do tornadoes form? 

Most tornadoes form from thunderstorms. You need warm, moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and cool, dry air from Canada. When these two air masses meet, they create instability in the atmosphere. A change in wind direction and an increase in wind speed with increasing height creates an invisible, horizontal spinning effect in the lower atmosphere. Rising air within the updraft tilts the rotating air from horizontal to vertical. An area of rotation, 2-6 miles wide, now extends through much of the storm. Most strong and violent tornadoes form within this area of strong rotation.

What are some other factors for tornadoes to form?

Several conditions are required for the development of tornadoes and the thunderstorm clouds with which most tornadoes are associated. Abundant low level moisture is necessary to contribute to the development of a thunderstorm, and a "trigger" (perhaps a cold front or other low level zone of converging winds) is needed to lift the moist air aloft. Once the air begins to rise and becomes saturated, it will continue rising to great heights to produce a thunderstorm cloud, if the atmosphere is unstable. An unstable atmosphere is one where the temperature decreases rapidly with height. Atmospheric instability can also occur when dry air overlays moist air near the earth's surface. Finally, tornadoes usually form in areas where winds at all levels of the atmosphere are not only strong, but also turn with height in a clockwise or veering direction.

Cloud Types

Cloud Types common cloud classifications

Clouds are classified into a system that uses Latin words to describe the appearance of clouds as seen by an observer on the ground. The table below summarizes the four principal components of this classification system.

Latin Root		Translation		Example
cumulus stratus cirrus nimbus		heap layer curl of hair rain		fair weather cumulus alto stratus cirrus cumulonimbus

Further classification identifies clouds by height of cloud base. For example, cloud names containing the prefix "cirr-", as in cirrus clouds, are located at high levels while cloud names with the prefix "alto-", as in altostratus, are found at middle levels. This module introduces several cloud groups. The first three groups are identified based upon their height above the ground. The fourth group consists of vertically developed clouds, while the final group consists of a collection of miscellaneous cloud types.

Classifications

High-Level Clouds Cloud types include: cirrus and cirrostratus. Mid-Level Clouds Cloud types include: alto cumulus, alto stratus. Low-Level Clouds Cloud types include: nimbostratus and stratocumulus. Clouds with Vertical Development Cloud types include: fair weather cumulus and cumulonimbus. Other Cloud Types Cloud types include: contrails, billow clouds, mammatus, orographic and pileus clouds.

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley

Silicon Valley is the southern region of the San Francisco Bay Area in Northern California, United States. The region occupies roughly the same area as the Santa Clara Valley where it is centered. It is home to many of the world's largest technology corporations as well as thousands of small start ups. The term originally referred to the region's large number of silicon chip innovators and manufacturers, but eventually came to refer to all high-tech businesses in the area, and is now generally used as a metonym for the American high-technology sector.

Despite the development of other high-tech economic centers throughout the United States and the world, Silicon Valley continues to be a leading hub for high-tech innovation and development, accounting for one-third (1/3) of all of the venture capital investment in the United States. Geographically, Silicon Valley encompasses all of the Santa Clara Valley, the southern Peninsula, and the southern East Bay. With the rapid growth of the technology sector, the term "Silicon Valley" is frequently used to include other parts of the Bay Area, such as San Mateo County, San Francisco, and parts of Marin County.

Blueberry

  BLUEBERRY 

 

 

Blueberries are the fruits of a shrub that belong to the heath (Ericaceae) family whose other members include the cranberry and bilberry as well as the azalea, mountain laurel and rhododendron. Blueberries grow in clusters and range in size from that of a small pea to a marble. They are deep in color, ranging from blue to maroon to purple-black, and feature a white-gray waxy "bloom" that covers the berry's surface and serves as a protective coat. The skin surrounds a semi-transparent flesh that encases tiny seeds. Cultivated blueberries are typically mildly sweet, while those that grow wild have a more tart and tangy flavor. 

Health Benefits

Blueberries are literally bursting with nutrients and flavor, yet very low in calories. Recently, researchers at Tufts University analyzed 60 fruits and vegetables for their antioxidant capability. Blueberries came out on top, rating highest in their capacity to destroy free radicals.

 

 

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle is a triangular shaped area located in the North Atlantic Ocean. The area is noteworthy because of the number of unexplained disappearances that have occurred there. (For those who never heard about it) – Ships and aircrafts have gone off the radar after sailing or flying into this zone, never to be heard from again. The mystery deepens when remnants of these vessels are never found.

In an attempt to explain the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle, theories abound. Such theories include everything from aliens to government cover-ups yet none have been proven 100% conclusive.

In recent years more attention has been focused on the reports of disappearances, crashes, and sinking’s. Through careful research, many of the reports have been proven to have been exaggerated and still others have been discounted completely. Comparatively, the destruction by an inside source, such as the entire crew of a ship has been reviewed and is represented one possible answer to the disappearances. Monetary gain would be the most likely motivating factor allowing the crew to split the bounty and then simply disappear.

          In addition many believe that the mysteries of the Bermuda Triangle are no more mysterious than any other location in the vast ocean. Catastrophes of this nature occur throughout the ocean, and when compared the triangle does not represent a more dangerous area than other locals.

Scientifically, the reasons behind the disappearances points to the idea of underground volcanoes that release a natural gas known as methane. These volcanoes or hydrates have the potential to erupt simultaneously and cause destruction to watercraft. The resulting debris would then be carried away from the area quickly, leaving no visible evidence. This theory however, does not explain aircraft that are lost in the area.

Weather has also been described as possibly playing a role in the legend and would account for destroying not only water vessels but also aircraft. Hurricanes are capable of producing the power needed to sink a ship as well as sheer wind velocity could bring down a small aircraft.

Lastly, a theory proposed by the United States Coast Guard concerns compass direction. In their report it was stated that there is a difference between magnetic north and truth north by nearly 20 degrees. This difference could account for ships being lost or located milks from their destination. This theory produced a lot of controversy and has since been discounted. The idea that seasoned ship Captains could become disoriented and then disappear due to a mere 20 degrees difference was found to be ridiculous.These are only a few of the many theories that abound regarding the Bermuda Triangle.