Tuesday, June 06, 2006
Earth's Ozone Layer: Good News and a Puzzle
Random Gallery Photo
Robot Arm Over Earth with SunburstPosted by Ninja T. Penguin Posted by Ninja T. Penguin
(Patrick L. Barry and Dr. Tony Phillips - Science@NASA).
Think of the ozone layer as Earth's sunglasses, protecting life on the surface from the harmful glare of the sun's strongest ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer and other maladies.
People were understandably alarmed, then, in the 1980s when scientists noticed that manmade chemicals in the atmosphere were destroying this layer. Governments quickly enacted an international treaty, called the Montreal Protocol, to ban ozone-destroying gases such as CFCs then found in aerosol cans and air conditioners.
Today, almost 20 years later, reports continue of large ozone holes opening over Antarctica, allowing dangerous UV rays through to Earth's surface. Indeed, the 2005 ozone hole was one of the biggest ever, spanning 24 million sq km in area, nearly the size of...
Read More...
Robot Arm Over Earth with SunburstPosted by Ninja T. Penguin Posted by Ninja T. Penguin
(Patrick L. Barry and Dr. Tony Phillips - Science@NASA).
Think of the ozone layer as Earth's sunglasses, protecting life on the surface from the harmful glare of the sun's strongest ultraviolet rays, which can cause skin cancer and other maladies.
People were understandably alarmed, then, in the 1980s when scientists noticed that manmade chemicals in the atmosphere were destroying this layer. Governments quickly enacted an international treaty, called the Montreal Protocol, to ban ozone-destroying gases such as CFCs then found in aerosol cans and air conditioners.
Today, almost 20 years later, reports continue of large ozone holes opening over Antarctica, allowing dangerous UV rays through to Earth's surface. Indeed, the 2005 ozone hole was one of the biggest ever, spanning 24 million sq km in area, nearly the size of...
Read More...
| Recent Significant Earthquakes | |||||
| Date | Magnitude | Latitude | Longitude | Depth | Region |
| Network: USGS | |||||
| 2006-06-06 04:34 | 5.1 | 15.2700 | -91.4810 | 199.4 | GUATEMALA |
| 2006-06-05 18:56 | 5.2 | 1.6870 | 124.9230 | 16.8 | MINAHASA, SULAWESI, INDONESIA |
| 2006-06-05 06:34 | 5.5 | 1.0240 | -28.1730 | 10.0 | CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 2006-06-05 06:27 | 5.4 | 1.1840 | -28.0560 | 10.0 | CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 2006-06-05 00:39 | 5.1 | 21.7550 | 121.7390 | 23.9 | TAIWAN REGION |
| 2006-06-04 08:56 | 5.1 | 50.9650 | -129.6190 | 12.0 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA REGION |
| 2006-06-04 08:56 | 5.2 | 50.9440 | -130.1850 | 10.0 | VANCOUVER ISLAND, CANADA REGION |
| 2006-06-03 15:27 | 5.0 | -20.5880 | -174.2790 | 38.0 | TONGA |
| 2006-06-03 07:15 | 5.4 | 26.8380 | 55.9220 | 32.2 | SOUTHERN IRAN |
| 2006-06-02 07:31 | 6.0 | -20.7500 | -178.7410 | 592.4 | FIJI REGION |
| Network: EMSC | |||||
| 2006-06-06 04:34 | 5.0 | 15.2500 | -91.4200 | 195.0 | MEXICO-GUATEMALA BORDER REGION |
| 2006-06-06 02:51 | 5.0 | -17.9400 | -178.7600 | 600.0 | FIJI ISLANDS REGION |
| 2006-06-05 18:56 | 5.4 | 1.8900 | 125.0800 | 20.0 | NORTHERN MOLUCCA SEA |
| 2006-06-05 18:56 | 5.2 | 1.6900 | 124.9200 | 17.0 | MINAHASSA PENINSULA, SULAWESI |
| 2006-06-05 06:34 | 5.6 | 1.0600 | -28.0600 | 33.0 | CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 2006-06-05 06:27 | 6.0 | 1.1300 | -27.9500 | 10.0 | CENTRAL MID-ATLANTIC RIDGE |
| 2006-06-05 04:26 | 5.2 | 2.2300 | 96.6900 | 30.0 | NORTHERN SUMATERA, INDONESIA |
| 2006-06-05 00:39 | 5.0 | 21.6200 | 121.7500 | 40.0 | TAIWAN REGION |
| 2006-06-04 02:36 | 5.1 | -3.3000 | 139.7700 | 87.0 | IRIAN JAYA, INDONESIA |
| 2006-06-03 19:09 | 5.0 | -15.4800 | 167.8400 | 33.0 | VANUATU ISLANDS |
| Recent Volcanic Activity | |||||
| Date | Latitude | Longitude | Status | VolcanoName | Country |
| 2006-06-02 07:00 | 13.850 | -89.630 | Red | Santa Ana | El Salvador |
| 2006-06-02 06:30 | -7.540 | 110.440 | Red | Merapi | Java |
| 2006-06-01 09:30 | 2.780 | 125.480 | Orange | Karangetang | Sangihe Is. |
| 2006-06-02 07:00 | -19.520 | 169.430 | Orange | Yasur | So. Pacific |
| 2006-06-01 07:00 | -16.250 | 168.120 | Orange | Ambrym | S.Pacific |
| 2006-06-01 07:00 | -15.400 | 167.830 | Orange | Aoba | Vanuatu |
| 2006-06-02 07:00 | 19.430 | -155.290 | Orange | Kilauea | Hawaii |
| 2006-06-02 07:00 | 1.360 | 124.790 | Orange | Lokon Empung | Sulawesi |
| 2006-06-01 18:30 | 1.680 | 127.880 | Orange | Dukono | Indonesia |
| 2006-06-02 07:00 | -4.270 | 152.200 | Orange | Rabaul | New Britain |
