Discovery Science: Earth – Atmosphere The atmosphere is the gaseous envelope that protects the Earth against dangerous radiation from space and enables the development and existence of life on our planet. Its formation took several billion years, but information about its structure and internal processes has only been accumulated over recent decades. Earth Science: Structure Of … Read more
Earth Science: Atmosphere The Earth is surrounded by a gaseous layer that makes life as we know it possible. The atmosphere protects us from dangerous radiation from space and provides us with breathable air. The sun is the engine of atmospheric processes. Its energy affects daily and long-term weather patterns, as well as determining the … Read more
Earth Science: Earth – Ice Of the Poles and High Mountains The flowing motion and pressure caused by the ice caps of the Poles and high mountain glaciers not only significantly shape the landscape but are also the Earth’s largest freshwater reservoir. The appearance of the Earth today has been shaped by the major glaciation … Read more
Earth Science: Earth – Water – Glacier Large areas of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres were once covered in mile-thick ice. Mighty moraines, carved-out valleys, and smooth-polished stones remain as reminders of the ice ages. Today the ice-cover of the polar areas and mountains is rapidly receding, and the full effects of global climate change … Read more
Earth Science: Earth – Lakes – Circulation Geologically speaking, most lakes are both young and short-lived. Human activity also contributes to the fact that the sensitive ecological balance of many lakes is severely threatened. A lake is a water-filled hollow, which is enclosed by land and does not have a direct connection to the sea. … Read more
Earth Science: Earth – Lakes – Origins Lakes are not simply inland water-filled depressions. They are complex ecosystems with different origins, as varied as the forces of nature. Although the water they contain covers only a small portion of the landmass, lakes can be of great importance to the local environment and climate. Origins Lakes … Read more
Earth Science: Rivers – High and Low Courses Nearly a third of the approximately 24,000 cubic miles (100,000 km3) of yearly precipitation flows into the oceans via creeks and rivers. During this process, rivers shape the environment through erosion and sedimentation. The highest flow rate and strongest force of erosion occurs in the early or … Read more
Earth Science: Rivers Rivers are the lifelines of landscapes. Prerequisite for river formation is an excess of precipitation in relation to evaporation and seepage, as well as a certain topographic gradient through the area. Although only a small part of the Earth’s entire water volume circulates via rivers, all water courses—from rapid mountain stream to … Read more
Earth Science: Oceans – Deep Sea Today, the deep sea is one of the least researched parts of our planet. Only during the last few decades have researchers had access to the technical means to reach the darkness of the deep oceans. Biologically, the deep sea begins at a depth of about 650 feet (200 … Read more
Earth Science: Water – Coral Reefs: Underwater Forests Rich in life and incredibly diverse, coral reefs are the rain forests of the oceans. Coral colonies provide shelter for a myriad of fish and invertebrate species, whose diverse colors speckle the clear tropical water. Tropical coral reefs are mainly formed by corals of the genus Madrepora. … Read more
