Articles written by Alexandra Matiella Novak
All 66 articles written by Alexandra Matiella Novak
Antarctica's Mount Erebus Volcano: The Most Active Volcano in the Antarctic
Category: Volcanology
Antarctica is most well-known for its glaciers and penguins, but this snow-covered continent is very much alive with geothermal and volcanic activity. more...
Spaceborne Lasers Detect Thinning Ice Sheets: NASA's ICESat-I Measures Ice Thickness and Extent
Category: Glaciology
NASA's Ice, Cloud and Land Elevation Satellite (ICESat) has taken more than 1.9 billion measurements during its 6 year orbit using a laser instrument. more...
Mining Pollution: Hazardous Pollution Created by Mining Activities
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
Mining activities benefit communities by supplying jobs and creating resources. However, many of these communities also have to deal with the resulting toxic pollution. more...
Subduction Zone Volcanoes of the United States: Subducting Plates Create Volcanoes
Category: Volcanology
Subduction zones are one of the tectonic zones of the U.S. that produce volcanic activity. The Cascades Volcano Range and the Aleutian Island Volcano Arc are examples. more...
The Environment of a Glacial Maximum: The Coldest Period During this Ice Age
Category: Glaciology
During the last glacial period, the environments of the northern and southern hemispheres were much different than they are today. more...
Types of Erosion: These Erosion Processes Shape the Landscape
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
Erosion involves the breakdown of rock through either the individual or combined effects of wind, water, glacial movement and gravitational forces. more...
The Oldest Rock on Earth: Ancient Continental Crust Still Exists Today
Category: Minerals
It was believed that the first rocks on Earth formed during the Archean Eon, between 3.9 and 2.5 billion years ago. Recent discoveries suggest older rocks. more...
Minerals in Sedimentary Rocks: Minerals Are Recycled to Form Sedimentary Deposits
Category: Minerals
Minerals that are susceptible to breaking down during erosion processes are less likely to end up in sedimentary rocks. Tougher minerals are common. more...
Origins of Volcanism: The Sources of Volcanoes on Earth
Category: Volcanology
Volcanism requires both a source of heat and something to melt. The planet provides the material for melting and the heat comes from a variety of sources. more...
Types of Metamorphic Rock: New Rocks are Determined by the Parent Rock
Category: Minerals
Metamorphism of rocks is a result of a sedimentary, igneous or other metamorphic rock being subjected to heat and pressure. more...
The Types of Volcanoes: Volcanoes Come in Different Shapes and Sizes
Category: Volcanology
The shapes and sizes of volcanoes are dependent on how frequently they erupt as well as the style of eruption. more...
The Minerals of Igneous Rocks: Crytallization of Magma Fluids
Category: Minerals
The mineral composition of igneous rocks contain mostly the elements oxygen and silicon, but many other elements form a variety of minerals in igneous rocks. more...
Category: Volcanology
The new eruption of Mt. Redoubt volcano was anticipated for weeks and started with an increase in seismic activity. Satellite images show large volcanic ash clouds. more...
Types of Volcanic Eruptions: Classifications Are Based on Size and Intensity
Category: Volcanology
The types of eruptions get their names from volcanoes which have been historically recorded as exhibiting certain types of activities. more...
Geologic Secrets of Stonehenge: Source of the Rocks Adds to the Mystery of the Monument
Category: Minerals
Along with all the archeological questions of why or how Stonehenge exists is the geological question of where the rocks came from. more...
Oil Exploration Experiment for Kids: An Earth Science Actvity to Simulate How Fossil Fuels Are Found
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
It's intuitive for children to wonder how things work and why things are in nature. Encouraging this type of curiosity can create future earth scientists. more...
Prehistoric Ice Sheets of Africa: Glaciers Once Covered the African Continent
Category: Glaciology
When glaciers flow over continents, they leave their mark. One unlikely place where glaciation is evident is the African continent. more...
Hydrogeology In Yellowstone National Park: Monitoring Stream Discharge for Geothermal Activity
Category: Hydrogeology
Scientists use hydrogeology and geochemistry to monitor magmatic and tectonic activity at Yellowstone National Park. more...
The Volcano Explosivity Index: Scientists Use the VEI Scale to Measure the Impact of an Eruption
Category: Volcanology
The explosivity of a volcanic eruption is characterized by the amount of material ejected, ash column height and impact of eruptions. more...
Christmas Gifts for a Rock and Mineral Collector: A Guide to Buying Geology and Paleontology Tools
Category: Minerals
A new or seasoned geologist, or anyone interested in fossils, rocks and minerals, needs tools to make the most of their time in the field. more...
How to Identify Rocks: The Differences between Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic Rocks
Category: Minerals
The three types of rocks are the basic foundation of Geology as a science. Knowing how these rocks form can give insight into how to identify them out in the field. more...
Natural Disaster Scales: Different Types of Scales Are Used for Different Types of Hazards
Category: Natural Disasters (general)
The Volcanic Explosivity Index, the Richter Scale, the Saffir-Simpson Scale and the Fujita Tornado Scale are used to warn communities of natural hazards. more...
The Origin of Fossil Fuels: Hydrocarbons Are Created in Sedimentary Environments
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
The United States gets about 92% of its energy from oil, natural gas and coal. more...
Markham Ice Shelf Breaks Away: 4,500-year-old Ice Shelf Breaks from Arctic
Category: Climate Change
Another startling discovery reveals that the ice-covered Arctic is shrinking as a huge chunk of sea-ice is lost to the ocean. more...
The Importance of Sea-Ice: Why Will the Loss of Arctic Ice Be so Devastating to Our Planet?
Category: Climate Change
Scientists now know that sea-ice in the Arctic and Antarctic is shrinking and they are attributing it to a warmer atmosphere and warmer oceans. more...
Measuring Arctic Sea-Ice: NASA’s DC-8 is used to Measure Impact of Climate Change in Arctic
Category: Climate Change
Flying Laboratory is used to measure sea-ice loss and formations and atmospheric processes in the Arctic with a goal of understanding how these systems are related. more...
Satellites See Kasatochi Eruption: Volcano Erupts in Alaska’s Aleutian Island Chain August 7, 2008
Category: Volcanoes
An explosive eruption occurred at Kasatochi Volcano (52.18ºN, 175.51ºW) on the afternoon of August 7th, 2008, sending volcanic ash and gas 35,000 feet into the atmosphere more...
Satellites Detect Okmok Eruption: The July 12 Eruption of Okmok Volcano is Seen from Space
Category: Volcanoes
Yet another large volcanic eruption has provided earth observers with valuable data of volcanic clouds in the atmosphere - the eruption of Okmok Volcano. more...
Climate Change from Chaiten: Will the May 2008 Eruption of Chaiten Volcano Affect the Atmosphere?
Category: Volcanoes
When a volcanic eruption ejects enough material into the atmosphere, the effects can be local and global climate change. more...
Satellite Detects Chaiten Eruption: Chaiten Volcano, Chile Erupting Ash into the Atmosphere
Category: Volcanology
The ash being emitted by the May 2008 eruption of Chaiten Volcano is detected using earth observing satellites more...
Volcano Monitoring Techniques: Tools Used in Mitigating Volcanic Hazards
Category: Volcanoes
Volcanic processes provide insight into volcanic activity and impending eruptions. The tools used to monitor these processes aid in hazard awareness. more...
Volcanic Hazards: Ash: Ash Columns and Pyroclastic Flows
Category: Volcanoes
Volcanic activity can produce toxic gas, lava flows, lahars, and earthquakes. History shows us that these hazards can by deadly. more...
Studying Volcanoes With Satellites: Earth Observation Systems Can Assist in Volcanic Research
Category: Volcanology
Volcanoes can be dangerous to study. Luckily for volcanologists, the vast array of satellites orbiting our planet can provide valuable information from a safe distance. more...
Classification of Minerals: How Rock Forming Minerals are Identified in Hand Samples
Category: Minerals
Geologists use many mineral properties to identify minerals and better understand the rocks they are studying. more...
Mountain Building: How Mountains Are Built
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
Mountains are major geological features located all over the surface of the Earth. Many geological processes go into making these features. more...
Volcano Fields of the United States: Extensional Region Within Western Interior
Category: Volcanology
Where the crust is stretched thin by tectonic activity, magma is able to rise through the surface. In the Western interior of the U.S., this has led to volcanoes. more...
Minerals Under the Microscope: Optical Mineralogy
Category: Minerals
When minerals are too small to see with the naked eye, a microscope can be used to identify them based on optical properties unique to each mineral. more...
The Carbonate Volcano of Africa: Oldoinyo Lengai Volcano Erupts Carbon Rich Magma
Category: Volcanology
The vast majority of volcanoes erupt silica based magma, but this African volcano erupts magma that is carbonate based, making it very unique. more...
The First Ice Age on Earth: Earliest Period of Glaciation Occurred 2.3 Billion Years Ago
Category: Glaciology
Ancient periods of glaciation have left behind clues for geologists and these clues aid in understanding how the environment of the Earth has changed. more...
The Precambrian Supereon: The Longest Geologic Time Division
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
To understand how geologists determine a rock's age and origin, first understand the geologic time scale. The Precambrian is the largest chunk of this scale. more...
The Geology of Glacier Bay National Park: Almost 100 Years Old, Park is Losing Glacial Coverage
Category: Glaciology
The geology in this park is active. Under the surface, plates are converging and on the surface there is glacial movement. The glaciers are diminishing, though. more...
Fossils and Geologic Mapping: Fossilized Organisms in Rock are Useful for Mapping
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
As far back as the 1700s, early geologists used fossils to correlate rock formations over widely scattered areas in order to create geologic maps. more...
Shrinking Glaciers: Area of Earth Covered By Ice is Decreasing
Category: Glaciology
New data show that glaciers are retreating in response to climate change. more...
The Geology of the Grand Canyon: Largest Section of Geologic Time on Earth
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
The rock formations that make up Grand Canyon National park were deposited more than two billion years ago. more...
Glaciers and Climate Change: Glaciologists use Climate Data Recorded in Ice
Category: Glaciology
Recent observations show that many of the world's glaciers are shrinking as global atmospheric and ocean temperatures increase at an alarming rate. more...
Geology of the Red River Valley: A Geologist's Perspective of Flood Hazards
Category: Hydrogeology
As the Red River threatens communities in North Dakota and Minnesota with floods in the spring of 2009, geology shows us that flooding is inevitable in this valley. more...
How to Make a Flood Map: Find Hazardous Areas Using Topography and Historic Water Levels
Category: Hydrogeology
Living near rivers that have historically flooded can be hazardous, especially if the areas around the rivers are flat. A flood map identifies vulnerable areas. more...
Geology of Mt. Rushmore: South Dakota's Black Hills are the Setting of this Monument
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
A combination of geologic processes taking place over billions of years formed the Harney Peak Granite, where the faces of four American presidents are carved. more...
Volcano Experiment for Kids: An Earth Science Activity for Children
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
It's intuitive for children to wonder how things work and why things are in nature. Encouraging this type of curiosity can create future earth scientists. more...
Geology Could be Source of Mars Methane: Geologic Emissions of the Gas Common on Earth
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
Scientists are now trying to determine whether the source of methane gas on Mars is biological or geological. Several geological processes can produce methane. more...
Earthquake Swarm at Yellowstone National Park: Seismographs Record New Activity in the Caldera
Category: Volcanology
Although one of the most beautiful places in the world, Yellowstone has a violent geologic record. New activity recorded by seismographs has the attention of geologists. more...
Student Opportunities with NASA: Summer 2009 Program in Earth Science Research
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
NASA is getting ready to replace a generation of scientists who are headed for retirement. This research opportunity is geared towards recruiting a new generation. more...
Category: Volcanology
The eruptions of Tambora, Krakatau, Mont Pelee, Nevado del Ruiz and Unzen were the deadliest volcanic eruptions in recorded history. more...
How to Make a Compass: For a Science Experiment or to Help Navigate
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
Navigators and map makers have been using compasses for centuries. Here's a quick and easy way to make a compass of your own with everyday household materials. more...
The Composition of the Atmosphere: Atmospheric Chemicals Give the Planet Life
Category: Meteorology & Climatology (general)
Nitrogen makes up the majority of the air; but there are also various other gases that contribute to the survival of life on Earth. more...
Hurricane Ike Storm Surge: The National Weather Service Predicts Surge Heights
Category: Weather Forecasting
The recent destruction caused by the Category 2 hurricane in Texas highlights why storm surge warnings should be taken seriously. more...
Five Categories of a Hurricane: Saffir-Simpson Scale Is Used to Estimate Potential Damage to Coasts
Category: Weather Forecasting
By assigning a category to a hurricane, scientists are able to warn coastal populations as to the probable intensity of the hazard and help prepare residents. more...
Volcanoes are Natural Polluters: Volcanic Emissions Include Gases and Aerosols
Category: Volcanology
Volcanoes have the ability to change Earth's atmosphere. Current eruptions are causing respiratory hazards and past eruptions have caused climate change. more...
Pilots Encounter Kasatochi Cloud: Aircraft Encounter the Ash Cloud from Kasatochi Volcano Eruption
Category: Volcanoes
Pilots report that the August 7th, 2008 eruption of Kasatochi Volcano, Alaska, produced high-altitude ash clouds that presented hazards to aircraft. more...
Los Angeles Earthquake of July 29, 2008: Southern California was Hit by a Magnitude 5.4 Earthquake
Category: Earthquakes & Avalanches
On July 29th at 11:42 a.m. in Southern California, a moderate earthquake shook the region and reminded Californians that they are living in a hazard zone. more...
Deadly Earthquake in China: Earthquake Felt Throughout Asia
Category: Earthquakes & Avalanches
A massive earthquake has destroyed buildings and homes, most heavily in the Sichuan region. One town is in danger of being flooded due to a collapsing dam. more...
Chaiten Volcano Cloud Height: Overestimates of the Chaiten Eruption Cloud
Category: Volcanoes
News agencies are reporting cloud heights of 20 miles, which is a great exaggeration of the actual cloud height of about 3-7 miles based on scientific analysis. more...
Volcanic Hazards: Tsunamis: Tsunamis Kill with Little or No Warning
Category: Volcanoes
Volcanic activity can produce tsunamis, toxic gas, lava flows, lahars, and earthquakes. History shows us that these hazards can by deadly. more...
Volcano Hazards: Quakes and Slides: Seismic Activity and Landslides
Category: Volcanoes
Volcanic activity can produce toxic gas, lava flows, lahars, and earthquakes. History shows us that these hazards can by deadly. more...
Volcanic Hazards: Gases and Lahars: One Volcano Can Produce a Variety of Hazards
Category: Volcanoes
Volcanic activity can produce toxic gas, lava flows, lahars, and earthquakes. History shows us that these hazards can by deadly. more...
Earthquake Rocks Nevada: Seismic Activity in Northeast Nevada Jolts Residents
Category: Geology/Ecology (general)
The February 21, 2008, Wells earthquake reminded Nevada residents that the ground beneath them is among the most seismically active in the U.S. more...
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