Education
Science
Nature
Environment
Natural Phenomena
Natural Science Phenomena
Volcanic lightning
Giant permafrost explosions
15 Amazing Natural Science Phenomena on Earth
– Thread –
– Thread –
1. Volcanic lightning
That's right, volcanoes can produce lightning.
Researchers have a few ideas about what causes it. One of the most common is that during an eruption, ash picks up so much friction that the build-up of static electricity causes lightning.
That's right, volcanoes can produce lightning.
Researchers have a few ideas about what causes it. One of the most common is that during an eruption, ash picks up so much friction that the build-up of static electricity causes lightning.
2. Giant permafrost explosions
If you heat frozen methane trapped in the Siberian permafrost enough, it turns into a gas, eventually building up so much pressure that the ground explodes.
The loud boom and giant hole these bursts create were first reported in 2013.
If you heat frozen methane trapped in the Siberian permafrost enough, it turns into a gas, eventually building up so much pressure that the ground explodes.
The loud boom and giant hole these bursts create were first reported in 2013.
3. Clonal tree groves
That's not a first, it's all one tree.
Underneath the soil, a dense network of roots connects all the shoots that look like 47,000 trees from above.
This grove, nicknamed Pando, is one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world.
That's not a first, it's all one tree.
Underneath the soil, a dense network of roots connects all the shoots that look like 47,000 trees from above.
This grove, nicknamed Pando, is one of the oldest and largest organisms in the world.
4. Eye of the Sahara
Scientists are still trying to confirm how it was formed, but they think it's the eroded remains of a giant dome of rock.
If so, it would have originally formed when magma pushing up towards the surface of the Earth created a bulge.
Scientists are still trying to confirm how it was formed, but they think it's the eroded remains of a giant dome of rock.
If so, it would have originally formed when magma pushing up towards the surface of the Earth created a bulge.
5. Rainbow eucalyptus
The rainbow eucalyptus, also known as the rainbow gum, is the most colorful tree on Earth. Its striped look is caused by bark turning colors and peeling away as it ages.
Huge amounts of rainbow eucalyptus wood pulp is turned into white paper every year
The rainbow eucalyptus, also known as the rainbow gum, is the most colorful tree on Earth. Its striped look is caused by bark turning colors and peeling away as it ages.
Huge amounts of rainbow eucalyptus wood pulp is turned into white paper every year
6. Halos
halos require just the right formation of ice crystals in clouds high above the surface of the Earth to bend light from the sun into a perfect ring.
The same phenomenon can also happen with moonlight, although moon halos are usually white.
halos require just the right formation of ice crystals in clouds high above the surface of the Earth to bend light from the sun into a perfect ring.
The same phenomenon can also happen with moonlight, although moon halos are usually white.
7. Penitentes
These ice spikes, called penitentes, form in high altitudes, where sunlight turns ice directly into water vapor, rather than melting it to water.
These ice spikes, called penitentes, form in high altitudes, where sunlight turns ice directly into water vapor, rather than melting it to water.
8. Fire tornadoes
Fire tornadoes it's made of fire, as the name suggests. They form when wind patterns twist an active fire into a column.
About once a year, the US sees one large fire whirl — as tall as 1000 feet.
Fire tornadoes it's made of fire, as the name suggests. They form when wind patterns twist an active fire into a column.
About once a year, the US sees one large fire whirl — as tall as 1000 feet.
9. Waterspouts
Waterspouts look like liquid tornadoes, but while they can form during storms, they can also develop on calm, open ocean — swirling towers of wind climbing up from the water to the sky.
Waterspouts look like liquid tornadoes, but while they can form during storms, they can also develop on calm, open ocean — swirling towers of wind climbing up from the water to the sky.
10. Blood falls
Blood Falls, in one of the driest regions of Antarctica. It's full of bacteria scientists want to study because they fuel themselves with sulfates.
The water has so much iron in it that it literally rusts when it meets air, giving the waterfall its color.
Blood Falls, in one of the driest regions of Antarctica. It's full of bacteria scientists want to study because they fuel themselves with sulfates.
The water has so much iron in it that it literally rusts when it meets air, giving the waterfall its color.
11. Bright red Lake Natron
Lake Natron, in Tanzania, can hit 140 degrees Fahrenheit and alkalinity at the level of pure ammonia.
That means it's almost deserted, except for a particularly hardy fish, the microbes that make it look red, and lesser flamingoes.
Lake Natron, in Tanzania, can hit 140 degrees Fahrenheit and alkalinity at the level of pure ammonia.
That means it's almost deserted, except for a particularly hardy fish, the microbes that make it look red, and lesser flamingoes.
12. Bismuth crystals
Bismuth is a dense, super-shiny grey metal that's found in predictable places like safety valves and paintings.
If you melt it, then cool it very slowly, bismuth forms irridescent cubic crystals — even on your own stove.
Bismuth is a dense, super-shiny grey metal that's found in predictable places like safety valves and paintings.
If you melt it, then cool it very slowly, bismuth forms irridescent cubic crystals — even on your own stove.
13. Pele's hair lava
No, that's not a bird's nest. It came out of a volcano, yes.
The wind can catch individual droplets of lava and stretch them into what's basically glass wires. Strands can reach as long as 6 feet.
It's also known as Witch's Hair.
No, that's not a bird's nest. It came out of a volcano, yes.
The wind can catch individual droplets of lava and stretch them into what's basically glass wires. Strands can reach as long as 6 feet.
It's also known as Witch's Hair.
14. Salar de Uyuni
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is both the world's largest salt flat (it's about 4,000 square miles) and the home of half the planet's lithium.
The wet season turns it into a perfectly reflective lake.
Salar de Uyuni in Bolivia is both the world's largest salt flat (it's about 4,000 square miles) and the home of half the planet's lithium.
The wet season turns it into a perfectly reflective lake.
15. Lake Maracaibo, lightning capital of the world
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela sees more lightning strikes than anywhere else on Earth: In fact, there are thunderstorms here 300 days out of the year.
Lake Maracaibo in Venezuela sees more lightning strikes than anywhere else on Earth: In fact, there are thunderstorms here 300 days out of the year.
If you liked my thread do help me reach out to a greater audience with a Retweet of the first post 🙏
| Follow (@ThinkingWiseman) for more interesting content.
Join Telegram Channel:
t.me
| Follow (@ThinkingWiseman) for more interesting content.
Join Telegram Channel:
t.me
Loading suggestions...