All Questions
Tagged with earth atmospheric-science
87
questions
48
votes
9
answers
21k
views
Why is air not sucked off the Earth?
People said outside earth is a vacuum. But the air does not get sucked from the Earth's surface. Some said it is due to gravity and some said the speed of air molecules are not high enough to escape....
- 609
36
votes
3
answers
16k
views
Why does the Earth cool at night time?
I do understand that open water and open ground cools by the means of convection — lower air takes the heat and goes up, where it cools.
But why does the Earth lose energy and where does it go? Does ...
- 481
28
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why doesn't Earth's atmosphere form bands due to different rotational speeds?
If the Earth's atmosphere is rotating at the same speed as Earth, then the atmosphere must be rotating much faster at the equator than at the poles. If you spin a ball covered in oil, it will form ...
23
votes
5
answers
24k
views
Can helium disappear from Earth?
Helium is lighter than air, so it should fly off from Earth.
Is it possible that in the future we will run out helium?
- 863
22
votes
2
answers
9k
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What is the scientific explanation for radio waves bending around the Earth?
The experiment
This experiment is documented in a documentary called Convex Earth. The exact location the following information is taken from starts at 14:25.
High frequency directional antennas are ...
- 331
20
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Are the air particles in today's wind on earth (more or less) the same as the air 2/3 billion years ago?
So the air pressure on earth remains relatively constant, right?
Is there air gained or lost through transitions of any sort? e.g. plumes going out into space, earth gaining new air particles with ...
- 641
17
votes
5
answers
28k
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Does the moon affect the Earth's climate?
So, this morning I was talking to a friend about astronomical observations, and he told me that lately there has only been good weather when there was a full moon in the sky, which was a shame.
I ...
- 282
16
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Does dusk really remain for a shorter period of time at the equator?
It is said that the dusk remains for shorter time at equator than the poles. Because, the equator rotates faster than poles. But it is also true that time is the same in every latitude, and if it's ...
- 1,070
16
votes
8
answers
11k
views
How do stars from far away affect Earth?
I know that we obviously get light (or we wouldn't be able to see them), but are there any other ways that they affect Earth and maybe just our solar system in general?
- 341
14
votes
2
answers
9k
views
Is the Earth gaining or losing mass over time?
The earth presumably loses mass because molecules of the atmosphere disassociate and fly off into space where the solar wind carries them away.
On the other hand the earth gains mass because ...
- 4,494
12
votes
4
answers
2k
views
A water pipe from sea level to beyond the atmosphere
If a pipe extended from just above the ocean floor to outside the atmosphere, would water be sucked up it by the vacuum beyond the atmosphere? If a hole was made in the pipe, above sea level, how ...
- 137
11
votes
3
answers
1k
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How are the northern lights produced?
Although I've never seen it myself, I hear the northern lights are a sight to be seen! I know they're related to the Earth's magnetic field but I don't know much more about them. What is the physical ...
- 1,397
10
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How is it that the Earth's atmosphere is not “blown away”?
The Earth moves at a high rate of speed around the Sun, and the solar system is moving quickly around the Milky Way. How is it that the Earth's atmosphere is not “blown away”?
- 109
9
votes
4
answers
17k
views
Minimum size of an asteroid to actually impact earth
From what I understand, an object entering the atmosphere will start to burn up from the tremendous resistance of the atmosphere. Presumably, for asteroids under a certain size, they will burn up ...
- 1,786
9
votes
2
answers
18k
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Why does the Sun "shine brighter" some days? [duplicate]
Today, the Sun seems extremely bright; more dazzling than usual, and even the roads seem to be brighter so it's not just when you look up in the sky. Is more light actually getting through (perhaps ...
- 605