Orogenic Theories and Plate Tectonics: A Comprehensive Study
Orogenic Theories
Fijist Theories
Fijist theories assumed that the geographical position of continents and oceans do not vary with time, and that the causes of internal processes are vertical movements of elevation and subsidence. The theory of greater importance was Dana’s. He considered that from an initial molten earth, the planet suffered a gradual cooling and consequent contraction. According to this theory, as the interior cooled and contracted, the external solid surface was deformed by crumpling
Read MoreGeothermal Energy: Sources, Availability, and Environmental Impact
Where Does Geothermal Energy Come From?
Geothermal reservoirs are naturally occurring areas of hydrothermal resources. They are deep underground and are largely undetectable above ground. Geothermal energy finds its way to the Earth’s surface in three ways:
- Volcanoes and fumaroles (holes where volcanic gases are released)
- Hot springs
- Geysers
Geothermal energy also comes from volcanically active places such as Iceland and New Zealand.
Most of the geothermal power plants in the United States are located
Read MoreUnderstanding Key Ecosystem Cycles: Nitrogen, Carbon, Fire & Soil
Understanding Key Ecosystem Cycles
The Nitrogen Cycle
Nitrogen constitutes 78% of the air. While abundant, it’s largely unusable in its gaseous form. It exists in small amounts in water and is part of mineral salts or ammonia. Very few organisms can directly use atmospheric nitrogen. The nitrogen cycle in nature proceeds as follows:
- Plants absorb dissolved nitrogen compounds from water and, through photosynthesis, incorporate them into organic compounds like proteins.
- Certain bacteria can convert atmospheric
Sustainable Farming: Cover Crops, Crop Rotation & More
Sustainable Farming Practices for Soil Health
When farmers plant trees, shrubs, and ground cover around the edges of their fields, they are using a strategy called “cover cropping.”
Land degradation has accelerated during the 20th and 21st centuries due to increasing and combined pressures of agricultural and livestock production (over-cultivation, overgrazing, forest conversion), urbanization, and extreme weather events such as droughts and storm surges, which salinate the land.
The practice of growing
Read MoreRaw Materials, Energy Sources, and Industry Essentials
Raw Materials
Raw materials are found in nature and, through transformation industries, become usable products. There are three types:
- Animal Origin: Materials that come from livestock and are used in the textile industry, for example.
- Vegetal Origin: Products such as cotton, used to make fabrics, or forest products like timber, used for furniture, or rubber, used to manufacture tires.
- Mineral Origin: Raw ore extracted from underground sources. Most cannot be used directly to produce a product.
Types
Read MoreCauses and Development of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939)
Causes of the Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil War (1936-1939) stemmed from deep-seated political, social, and economic tensions within Spain. Several key factors contributed to the outbreak of the conflict:
- Political Instability: The liberal revolutions of the 19th century in Spain led to a series of violent confrontations. The army frequently intervened through pronunciamientos (military coups), and the population suffered from the distortions of the political system by caciques (local political