Geological Sciences | Science Communication
via Dams disproportionately removed from areas with more non-Hispanic white residents Portland, Ore., USA: Since the 1970s, dams have been removed from the U.S. at an increasing rate, with the aim to improve the ecology of river ecosystems, fish migration pathways, water quality, and recreation spaces. “We have about 90,000 dams here in the United States… Continue reading Dams disproportionately removed from areas with more non-Hispanic white residents
via Rocks on Floor of Jezero Crater, Mars, Show Signs of Sustained Interactions with Water Portland, Ore., USA: Since the Perseverance rover landed in Jezero crater on Mars in February, the rover and its team of scientists back on Earth have been hard at work exploring the floor of the crater that once held an… Continue reading Rocks on Floor of Jezero Crater, Mars, Show Signs of Sustained Interactions with Water
via Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit Boulder, Colo., USA: Rift Valley lakes within eastern Africa range from freshwater to highly alkaline systems and are homes to diverse ecosystems. These Rift Valley lakes are also sedimentary repositories, yielding a high-resolution environmental record that can be targeted to… Continue reading Records from Lake Magadi, Kenya, suggest environmental variability driven by changes in Earth’s orbit
Geology, Earth science, and natural history are fun and fascinating! I'm incredibly passionate about the amazing stories the Earth has to tell us! In the blog posts below, you'll find content covering the spectrum of introductory geology to more advanced topics. You can also check out what I'm currently researching and learn more about myself!
I've been making YouTube videos for years, but now I thought it would be fun to get into more short-form videos on TikTok! Join me for tons of geology and Earth science fun! https://www.tiktok.com/@azurite.emily/video/6959614128965143814?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6898752795400046085 https://www.tiktok.com/@azurite.emily/video/6958199634644716806?is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v1&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6898752795400046085
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1SXaMH8gV6I Earth fissures are long, narrow cracks in the ground that form where the ground is sinking. They can erode very quickly, posing a hazard to nearby infrastructure. In Arizona, land subsidence--the sinking of the earth--is caused by groundwater withdrawal, meaning that earth fissures are a man-made--or anthropogenic--hazard. This video that I made as part… Continue reading Understanding Earth Fissures: A Man-Made Geohazard
via A Greener Sahara: Ancient Oases and Prehistoric Human Habitation in the Modern Desert I was able to interview Dr. Kathleen Nicoll, an Associate Professor at the University of Utah, as part of the Geological Society of American Science Communication Internship. You can learn about some of the research Dr. Nicoll works on in the… Continue reading A Greener Sahara: Ancient Oases and Prehistoric Human Habitation in the Modern Desert
https://youtu.be/C7OS_gpFl2Y Not too long ago at a theme park not too far away, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge opened at Disneyland—and soon at Walt Disney World—transporting people to Black Spire Outpost on the planet of Batuu. While the tall rock spires of Batuu enhance the other-wordly experience, they take their inspiration from some very real rocks… Continue reading The Geology of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge | Black Spire Outpost, Batuu
Thanks to a variety of weathering and erosive processes, rocks can come in all shapes and sizes. The above rock from the McDowell Mountains near Phoenix, AZ has a peculiar shape similar to that of a mushroom! This rock is an example of a tor--an exposed mass of rock that abruptly rises above the surrounding ground… Continue reading How do you form a mushroom rock?
https://youtu.be/mZhLp-Sa3Ug Ah Disneyland, the Happiest Place on Earth, home of Mickey Mouse, churros, and some shaky rocks. I've previously gone over how Walt Disney World is located in a very sinkhole prone area and that the Epcot World Showcase Lagoon is in part a massive sinkhole, but don't worry the Disneyland Resort has its own… Continue reading Could an Earthquake Destroy Disneyland?
Emily Zawacki, Ph.D. 