Geophysics & Environmental Physics

A base-10 logarithmic scale quantifying earthquake magnitude based on the maximum amplitude of seismic waves recorded on a seismograph.

M_L = log₁₀(A / A₀), M_w = ⅔ log₁₀(M₀) - 6.07 Logarithmic Magnitude (M_L / M_w)

The ongoing increase in global mean sea level caused by thermal expansion of warming ocean water and meltwater input from glaciers and ice…

Δh_sea = Δh_thermosteric + Δh_eustatic (Thermal Expansion + Meltwater) mm/year (Rate of Rise)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The tectonic process occurring at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is created by upwelling mantle magma and moves laterally away.

Spreading Rate v = d / t ~ 2–16 cm/year cm/year (Spreading Rate)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

Elastic body waves that propagate through Earth's interior during an earthquake, classified as Primary (P) waves and Secondary (S) waves.

v_P = √((K + ⁴/₃ μ) / ρ), v_S = √(μ / ρ) km/s (Seismic Wave Velocities)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The scientific study of earthquakes and the propagation of mechanical elastic waves through the Earth's interior and surface layers.

v_p = √((K + ⁴/₃ μ) / ρ), v_s = √(μ / ρ) m/s (Wave Speeds)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The plasma physics interaction between the Sun's supersonic coronal plasma stream and Earth's geomagnetic field.

Bow Shock Formation (Supersonic Magnetosheath Plasma Flow) Plasma Density & Velocity

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The mass ratio of water vapor contained within an air parcel relative to the total mass of the moist air parcel.

q = m_v / (m_v + m_d) ≈ 0.622 e / P g/kg (Grams of Water Vapor per kg of Air)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The second major layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the tropopause (~12 km) up to the stratopause (~50 km), containing the…

dT / dz > 0 (Temperature Inversion via O₃ Absorption) km (Altitude ~12 to 50 km)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The global deep-ocean density-driven circulation loop powered by surface variations in seawater temperature (thermo) and salinity (haline).

Density ρ = ρ(T, S, P) (Function of Temperature and Salinity) Sv (Sverdrups = 10⁶ m³/s)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The gravitational interaction where ocean tidal bulges drag ahead of the Earth-Moon axis, causing frictional dissipation of Earth's…

dΩ/dt < 0 (Earth rotation slowing by ~2.3 ms/century) ms/century (Length of Day Increase)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to the tropopause (~7 to 18 km), containing ~80% of atmospheric mass…

dT / dz ≈ -6.5 °C/km (Environmental Lapse Rate) km (Altitude ~0 to 12 km)

Geophysics & Environmental Physics

A planar dipping zone of earthquake foci produced by the subduction of a cold, rigid oceanic lithospheric plate into the mantle.

Seismic Focal Depth down to ~670 km along dipping slab km (Focal Depth)