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From: Rod Deline
Date: 11/19/02
Time: 8:49:38 AM
Remote Name: 204.29.69.78
What is the Lithosphere? The lithosphere contains all of the cold, hard solid land of the planet's crust, the semi-solid land underneath the crust and the liquid land near the center of the earth. The surface of the lithosphere is very uneven and divided into several layers. The solid, semi-solid and liquid land of the lithosphere forms layers that are physically and chemically different. The rocky material which comprises the lithosphere of the earth can be pushed and deformed like silly putty in response to the warmth of the Earth, such that the rocks actually flow. The flowing lithosphere carries the crust of the earth, including the continents, on it's back. The rocky material which comprises the lithosphere of the earth is special, however, because the rocks contain water. These special minerals have the ability to slide against each other. The lithosphere is divided up into approximately 14 pieces called tectonic plates. These plates slide over the semi-molten layers below and form the continents and ocean basin. The process of moving plates is known as the Plate Tectonic Theory. Many calculations about the earth are needed to know the thickness of the lithosphere. Some assume that it is 120km, while others think it is closer to 250km. A study by Manga and O'Connell shows that the lithosphere probably has a variable thickness-250km under continents and 100km under the oceans.
What are Hurricanes? Hurricanes and other cyclones that form in the tropics during summer are very different from the extra tropical storms that often form during the winter. Hurricanes and tropical stroms have no fronts. Hurricane winds weaken with height. The center of a hurricane is warmer than its surrondings. Hurricanes and tropical storms form under weak high-altitude winds. Air sinks at the center of a hurricane. Hurricanes main energy source is the latent heat of condensation. Hurricanes weaken rapidly over land.
Event to Sphere Interactions: E>L The storm surge from a hurricane can also be very destructive. A storm surge is a large dome of water often 50 to 100 miles wide that sweeps across the coastline near where a hurricane makes landfall. The more shallow the water and the more potent the storm, the greater the storm surge. Storm surge is the greatest threat to the immeidate coastline area. Therefore, the surge would be responsible for destroying sandy beaches, homes and property. Humans are also at-risk during a storm surge.
E>L Hurricane force winds can also affect the lithopshere. The high winds associated with the hurricane can result in erosion the beaches and the surronding area. Debris such as roofing material, siding and small items left outside become projectiles during the storm. The blowing debris will also damage the top layer of the lithosphere. The multiple layers of the earth's lithosphere will continue to be worn down by the trees and other plant life will be uprooted, damaging the lithosphere.
E>L>H Floodwaters can flush the contents of fuel tanks, pig waste lagoons, and human sewage treatment plants into rivers and streams. Eventually these floodwaters moved out into the Atlantic Ocean. The carcasses of pigs, chickens, and other dead animals have been carried in the massive runoffs reported after some hurricanes. These floodwaters consisted of pesticides, fertilizer, and topsoil.
E>L Storm surge flooding is a major cause of hurricane damage. Howling winds around the hurricane create storm surge by piling water up. In the ocean, this dome of water sinks and follows as the storm nears land, the rising sea floor blocks the water's escapr and it comes ashore as a deadly intense hurricane can send a dome of water more than 18 feet deep ashore as the storm hits land. This sudden dropping of water onto beaches causes erosion and gully formation.