Category: Earth/Climate science

Why Continuing Military Aid to Ukraine is Necessary for Planetary Survival

Why Continuing Military Aid to Ukraine is Necessary for Planetary Survival

02/24/23

“Why is continuing military aid to Ukraine necessary for planetary survival?”

One year has now passed since the Russian State launched its genocidal invasion of Ukraine. Since then, hundreds of thousands of lives have been lost and over 12 million people have been displaced from their homes. However, the resilience of the Ukrainian people has not stopped. The country has taken back over half of its land stolen by Russia and has become a beacon to democracy ever.

Authoritarian leaders see Ukraine as a threat. If Russia is stopped, then invasions for territory will stay unpopular and absolute rule will be seen as inferior to fair and equal treatment of citizens. While many are beginning to have second thoughts about sending weapons, it’s important to step back and consider Why Continuing Military Aid to Ukraine is Necessary for Planetary Survival.

As a proud descendant of Jews from Odesa, I urge you to please do what you can to help Ukrainians under invasion right now here.

The Second Türkiye–Syria Earthquake

The Second Türkiye–Syria Earthquake

02/21/23

“What happened in the second 2023 Türkiye–Syria earthquake?”

Türkiye and Syria are already reeling from the last great earthquake. But on February 20th, a fresh magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck the Türkiye–Syria border region near Antakya/Antioch. This has only added more issues to the already-strained region and shows why earthquakes come in multiples.

As of writing, victims of the 2023 Türkiye – Syria earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.

Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks

Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks

02/20/23

“Why should earthquake planners consider aftershocks?”

Earthquakes are made much more dangerous with aftershocks. Infrastructure that may have affected survived the first round of shaking will be decimated by the next. If earthquake planners take aftershocks into account, cities can avoid much of the pain associated with these events. Possible implementations include designing buildings to withstand earthquakes far beyond what is expected and incorporating redundancy in edifice design. This is Why Earthquake Planners Should Consider Aftershocks.

Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless

Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless

02/19/23

“Why are the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Leaving Scores of People Homeless?”

The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes have demolished much of the built environments in both countries. Many people are now forced to find shelter because their homes have been shaken to the ground. This has been a feature of past earthquakes in Türkiye. In 1999, the Izmit Earthquake left over a quarter-million people homeless. This is Why The 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquakes Are Leaving Scores of People Homeless.

Why the Richter Scale Is Not Always the Best Way to Measure Earthquakes

Why the Richter Scale Is Not Always the Best Way to Measure Earthquakes

02/18/22

“Why is the Richter Scale not always the best way to measure earthquakes?”

The Richter scale is one of the most common ways to measure earthquakes around the world. It’s based on taking the logarithm of the maximum amplitude of a seismic wave. However, this doesn’t capture what makes an earthquake so drastic. First of all, it doesn’t look into how continuous shaking over a longer period of time may cause intense pain. Also, The Richter scale measures earthquake from 0 to 10, and anything above 10 and below 2 is usually not well captured. Furthermore, it doesn’t look into how large the surrounding population is and how fragile is local infrastructure. A quake of a smaller magnitude can cause more damage if there are more people and buildings are in worse shape. This is Why the Richter Scale Is Not Always the Best Way to Measure Earthquakes.

Why Earthquake Safety Instructions are Important for Students

Why Earthquake Safety Instructions are Important for Students

02/17/23

“Why is it important for students to learn about earthquake safety?”

Countries all over the world are prone to earthquakes, from the Bosphorus to the San Francisco Bay. These disasters can strike at any time and wreak havoc on the community. Children are especially vulnerable to these events. To help prepare them, they need to learn about how to respond to earthquakes in school. This is Why Earthquake Safety Instructions are Important for Students.

Earthquake Aftershocks

Earthquake Aftershocks

02/16/23

“What are earthquake aftershocks and why can they be so lethal?”

When earthquakes occur, it’s often talked about as if it’s just a big one-time event. However, minor adjustments along the fault that slipped can occur soon after and induce Earthquake Aftershocks. These earthquake aftershocks can cause great damage to already weakened infrastructure. The over 2,100 aftershocks that occurred in the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake were a primary reason why so much devastation occurred.

As of writing, victims of the earthquake are continuing to face great difficulties in their daily life. To make a difference, please make a donation to organizations such as the Syrian White Helmets and the Anatolian Arts Institute Earthquake Relief Fund. My friends are also connecting donations to small municipalities and vetted organizations through the venmo account @earthquake-relief. Anything you send will go a long way.

Why the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Is Leading to a Disease Outbreak

Why the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Is Leading to a Disease Outbreak

02/15/23

“Why is the 2023 Türkiye–Syria leading to a disease outbreak?”

Infrastructure across Southeastern Türkiye and Northwestern Syria has been pulverized by the 2023 earthquake. Water sanitation has been no exception. As clean water has been made undeliverable, survivors are finding it hard to wash themselves and stay away from diseases. In addition, the little local water people are able to find is likely not purified and full of pathogens and parasites. Pulling everything together, it’s clear Why the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Is Leading to a Disease Outbreak.

Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense

Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense

02/14/23

“Why did the aftershock quakes make the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake particularly intense?”

Southeastern Türkiye and Northwestern Syria woke up the morning of February 6th to a brutal magnitude 7.8 earthquake. While a quake of that size would devastate any community, what followed made it especially gruesome. Soon after, a magnitude 7.5 earthquake hit a region slightly to the north. These were followed by over 2,100 aftershocks that further rumbled the ground. Structures that were built to survive an earthquake were weakened and destroyed by the onslaught of follow-up shakings. This is Why the Aftershock Quakes Made the 2023 Türkiye–Syria Earthquake Particularly Intense.