As Eve noted, Geology has been on our minds. As most of K-8 Washington State knows, Geology is the study of big things like volcanoes and earthquakes, small things like rocks and minerals, slow things like glaciers and erosion, and fast things floods and landslides. This summer seems to have been brought to us by pressure and friction, due to all of the earthquakes we have felt.
Recently Eve and I have been privvy to relevant and local Geology thanks to Alaska and Union College. Through their field course, they visit relevant geological sites as well as organizations who seek to communicate geologic activity to the public. For a more complete and fantastic description, check out their blog.
We visited the Alaska Volcano Observatory, which was closely monitoring Redoubt's activity. The precision and data analysis were unbelievable and the graduate students at work there inspiring. Visit this link, if only for the pictures. The public data access is pretty darn cool.
We also visited the NOAA Tsunami Warning Center, the single force established to protect all of North America. The center is monitored 24 hours a day, each day of the year. Behold the power of science, math, and technology . . .Yes, the red phone goes to Batman.
All this came to pass weeks ago, but we were reminded of the experience because the man pictured above at the control center came into the nature center today. The most exciting part is that he asked me a question I could legitimately answer. Empowerment!
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