What causes earthquakes? - National Geographic
Sep 12, 2024 · Most earthquakes occur at fault zones, where tectonic plates —giant rock slabs that make up Earth's upper layer—collide or slide against each other. These impacts are …
Plastic pollution facts and information - National Geographic
Sep 23, 2024 · Production increased exponentially, from 2.3 million tons in 1950 to 448 million tons by 2015. Production is expected to double by 2050. Every year, about eight million tons of …
The solar system—facts and information - National Geographic
Mar 27, 2019 · Known as natural satellites, they orbit planets, dwarf planets, asteroids, and other debris. Among the planets, moons are more common in the outer reaches of the solar system. …
Volcano facts and information - National Geographic
Jan 15, 2018 · Volcanoes, explained. These fiery peaks have belched up molten rock, hot ash, and gas since Earth formed billions of years ago. Volcanoes are Earth's geologic architects. …
What is global warming, facts and information - National Geographic
Jan 22, 2019 · What is global warming, explained. The planet is heating up—and fast. Glaciers are melting, sea levels are rising, cloud forests are dying, and wildlife is scrambling to keep …
Tsunami Facts and Information - National Geographic
Tsunamis. These destructive surges of water are caused by underwater earthquakes. A tsunami is a series of ocean waves that sends surges of water, sometimes reaching heights of over …
Renewable energy, facts and information - National Geographic
Jan 30, 2019 · Hydropower: For centuries, people have harnessed the energy of river currents, using dams to control water flow. Hydropower is the world's biggest source of renewable …
Rainforest and Amazon facts and information - National Geographic
May 15, 2019 · Rainforest loss. Deforestation is endangering rainforests worldwide, driven by logging, mining, agriculture, and ranching. About 17 percent of the Amazonian rainforest has …
Greenhouse gases, facts and information - National Geographic
May 13, 2019 · Greenhouse gases have far-ranging environmental and health effects. They cause climate change by trapping heat, and they also contribute to respiratory disease from smog …
Oceans—facts and information - National Geographic
Mar 21, 2019 · The oceans hold about 321 million cubic miles (1.34 billion cubic kilometers) of water, which is roughly 97 percent of Earth's water supply. Seawater's weight is about 3.5 …