"Superswell" is a concept typically associated with ocean waves, especially in the context of surfing and maritime conditions. It refers to a large, powerful swell generated by distant storms or weather systems, which can travel long distances across the ocean before reaching the shore. Superswell conditions often lead to impressive wave heights and can create ideal surfing conditions or, conversely, dangerous situations due to the size and power of the waves.
A tombolo is a geographical feature that refers to a sand or gravel bar that connects an island to the mainland or to another island. It is formed by the accumulation of sediment carried by waves and currents, creating a landform that allows for the island to be accessed from the shore. Tombolos can vary in size and shape and are often influenced by local wave patterns, tidal actions, and the geology of the area.
The Barents Sea Opening refers to a specific event in the context of international relations, particularly related to energy resources in the Arctic region. It often pertains to the exploration and exploitation of oil and gas reserves in the Barents Sea, which is located north of Norway and Russia. In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the Barents Sea due to its potential hydrocarbon resources, especially as melting ice from climate change opens up new areas for exploration.
Biogeography is the study of the distribution of biological organisms across different geographical areas and the factors that influence these distributions. This field examines how species are distributed in relation to their environment, geological history, climate, and the interactions between species and ecosystems. When discussing biogeography by country, it generally refers to the various ecosystems, species diversity, and ecological characteristics specific to that nation.
Natural regions refer to large areas of the Earth's surface that are characterized by distinct physical geography, climate, ecosystems, and vegetation types. These regions are shaped by natural processes such as climate variation, topography, soil types, and biotic factors, leading to diverse landscapes and habitats. Natural regions can include: 1. **Biomes**: These are large-scale ecosystems defined by climatic conditions and the types of flora and fauna present, such as forests, grasslands, deserts, and tundras.
The Area of Special Conservation Interest (ASCI) is a designation used primarily within the European Union's Natura 2000 network, aimed at protecting and conserving certain natural habitats and wildlife species. These areas are designated under the European Union's Habitats Directive and Birds Directive, which aim to protect biodiversity across the member states. Key points about Areas of Special Conservation Interest include: 1. **Purpose**: The primary goal is to protect natural habitats and species that are considered threatened or vulnerable.
Biodiversity loss refers to the decline in the variety and variability of life forms on Earth. This includes the reduction in the number of species, genetic diversity within species, and the variety of ecosystems in which these species live. Biodiversity is crucial for the health of ecosystems, as it contributes to ecosystem services such as pollination, nutrient cycling, water purification, and climate regulation.
The term "Cosmopolitan distribution" generally refers to a species or a group of organisms that have a wide geographic distribution, found in many different regions across the globe. In ecology and biogeography, a cosmopolitan species is typically one that can thrive in a wide variety of environmental conditions and is not restricted to a specific region. For example, some common plants, animals, or microorganisms are considered cosmopolitan because they are found on multiple continents and in various ecological niches.
An ecoregion is a geographical area that is defined by distinct ecological characteristics, including climate, vegetation, soil types, and wildlife. Ecoregions are used by ecologists and environmental scientists to categorize and analyze the diversity of ecosystems and the relationships between different organisms and their environments. Ecoregions can vary in size and can be classified at different levels, such as global, national, or local.
Landscape ecology is a subfield of ecology that focuses on the study of landscapes and the interactions between ecological processes and spatial patterns within those landscapes. It examines how the arrangement of habitats, ecosystems, and species across a geographical area influences ecological dynamics and processes. Key concepts in landscape ecology include: 1. **Spatial Patterns**: Landscape ecologists analyze how spatial arrangements of different ecosystems, land uses, and habitat types affect ecological functions and the distribution of species.
The Ocean Biodiversity Information System (OBIS) is a global, collaborative initiative aimed at providing access to data on marine biodiversity. It serves as a platform for aggregating, integrating, and disseminating data related to the distribution of marine species and their associated habitats. OBIS is a part of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC), which is a part of UNESCO.
Phytogeography is the branch of biogeography that focuses on the distribution of plant species and ecosystems across the Earth. It studies how various factors, including climate, soil type, topography, and human activity, influence the spatial distribution of plant life. Phytogeography seeks to understand patterns of plant diversity, the historical and ecological factors that shape these patterns, and the relationships between plants and their environments.
The River Barrier Hypothesis is a concept in the field of ecology and biogeography that seeks to explain patterns of species distribution, particularly in relation to freshwater organisms such as fish, amphibians, and invertebrates. The hypothesis suggests that rivers and their physical characteristics act as barriers to the movement and gene flow of species, leading to genetic differentiation and speciation.
**Isopycnal** refers to a surface or a condition in which the density of a fluid remains constant. The term is most often used in oceanography and fluid dynamics to describe layers or surfaces within a fluid (such as seawater) that have the same density, regardless of variations in temperature or salinity. In the ocean, isopycnal surfaces can play a significant role in the movement and mixing of water masses.
The Theory of Island Biogeography is a key ecological theory that was developed by ecologists Robert MacArthur and Edward O. Wilson in the 1960s. It seeks to explain the factors that influence the number and diversity of species on islands and other isolated habitats. The theory is primarily concerned with two main processes: immigration (the arrival of new species) and extinction (the loss of species).
The term "Western Palaearctic" refers to a biogeographical region that encompasses parts of Europe, northern Africa, and western Asia. It is one of the regions defined within the larger Palaearctic realm, which is one of the eight biogeographical realms of the world. The Western Palaearctic includes a diverse range of habitats, from Mediterranean climates to temperate forests and tundra.
A current meter is an instrument used to measure the flow of electric current in a circuit. It typically provides a reading of current in amperes (A) and is an essential tool in electrical engineering, electronics, and related fields. There are various types of current meters, including: 1. **Analog Current Meters**: These use a moving-coil mechanism to provide a reading on a dial. The deflection of the needle on the dial is proportional to the current flowing through the meter.
"Another Time, Another Place" is the second studio album by British singer-songwriter Bryan Ferry, released in 1974. This album features a mix of original songs penned by Ferry and covers of popular tracks from other artists. Known for its distinctive blend of glam rock and art rock, "Another Time, Another Place" showcases Ferry's smooth vocal style and sophisticated songwriting. The album includes popular tracks like "The 'In' Crowd" and "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes.
"Classics II" can refer to several different things depending on the context. Here are a few possibilities: 1. **Music**: It may refer to a collection of classical music pieces or a specific album that features orchestral works or instrumental performances from renowned composers. 2. **Video Games**: "Classics II" could refer to a sequel or a compilation of classic video games, often remastered or re-released for modern consoles.
Pinned article: Introduction to the OurBigBook Project
Welcome to the OurBigBook Project! Our goal is to create the perfect publishing platform for STEM subjects, and get university-level students to write the best free STEM tutorials ever.
Everyone is welcome to create an account and play with the site: ourbigbook.com/go/register. We belive that students themselves can write amazing tutorials, but teachers are welcome too. You can write about anything you want, it doesn't have to be STEM or even educational. Silly test content is very welcome and you won't be penalized in any way. Just keep it legal!
Intro to OurBigBook
. Source. We have two killer features:
- topics: topics group articles by different users with the same title, e.g. here is the topic for the "Fundamental Theorem of Calculus" ourbigbook.com/go/topic/fundamental-theorem-of-calculusArticles of different users are sorted by upvote within each article page. This feature is a bit like:
- a Wikipedia where each user can have their own version of each article
- a Q&A website like Stack Overflow, where multiple people can give their views on a given topic, and the best ones are sorted by upvote. Except you don't need to wait for someone to ask first, and any topic goes, no matter how narrow or broad
This feature makes it possible for readers to find better explanations of any topic created by other writers. And it allows writers to create an explanation in a place that readers might actually find it.Figure 1. Screenshot of the "Derivative" topic page. View it live at: ourbigbook.com/go/topic/derivativeVideo 2. OurBigBook Web topics demo. Source. - local editing: you can store all your personal knowledge base content locally in a plaintext markup format that can be edited locally and published either:This way you can be sure that even if OurBigBook.com were to go down one day (which we have no plans to do as it is quite cheap to host!), your content will still be perfectly readable as a static site.
- to OurBigBook.com to get awesome multi-user features like topics and likes
- as HTML files to a static website, which you can host yourself for free on many external providers like GitHub Pages, and remain in full control
Figure 3. Visual Studio Code extension installation.Figure 4. Visual Studio Code extension tree navigation.Figure 5. Web editor. You can also edit articles on the Web editor without installing anything locally.Video 3. Edit locally and publish demo. Source. This shows editing OurBigBook Markup and publishing it using the Visual Studio Code extension.Video 4. OurBigBook Visual Studio Code extension editing and navigation demo. Source. - Infinitely deep tables of contents:
All our software is open source and hosted at: github.com/ourbigbook/ourbigbook
Further documentation can be found at: docs.ourbigbook.com
Feel free to reach our to us for any help or suggestions: docs.ourbigbook.com/#contact





