In Cave Biologists Shine Light on the Creatures of the Dark by Charles Choi of ouramazingplanet.com, Choi talks about the wonders that scientists have discovered in deep, dark caves. These wonders are the organisms that inhabit these caves. They are characterized by sly movements, colorless skin, multiple legs, and some without eyes. These organisms were examined in Limestone caves in Arkansas, Missouri, Texas, Louisiana and lava beds in Nevada. The only source of energy for these organisms are debris that is washed in and debris brought in by other animals, which is usually feces. At the bottom of the cave animals similar to salamanders swim through streams and feed on smaller animals called amphipods. If these creatures were to leave the cave, they would most likely not survive. Because of the cool and wet conditions, these organisms would burn up or dry out(very similar) from the heat outside the cave.

http://www.ouramazingplanet.com/adaptation-of-creatures-that-dwell-in-caves-0806/

Geography.com cited the national Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration saying that they have recently discovered what they call "submarine volcanoes." These volcanoes lay beneath the sea floor and warm the ocean water around it. This warmth provides life to various exotic deep sea marine life. The volcano scientists focused on was a volcano 12,000 feet beneath the earths surface. This location is a 2.3 million square mile area containing 65% of the worlds corral species. Scientists have determined that there are 40% new corral species and 50% new fish species around the volcano. I believe this shows how positively plate tectonics can effect marine life in the ocean. Although if the volcano was ever to sleep then much of this corral and fish will die. These sites are prime locations for scientists to find new and exotic species of the ocean. I wonder if it is possible for volcanoes to have the same effect on land.

http://geology.com/noaa/sulawesi-sea/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/05/090505111702.htm

In an article on geology.com republished from The University of Wisconsin-Madison by Jill Sakai, Sakai discusses what may have been responsible for the reawakening of Iceland's Eyjafjallajökull volcano. In a study cited from The Journal of Nature, it is believed that the volcano may have erupted from flowing magma beneath the volcano. It was also found that the volcano swelled from the formation of magma for 11 weeks before it erupted. There are records of an increase of earthquakes from agitation in the mountain as the date of eruption came nearer. Once it had erupted, the volcano maintained its relative size and amount of magma unlike most volcanos that deflate. The volcano then erupted a second time, this time from another ice covered vent. The Eyjafjallajökull volcano is a great example of how an unexpected volcano eruption can prove to be catastrophic. If the a similar incident had been close to a population then many people could have been killed.

http://geology.com/press-release/iceland-volcano-monitoring/
http://www.natural-calamity.info/the-volcano-under-eyjafjallajokull-glacier-eruption-again/

In an article on geology.com, there is news of early life forms being preserved in rock in a remote area in Africa. In the Tables Mountains of South Africa fossilized life forms that are billions of years old have been found preserves with guts, eyes and muscles. The reason for such well preserved fossils are the layers of algae it has been preserved in and a past ice cap that covered the rock it is in. Over the past few hundred years a dry wind has slowly revealed these underlying fossils. Perhaps if geologists kind identify other rock layers with these similar features we may be able to find fossils of this same condition. To go about doing this, we may just look at rock that we know have previously been covered by ice as well. One thing is for sure, when all the glaciers in the world are gone we can look forward to extremely well preserved fossils.

http://geology.com/press-release/soom-shale/

In Ipswich, Massachusetts lays the Ipswich River. 15,000 years ago the Laurentides ice sheet melted and deposited its sediments known as moraines parallel to each other creating the banks of the Ipswich River. These banks are named Jeffreys Neck and Castle hill. Over time the sand and rock that the alpine glacier collected was deposited into the Atlantic. Longshore drift carried this sediment back onto the beaches. As strong winds came in, they blew the finest particles of sand into the grasses above the beach. After many years this has created 1,200 acres of white sand dunes at Castle Neck. So if you were to go here today you would see a large sand dune covered in marsh grass, cranberry bushes and large oak trees. Although still lush with such vegetation, it is very empty compared to what it looked like during the 1600's. During this time oaks populated much of this land but had been almost entirely wiped out when new settlers arrived.

http://www.wickedlocal.com/wenham/news/lifestyle/columnists/x1790524963/A-walk-in-the-Ipswich-dunes

http://www.trekearth.com/gallery/photo677200.htm

In an article by Neil Bowdler on BBC.co.uk, Bowdler discusses the possibility of the 'snowball Earth hypothesis.' It is believed that 700 million years ago in the cryogenic age, an ice age occurred. Recent evidence shows that there may have been small turbulent oceans that allowed micro organisms to survive such harsh conditions. Deposits of sediment in Australia has been found by researchers that they say suggest turbulent oceans existed there millions of years ago. They have also found a particular kind of bed rock called hummocky cross bedding that they say can only exist where storm waves would have been. The waves that push sand along the ocean of the floor eventually make a type of sand stone. This sandstone has pockets between them which would be a prime location for these microorganisms to survive. Many people speculate this idea with their own belief that the earth was more of a "slush ball," which would better explain how organisms could survive frigid temperatures.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11992299

South Georgia is a small island in the Atlantic off the coast Argentina. What makes this 170 kilometer long island so unique is what occurs on this island. It is here on South Georgia that colossal icebergs that break off of Antarctica land. It is here that they spend their remaining time to melt. Although this is a rare occurrence, it does have substantial effects on the environment. Doctor Mark Brandon from the Open University has been running tests for some time now to see what these effects actually are. With several of his colleagues, Brandon has found that these gigantic icebergs change the current, density, temperature and even marine life of the ocean. The added fresh water into the ocean which changes the ratio of salt to water, making it more dense. This also changes the current. The icebergs also cool the water, allowing plankton to thrive closer to the island of South Georgia. This added plankton has allowed marine life such as seals and penguins to survive on the island.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-11913457
http://www.scotford.net/Web%20Pages/Roger_Pics.htm