What’s big and deadly, and travels faster than a jet plane? It’s a tsunami. Hosts Jane and Ellen explain how ocean waves become tsunamis. They talk about the basic properties of waves, and the differences between tidal waves and tsunamis. They also talk about some famous tsunamis. (Spoiler alert - don’t expect a happy ending.) Sources: Introduction to Oceanology by Paul Webb, offered online by Roger Williams University https://rwu.pressbooks.pub/webboceanography/chapter/chapter-10-waves/  Japan Revives a Sea Barrier That Failed to Hold by Norimitsu Onishi for The New York Times https://w ..read more

Jane interrupts our scheduled discussion of tsunamis to take us on a Magic Schoolbus-like field trip to Missouri’s Elephant Rocks State Park. Along the way we learn a bit about Missouri’s history, and culture (mort importantly the three Bs of St. Louis: Beer, Blues, and Barbeque). We also learn cool stuff about the geology of this Gateway to the West state. Granite domes & tors abound! And in the immortal words of Miss Frizzle, “Seatbelts, everyone!” Our sources for this episode are: Process geomorphology (5th ed.), Ritter, Kochel, & Miller. Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geo ..read more

So you think you’ve got problems… imagine what happens when the earth’s crust is under stress and strain. Learn about the forces that cause earthquakes, and how structural geologists measure them. This episode is guaranteed to give you the shimmy shakes. (Guarantee not legally enforceable, but it’s still pretty cool.) Our main source for this episode is Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th ed.), by Tarbuck & Lutgens Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs ..read more

In this episode, we learn that some rocks have more than a killer attitude — they’re actually deadly. Lock all the doors and turn down the lights as hosts Jane and Ellen tell spooktacular tales about the many horrible ways rocks can kill you. Whatever you do, don’t listen to this episode…alone! Bwahaha! ☠️ Our sources for this episode are: Killer Clothing Was All the Rage in the 19th Century, by Becky Little for National Geographic Arsenic Pills and Lead Foundation: The history of toxic Makeup, by Becky Little for National Geographic Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals, by Chris Pella ..read more

In this episode, we learn about all things volcano: where they’re found, how they’re formed, and even how volcanologists use them for cooking. We also learn that the Tectonic Plate struggle is real, and that volcanoes are some of the evidence. Crank up the A/C and get ready to go with the lava flow in this sizzling episode. Our main source for this episode is Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th ed.), by Tarbuck & Lutgens. Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also contact us through our website sedimentarym ..read more

So you think you’ve got problems… imagine what happens when the earth’s crust is under stress and strain. Learn about the forces that cause earthquakes, and how structural geologists measure them. This episode is guaranteed to give you the shimmy shakes. (Guarantee not legally enforceable, but it’s still pretty cool.) Our main source for this episode is Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th ed.), by Tarbuck & Lutgens Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs ..read more

This episode talks about geomorphology, the study of the Earth’s landforms. This includes the physical makeup of the earth’s crust, the movement of the pieces that make up the Earth (plate tectonics), and the origin and evolution of topographic (and bathymetric) features created by physical and chemical processes, and operating at or near the earth’s surface. Our main source for this episode is Process geomorphology (5th ed.), by Ritter, Kochel, & Miller. Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs. Send us your pics/question about geomorphology, or follow us on Twitte ..read more

In this episode, we learn that some rocks have more than a killer attitude — they’re actually deadly. Lock all the doors and turn down the lights as hosts Jane and Ellen tell spooktacular tales about the many horrible ways rocks can kill you. Whatever you do, don’t listen to this episode…alone! Bwahaha! ☠️ Our sources for this episode are: Killer Clothing Was All the Rage in the 19th Century, by Becky Little for National Geographic Arsenic Pills and Lead Foundation: The history of toxic Makeup, by Becky Little for National Geographic Smithsonian Handbooks: Rocks & Minerals, by Chris Pella ..read more

We explore the final frontier, starting with the Big Bang Theory, followed by the creation of our solar system, then the humble beginnings of our planet, including a rough encounter with the moon about 4.5 billion years ago, and ending with a discussion of what Earth looked like in its nascent state. Our main source for this episode is Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th ed.), by Tarbuck & Lutgens. Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also contact us through our website sedimentarymydear.com ..read more

In this episode, we learn about all things volcano: where they’re found, how they’re formed, and even how volcanologists use them for cooking. We also learn that the Tectonic Plate struggle is real, and that volcanoes are some of the evidence. Crank up the A/C and get ready to go with the lava flow in this sizzling episode. Our main source for this episode is Earth: An Introduction to Physical Geology (9th ed.), by Tarbuck & Lutgens. Music for It’s Sedimentary, My Dear is provided by Solar Sleighs. Follow us on Twitter and Instagram. You can also contact us through our website sedimentarym ..read more