Where do our Greenhouse Gases go?

Although we are still producing increasing volumes of greenhouse gases, it appears that the Earths natural carbon sinks are not yet at capacity.
Earths natural ecosystems absorbing Greenhouse Gases

How long can this go on for?
Is it an excuse to continue to produce more greenhouse gases?
Is the problem with the Earths ability to absorb greenhouse gases or the amount of gases produced by Human activity?

Northwest Earthquake Risk in U.S. Looms Large

The US has been 'waiting' for a big Earthquake to strike for some time, Scientists in the states now think it may strike in the next 50years.
Large US quake looms

Evidence for Glaciers increasing in mass

French researchers have uncovered evidence that Glaciers in the Karakoram range of the Himalaya.

Is this evidence of the impact of localised climatic conditions, or an indication of a global shift in ice cap reduction?
Time will tell.
Read more here:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17701677

Earthquake rocks Sumatra

A massive factor 8.6 earthquake occurred off the coast of Sumatra on Wednesday 11th April, it was closely followed by an 8.2 magnitude aftershock.
But unlike the Tsunami that caused the Boxing Day Tsunami in 2004 (M9.1); this earthquake and its aftershocks, caused little more than a large swell.

Why might this be?
why wasn't there a large displacement of water as a result of this earthquake?
What other effects were there?

Read more here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/11/earthquake-sumatra-geology-tsunami
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17680152

Year 10's visit Geohazard conference

Plymouth University hosted the Geohazard Conference on Mon 27th Feb, and we took 12 keen Geologists along.
They learned about the proposed Geothermal Energy plant in Cornwall, which should be running in 2015.
There was a workshop on lava flows, and then some lectures from the Geology lecturers at the Uni (three of which lectured me when I wa there some 13 years ago!!)
However I think the highlight of the day for everyone was meeting and talking to Prof Ian Stewart. He gave an inspirational final lecture and left us all with some real food for thought:

'Invisibility' cloak could dampen blow from earthquakes

Researchers at the University of Manchester have proposed a structure that would protect a building by making it “invisible” to seismic waves.

Researchers say giant rubber cylinders coated with special wave-scattering materials could act as a "seismic waveguide" and dissipate the punch from earth quakes.

Read more here: Invisibility cloak could dampen blow from earthquakes

Which shock waves would this be most effective against?
Where might this be useful?
Are there any draw backs to this idea?

America and Eurasia 'to meet at north pole'

America and Eurasia will crash into each other over the North Pole in 50-200 million years time, according to scientists at Yale University.

They predict Africa and Australia will join the new "supercontinent" too, which will mark the next coming together of the Earth's land masses.

More here:
America and Eurasia to meet at north pole



When was the last time this happened?
What is the evidence for the theory of plate tectonics?
What might be the impacts of the continents joining?