- eccentric
- Noncircular; elliptical (applied to an orbit).
eccentricity
- A value that defines the shape of an ellipse or planetary orbit;
the ratio of the distance between the foci and the major axis.
eclipse
- The cutting off of light from one celestial body by another.
ecliptic
- The plane of Earth's orbit about the Sun
effusive eruption
- A relative quiet volcanic eruption which puts out basaltic lava
that moves at about the speed one walks. The lava is fluid in nature.
The eruptions at the Kilauea volcano on the island of Hawaii are effusive
Einstein, Albert 1879-1955
- German-American physicist. Einstein developed the Special and General
Theories of Relativity, which along
with Quantum Mechanics, forms the foundation of modern physics.
ejecta
- Material such as glass and fragmented rock thrown out of an impact
crater during its formation.
ellipse
- An oval. Johannes Kepler first discovered that the orbits of the planets are ellipses, not circles; he based his discovery on the careful observations of Tycho Brahe.
en echelon fissures
- Fissures that are parallel in trend to each other, but offset to
either the left or right.
eolian
- Related to wind deposits and associated effects.
eruption
- The ejection of volcanic materials (lavas, pyroclasts and volcanic
gases) onto the surface, either from a central vent, a fissure or
a group of fissures.
explosive eruption
- A dramatic volcanic eruption which throws debris high into the
air for hundreds of miles. The lava is low in silicate and can be very
dangerous for people near by. An example is Mount St. Helens in 1980.
