Article posted Thursday, October 9, 2014 12:54pm

In honor of Earth Science Week, Oct. 12-18, we take a look at a few Earth science facts.

−128.6 °F

The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth, at Vostok Station, Antarctica on July 21, 1983.

9

The number of pounds of gold each person on Earth could have if we could extract the more than 20 million tons of diluted gold in the Earth’s oceans.

9.5

The magnitude of the largest earthquake, recorded in Chile on May 22, 1960.

40

The number of miles the magnetic pole moves every year.

220

The height in feet of the largest stalagmite on Earth, found in Cuevo San Martin Infierno, Cuba.

1815

The year of the largest volcanic eruption recorded by humans. It happened in April of that year to Indonesia’s Mount Tambora. The eruption was so loud it was heard 1,200 miles away.

24,901

The circumference of Earth in miles at the equator.

35,813

The depth in feet of the deepest point on the ocean floor, the Mariana Trench.

52,500

The cubic feet of the General Sherman giant sequoia, the largest known stem tree on the planet, at Sequoia National Park.

54,000

The number of degrees Fahrenheit a single stroke of lightning can heat the air around it.

56,000

The height in feet of the tallest mountain on Earth, Mauna Kea, from its true base on the ocean floor to the summit (Mount Everest is only a measly 29,029 feet).

67,000

The speed in miles per hour that the Earth moves around the sun.

Source: NASA, U.S. Geological Survey, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration