This study by Guangfa Zhong and Xiaotong Peng presents novel findings on the distribution patterns and dispersion mechanisms of deep-sea plastic waste in a submarined canyon. Plastic litter items are highly heterogeneously distributed, with most occurring in longitudinal litter piles.
A new study published in GSA Today suggests that the Yellowstone hotspot is derived from a deep mantle plume, with magmatism extending to at least 56 million years ago. The study's findings indicate a long-lived and robust hotspot that has migrated across northeastern California, northern Nevada, and into Yellowstone National Park.
A new study published in Geology has shed light on the mechanisms driving induced subsidence and seismicity in gas-producing sandstone reservoirs. Researchers analyzed drill core samples from the Groningen field, finding evidence of elastic strain plus inelastic compression of weak clay films within grain contacts.
Researchers have created the largest image ever made of Mars' surface, mapping three billion-year-old sedimentary rocks and identifying 18 new fluvial ridges. The study provides unprecedented insight into ancient river systems on Mars, which could prove valuable targets for future exploration of past climates and tectonics.
Researchers provide a 4D image of an active linkage zone between two major faults, offering insights into fault behavior and implications for seismic hazard assessment. The study highlights the importance of reevaluating 'silent' seismogenic sources in assessing earthquake risk.
Researchers highlight PFAS' widespread presence in the environment, bioaccumulation risks, and difficulty in remediation. Health effects may include increased cancer rates, hormonal disruption, and immune responses.
Researchers develop technique to quickly identify source of illicit sand, which can aid in regulating global sand trade and reducing environmental impacts.
Researchers used fossil records to estimate extinction risk in marine bivalves, finding that many harvested species are widespread and tolerant of environmental changes. However, the study highlights the need for more complete data on human impact to inform conservation efforts.
New research extends Florida's hurricane record thousands of years back in time, hinting at a surprise finding. The study found that the state's Gulf Coast is hit by more intense hurricanes than its East Coast, with ancient tempest deposits suggesting this pattern may extend thousands of years back.
Researchers studied slope failure after wildfires in Southern California's San Gabriel Mountains, finding a shift from debris flows to shallow landslides over time. The study suggests that land managers prioritize post-wildfire mitigation and planning, with debris flows being the primary concern during the next year.
Researchers have discovered microplastics in groundwater, which can contaminate drinking water sources and harm ecosystems. The presence of microplastics in groundwater has been linked to increased toxicity and bioaccumulation, posing a significant risk to human health and the environment.
A study presented at the 2020 GSA Annual Meeting reveals that floating gardens can have a positive impact on water quality. The research found modest but definitive improvement in nutrient levels, including a 1% decrease in nitrate levels downstream of the garden.
Researchers suggest that a large lake overlying the southern San Andreas fault in California could have affected rupture timing. A 1,000-year record of earthquakes and geological analysis indicate that high water levels on Lake Cahuilla increased stress on the rocks underneath, weakening faults and potentially leading to earlier ruptures.
A research team led by Steven Emslie discovered an ancient Adélie penguin colony at Cape Irizar, Antarctica, which has been preserved for thousands of years under the ice. The study found three occupation periods of the cape, with the last one ending around 800 years ago.
The Geological Society of America's annual meeting, GSA Connects Online 2020, features 3,000 papers from 38 geoscience disciplines. The event showcases cutting-edge research in climate science, hydrology, paleontology, and more.
A new study reveals that dust played a critical role in forming thick soils in the Levant region, enabling early human civilization to take root. The discovery challenges existing hypotheses on soil formation, suggesting that dust input was more important than erosion rates.
After the Chicxulub asteroid impact, life on the seafloor recovered with some changes to community structure within 700,000 years. The diversity and abundance of trace fossils responded primarily to variations in organic matter flux.
A new study published in Geology has discovered two newly identified super-eruptions associated with the Yellowstone hotspot, indicating a possible decline in its intensity. The Grey's Landing super-eruption is now the largest recorded event of the entire Snake-River-Yellowstone volcanic province.
Researchers have discovered that current CO2 levels surpass a 23-million-year-old record, suggesting unique greenhouse disruption. The findings imply that ecosystems and temperature might be more sensitive to smaller changes in CO2 than previously thought.
A team of scientists proposes that catastrophic outburst floods carved Greenland's megacanyon network, influenced by large meltwater-filled lakes. The study suggests that these floods could have impacted ocean circulation and caused abrupt climate changes with regional significance.
Researchers studied Glacier Flat Creek in Alaska and found that glacier detachments can be triggered by increased subglacial water pressure due to melting ice. This phenomenon suggests that glaciers may pose new hazards as they melt at a faster pace, potentially leading to more frequent and destructive events.
Researchers found that variations in subducting sediments can influence the magnitude and location of megathrust earthquakes. Sediment thinning caused by volcanic activity may play a key role in determining the size and distribution of these catastrophic events.
A new study published in Geology found that Late Cretaceous ecosystems in North America were characterized by diverse and mixed diets, with resource interchange between aquatic and terrestrial components being common. The research used stable isotope analysis to reconstruct the diets and habitat use of dinosaurs and other animals, cont...
Researchers applied the 40Ar/39Ar dating technique to young volcanoes in southeastern Australia, providing independent age constraints for sites older than 10,000 years. The study reveals that oral traditions surrounding volcanic activity may be among the longest-lived in the world.
A new study published in Geology proposes that Zealandia's topographic upheaval may be linked to the formation of the western Pacific's infamous Ring of Fire. Fossils from recent seafloor drilling indicate dramatic elevation changes between 50-35 million years ago, coinciding with a global reorganization of tectonic plates.
A new study published in Geology reveals that deep-sea nodules remain uncovered due to their association with seafloor fauna, which forages and burrows sediment around them. The findings suggest that the regions where nodules occur are more extensive than previously thought, highlighting potential economic and conservation implications.
A rare earth element deposit has been identified in the Mountain Pass region of the eastern Mojave Desert, USA. The deposit is believed to be magmatic carbonatite and spans a significant subsurface extent, according to a recent study published in Geosphere.
A new study suggests that extra-terrestrial impacts could have triggered the emergence of plate tectonics on early Earth. The research used modelling simulations and comparisons with lunar impact studies to reveal that massive impacts continued to shape the planet for hundreds of millions of years, potentially driving tectonic processes.
A new study assesses the lava flow risk on Mt. Etna's flanks, highlighting high-risk areas near populated regions and critical infrastructure. The researchers used a GIS-based approach to map hazard, exposure, and risk, revealing that effusive eruptions could harm people, properties, and services.
A new study published in Geosphere uses GIS-based analysis to reveal the complex geometry of the Rose Canyon fault zone beneath downtown San Diego. The researchers compiled data from hundreds of individual reports and created a centralized geodatabase to examine the fault zone's shape and potential hazard.
The Pulpí geode is an 11-meter hollow ovoid with crystal-paneled walls, formed from gypsum crystals up to 2 meters in size. The team studied the geology and geochemistry of the abandoned mine where the geode was found, revealing that the crystals formed at around 20 °C.
Researchers analyze two recent global warming events, the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary and Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum, to understand how oceans, animals, and plants respond to rapid climate change. The studies reveal that both events were caused by massive greenhouse gas releases, including carbon emissions from volcanic eruptions.
New research suggests that mosasaurs used a unique swimming style that combined elements of both tail and forelimb movement. This dual approach may have allowed them to swim faster and more efficiently than previously thought, with powerful bursts of speed adding to their cruising ability.
Researchers suggest Machu Picchu was built on tectonic faults, taking advantage of fracture planes to shape stones and access water. The site's unique architecture reflects the underlying geological fault network.
Research at the Geological Society of America Annual Meeting explores geoheritage, a concept that connects people, landscapes, and geological processes. By preserving America's geoheritage, communities can experience local economic benefits through geology-related tourism.
Researchers found layers of ancient African dust in volcanic rocks and dune sands on Canary Islands, dating back to 4.8-2.8 million years ago. The findings agree with deep-sea sediments and suggest the Sahara Desert has taken breaks, with wetter periods interspersed with arid times.
The Grand Canyon's 6 millionth anniversary marks a pivotal moment for advancing scientific discoveries, promoting geoscience research and education, and inspiring millions of visitors. Recent research reveals new insights into the formation of the North American continent and the diversity of animal life.
Researchers used machine learning to identify previously unidentified cave entrances in a densely vegetated area of Belize. The computer program successfully picked up smaller caves that were invisible to the naked eye, and confirmed the existence of several large surprise finds, including a collapsed cave complex.
Wildfires can lead to significant impacts on soil infiltration, triggering flooding and erosion. Sediment flows can carry large amounts of debris downstream, posing a threat to reservoirs. Researchers are developing new models to predict the risks of post-wildfire sediment on reservoirs.
A new study published in Geology has determined the ages of Navajo Sandstone deposits, providing a timeline of desertification that occurred during the Early Jurassic. The findings show that parts of eastern Utah's Navajo desert are much older than previously thought, and that the giant sand sea had a wetter climate at times.
Researchers reconstructed the Anak Krakatau flank collapse using satellite remote sensing data, finding it was triggered by a relatively small landslide. The study shows that the collapse changed the eruption style, leading to a more explosive and destructive event.
Researchers found evidence of earlier Arctic sea-ice decline starting at the beginning of the 20th century using a new proxy from coralline algae. The study provides insight into past sea-ice variability and may help reduce uncertainties in ocean model simulations.
A recent study on the 2017-2018 Montecito debris flow reveals that road culverts and bridge underpasses played a significant role in causing widespread damage, as they redirected debris flow into neighborhoods. The research provides rare spatial and dynamic constraints for testing debris-flow runout models.
Researchers found that the 2014 SR530 (Oso), Washington landslide traveled over 1 km due to rapid extension of the landslide and liquefaction of the flood plain. Basal liquefaction mechanism likely occurred at the site, hypothesized to enhance mobility of other landslides in similar settings.
Scientists discover a vast, well-preserved collection of meteorites aged over two million years, providing insights into the rate of falling meteorites. The discovery, made in the Atacama Desert, reveals that the meteorite flux has remained constant over time.
Researchers verified that the 29,000-year-old Masseria del Monte Tuff eruption at Campi Flegrei caldera was responsible for widespread volcanic ash layers across the Mediterranean. The study suggests that this large-magnitude event occurred between known caldera-forming events, reducing the recurrence interval of such eruptions.
Researchers investigated surface deformation caused by a 6.5 magnitude earthquake using field investigations, geologic data, seismic reflection profiles, and earthquake relocation results. The study suggests the Pishan earthquake is a folding event that occurred in the upper crust.
Researchers developed a new time scale using microfossils, doubling the resolution of published GoM time scales. The BP GNATTS provides valuable aid in seismic correlations, detecting unconformities, sediment redeposition, and faults.
A new study published in Geosphere investigates how scientists perceive interactions with policy makers, revealing five distinct models: a beacon, collaborator, educator, outcast, and investigator. The researchers emphasize the importance of understanding individual perspectives to effectively engage scientists in policy decisions.
Researchers find that severity of wildfire and rainfall intensity affect stability and destruction of step-pool units, impacting habitats and benthic organisms. Management strategies vary from 'leave alone' to active channel management based on burn severity.