A new study maps induced earthquake risk in the Permian Basin of West Texas, highlighting areas prone to seismic activity from fluid injection. The detailed stress map provides quantitative data for oil companies to inform more effective drilling operations and reduce the probability of larger earthquakes.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that a large and unstable Antarctic glacier may be melting farther inland than previously thought, posing a threat to global sea levels. The Pine Island Glacier's Southwest Tributary could trigger or accelerate ice loss in Thwaites Glacier, potentially speeding the rate of sea-level rise.
A new study by Stanford researchers found that Woolworths' Farming for the Future program drove increased adoption of environmental practices among its large-scale fruit, vegetable and flower growers. The program combines annual auditor feedback with individual farmer needs, leading to significant shifts in farming practices.
Researchers found concentrated lithium in caldera lakes formed by ancient supervolcanic eruptions. This discovery aims to reduce reliance on single companies or countries for lithium supply, addressing global energy and climate change concerns.
Researchers found that human-induced and naturally occurring earthquakes in the central US share the same shaking potential, causing similar damage. The study used seismic data from 39 earthquakes, concluding that stress drop values of induced and natural earthquakes are identical.
A new Stanford study reveals that as super-giant oilfields age, the energy required to operate them increases, leading to higher greenhouse gas emissions. The researchers developed a software tool to accurately calculate these emissions, finding that some oilfields see a doubling of emissions per barrel over a 25-year operating period.
Researchers at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences have captured the freezing of water into a strange, dense form called ice VII, which can be found naturally in otherworldly environments. This discovery could reveal how water and other substances undergo transitions from liquids to solids.
Researchers create a new type of alloy with a hexagonal close-packed structure using common metals and high pressure. The resulting material exhibits unique properties, including higher strength-to-weight ratio, better heat resistance, and improved durability.
A new Stanford study found that microbes sometimes fail to break down all plant and animal matter, leaving behind buried organic carbon. This preserved carbon can seep into nearby oxygen-rich waterways, where it's consumed by microbes, contributing to greenhouse gas production.
A new study outlines a four-step framework for testing whether global warming contributed to record-setting weather events. The research found that human-caused climate change increased the odds of hottest events across over 80% of the globe, while also posing risks for vulnerable communities and ecosystems.
A Stanford scientist's new mathematical model could accelerate the design of high-power electrical storage devices, including car batteries and supercapacitors. The model aims to improve material performance and reduce costs, paving the way for more efficient energy storage solutions.
New EPA regulations may reduce methane emissions by 27%, but achieve only 20-50% of expected reductions. Researchers recommend a regional approach to addressing methane leaks and adopting more effective detection technologies.
Researchers mapped saltwater intrusion in the Monterey Bay coastline using ERT, providing a cheaper alternative to drilling 'sentinel' wells. The study aims to improve groundwater models and help local water managers make informed decisions about pumping groundwater.
A new study published in Nature Geoscience shows that US grasslands are more than three times more sensitive to vapor pressure deficit, or atmospheric dryness, than they are to precipitation. This means that plants in US grasslands are more likely to be damaged by drought due to the high sensitivity of their stomata to dry air.
A new software tool calculates the probability of triggering manmade earthquakes from wastewater injection and oil gas production activities. The Fault Slip Potential (FSP) tool identifies at-risk faults, allowing energy companies and regulators to avoid them and implement enhanced monitoring efforts.
Katharine Mach, a senior research scientist at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences, discussed the importance of assessment in climate science. She highlighted the challenges of navigating complex science policy territory and the need for tact and negotiation among experts and decision-makers.
Researchers developed a method to estimate crop yields from space using high-resolution satellites, which could improve agricultural productivity and test intervention strategies. By combining satellite imagery with computer models of crop growth, they achieved surprisingly accurate predictions of actual productivity on the field.
Global carbon dioxide emissions have remained steady for three years, but a new study urges accelerated deployment of carbon capture technologies and increased renewables to meet the Paris Agreement's goals. The researchers predict that the rollout of carbon capture and storage will be crucial in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
A fatty molecule thought to be unique to flowering plants has been found in bacteria from the Adriatic Sea, solving a 20-year-old paleontological mystery. The discovery challenges the assumption that isoarborinol's presence indicates land and flowering plant life.
A joint study by Chinese and international researchers recommends new institutions for science-based fisheries management, secure fishing access, and policy consistency across provinces. The authors believe that China's 13th Five-Year Plan provides a policy platform for the protection of marine ecosystems and restoration of fisheries.
A Stanford study found that the Syrian civil war caused a significant decrease in agricultural irrigation and reservoir storage in Syria, with irrigation land decreasing by 47% and reservoir storage dropping by 49%. This reduction has led to increased flow in neighboring countries like Jordan, exacerbating water scarcity issues.
The rate of manmade, induced earthquakes in Oklahoma is expected to decline due to reduced wastewater injection, according to Stanford scientists. The probability of damaging earthquakes will remain elevated for several years.
Stanford scientists created detailed stress maps to understand earthquake triggers in Texas and Oklahoma, identifying problematic faults and ideal orientations for earthquakes. The maps help predict seismic activity resulting from fluid injection, enabling companies and regulators to avoid these faults and prevent induced earthquakes.
A new study reveals that a small number of super-emitting natural gas wells are responsible for more than half of US methane emissions. The findings suggest that focusing on finding and fixing the biggest leaks can significantly reduce emissions.
A new study chronicles how Central Asia dried out over the last 23 million years due to the rise of lesser-known mountain ranges. Researchers measured carbon isotope values in ancient soil samples to draw a fuller portrait of climatic changes, showing an exceptionally arid region deep in Asia's interior.
A study by Stanford scientists warns that the future of Antarctic marine protected areas is under threat due to entrenched positions on Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fishing interests. The authors argue that CCAMLR's failure to adopt a system of MPAs could set a negative example for global ocean challenges.
Researchers developed a method to identify impoverished areas using high-resolution satellite imagery and machine learning. The approach outperformed existing methods and could be used to map poverty worldwide at low cost.
A new study reveals that California's drought-stricken Central Valley harbors three times more groundwater than previously estimated. The researchers found approximately 2,700 cubic kilometers of usable water, which is almost triple the state's current estimates.
A new computer algorithm enables scientists to use satellite data to determine groundwater levels across larger areas than ever before. The technique, developed at Stanford University, could lead to better models of groundwater flow and monitoring in agricultural regions. The team was able to calculate surface deformations and groundwa...
A new study reveals that tropical ecosystems like the Amazon may be more sensitive to climate change than previously thought. The research found that the Amazon can experience large shifts in its carbon balance in response to extreme heat and drought, with these changes occurring surprisingly quickly.
A new tool, FEAST, calculates economic costs of different methane leak detection technologies and identifies the most cost-effective methods. The study found that selectively targeting super-emitters can help mitigate methane leakage at lower costs, while expensive instruments can be used if leak detection is performed rapidly.
Recent decades have seen increased frequency of large-scale atmospheric circulation patterns associated with California's precipitation and temperature extremes. The researchers found that the 'Ridiculously Resilient Ridge' pattern, which diverts winter storms northward, has become more common, leading to increased dry conditions.
Using tiny bubbles in seawater can help reduce acidity and promote coral growth, potentially saving the world's largest reef systems. The technique could provide a cost-effective solution to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Researchers discovered intense deep-ocean turbulence in the equatorial Pacific that plays a crucial role in driving global ocean circulation. The study, published online in Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that this mixing can be simulated using computer models to improve future climate forecasts.
Low oxygen levels hampered life's recovery after the Permian-Triassic extinction, which wiped out 90% of species. Oxygen levels didn't return to pre-extinction levels until 5 million years later, when climate stability increased.
Researchers found that Pangea's assembly and unique climate conditions led to the creation of coal deposits. The study challenged a popular hypothesis suggesting an evolutionary lag between plant life and microbial decomposition.
Researchers create a new method for generating training images to simulate natural variability, allowing for more accurate predictions and decision-making in various activities such as environmental cleanup and oil drilling. By analyzing a series of images using the demon algorithm, scientists select representative snapshots that captu...
A new study by Stanford researchers suggests that earthquakes triggered by human activity follow several indicative patterns that could help scientists distinguish them from naturally occurring temblors. The likelihood of large-magnitude manmade, or "induced," earthquakes increases over time, independent of the previous seismicity rate.
A new algorithm called Fingerprint And Similarity Thresholding (FAST) can identify previously overlooked microquakes in large databases of ground motion measurements, potentially helping predict larger quakes. By comparing seismic wave patterns, FAST finds weakly recorded earthquakes faster than conventional methods.
The study reveals that microbes in shallow layers of seasonal wetlands use digestible plant material for energy, releasing arsenic into underlying groundwater. However, under normal conditions, these microbes do not pose a significant threat to groundwater arsenic concentrations.
Scientists and legal scholars warn that countries are misinterpreting the 'rational use' of natural resources to escalate fishing efforts in Antarctic waters. Marine protected areas, crucial for conserving the region's last intact ecosystem, are being hindered by this misinterpretation.
Stanford scientists discover tetrahymanol, a fatty molecule used as an indicator for life on early Earth, in bacterial membranes. The finding suggests many bacteria might produce the lipid, challenging conventional wisdom.
A Stanford-led study assesses the health of yellow cedar trees in Alaska's Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, revealing early signs of climate change-induced dieback. The research highlights the need for new conservation strategies that integrate ecological and social dimensions to safeguard species vulnerable to climate change.
A study by Stanford scientists has found that the supposed 'global warming hiatus' never occurred, due to flawed statistical methods. The researchers developed a new statistical framework to re-examine temperature data, taking into account temporal and spatial dependencies.
A Stanford-led study finds that pipeline replacement programs can significantly reduce natural gas leaks, with cities like Durham and Cincinnati showing a 90% decrease. This improvement is attributed to public-private partnerships, which have upgraded the city's infrastructure.
Researchers found that global sea level during the Pliocene warm period was 30-44 feet higher than previously thought, but significantly lower than estimated. The study suggests that the East Antarctic Ice Sheet might be more resilient to climate change than previously assumed.
Researchers found that too-pure recycled water can pick up arsenic as it seeps underground, causing temporary spikes in levels. The water's lack of calcium and magnesium ions allows arsenic to be repelled from clay particles, entering the water instead.
Scientists discover fiber-reinforced rock resembling Roman concrete at Campi Flegrei volcano, which helped withstand record ground swelling. The natural process mimics ancient Roman construction techniques, using chemical reactions to form a strong and durable material.
Scientists found that Oklahoma's rising number of earthquakes coincided with increased disposal of salty wastewater into the Arbuckle formation. The primary source of quake-triggering wastewater is brackish water generated from oil and gas extraction, not hydraulic fracturing flowback water.
A new study reveals that weathering rates over the past 2 million years have remained relatively stable between glacial and interglacial periods. This finding contradicts previous assumptions that weathering rates should slow down during ice ages due to lower temperatures.