Articles tagged with Earth Surface
A new study reveals that freshwater habitats have the highest animal species richness per area, with more than 99% of known animal species inhabiting land and 12% ocean habitats. The research suggests that preserving freshwater ecosystems can protect more species and evolutionary history.
Tiny zircons found in South Africa hold the oldest evidence of subduction, a key element of plate tectonics, dating back to around 3.8 billion years ago. This discovery provides new insights into when plate tectonics was set in motion and how it may have shaped Earth's surface and climate.
Scientists have found a new way dunes can form on Io's surface, which is icy and roiling. The researchers used mathematical equations to simulate the forces on a single grain of basalt or frost and calculate its path.
Researchers found a persistent 20% reduction in carbon dioxide seeping up from the ground during the spring of 2017, coinciding with intense drought and record-high Sierra Nevada snowpack. The study suggests that changes in Earth's hydrology due to climate change can impact volcanic emissions.
A new color catalog of icy planet surface signatures has been created to aid in the search for life on frozen worlds. The catalog, based on microorganisms found in subarctic conditions, provides a tool for comparing Earth's biological microbes with those on other planets.
A new research study by the University of Massachusetts Amherst fundamentally changes our understanding of how salt marshes acquire sediment. The majority of sediments are delivered by the ocean during storms, reversing commonly held assumptions about the role of rivers in building and maintaining these ecosystems. This discovery has s...
Scientists have developed a new model to simulate the formation of subduction zones, which are crucial for understanding Earth's global dynamics. The model predicts the initiation of self-replicating subduction zones and their potential impact on earthquake risk.
Researchers from Denmark and Sweden have dated the massive Hiawatha impact crater in Greenland to 58 million years ago, revealing it occurred a few million years after dinosaurs went extinct. The crater's age opens up a new understanding of Earth's evolution during this period.
A new study finds that large wild animals like elephants and whales can help restore ecosystems and battle climate change by dispersing seeds, clearing vegetation, and increasing albedo. Protecting these animals also supports local biodiversity and ecological resilience in temperate, tropical, and subtropical grassland ecosystems.
Scientists have developed a new way to date asteroid collisions, providing a clearer picture of how planets formed. By analyzing the Chelyabinsk meteorite, researchers found evidence of two distinct collision stages, shedding light on the timing and processes involved in planetary formation.
A team of scientists studied the surface rupture caused by two major earthquakes in July 2019 near Ridgecrest, California. They found that the rock surrounding the fault suffered from 'inelastic deformation', resulting in a softer crust that dissipates energy from future earthquakes.
A new study models radon production and its flow through soil, permafrost, and buildings, revealing that thawing permafrost can increase radon concentrations up to 100 times in basements. This poses a significant health risk to Arctic communities, particularly smokers.
Researchers from McGill University found that oxygen levels rose with complex eukaryotic ecosystems, indicating low oxygen was a significant limitation on evolution for billions of years. The discovery has implications for searching for biosignatures in other planets, focusing on ozone detection.
A recent study suggests that a chemical compound called magnesium hydrosilicate, stable at high pressures and temperatures, could have stored water deep within the Earth's mantle during its violent early days. This finding has significant implications for understanding the origin of water on Earth and potentially habitable exoplanets.
Researchers used a state-of-the-art climate model to find that the level of ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the Earth's surface could have been underestimated, with UV levels being up to ten times higher. This challenges the long-held assumption that oxygen levels reached about one percent relative to present atmospheric levels.
A research team has reconstructed the preglacial topography of North America's mid-continent, revealing how ice sheets reshaped the landscape and allowing researchers to understand rock erosion and deposition under ice. The findings also provide insights into water resources and availability in the region.
A team of researchers found evidence that solar wind altered the chemical composition of ancient asteroid grains, producing water molecules and providing a possible source for Earth's oceans. The discovery could help future space missions find sources of water on airless worlds.
Scientists have discovered a 900-mile mantle pipeline stretching from the Gal ªgapos Hotspot to Central America, suggesting that hotspots are not fixed in place. This new finding transforms our understanding of geologic processes occurring beneath the Earth's surface.
Researchers from UNLV have discovered a new mineral, davemaoite, which originated between 410-560 miles deep within the Earth's lower mantle. The calcium silicate compound was trapped in a diamond and preserved due to its incredible strength, making it possible for scientists to study its structure.
The Sierra Nevada mountain range in California has a complex history, with two distinct periods of formation. The ancient range was formed around 100 million years ago as a volcanic chain, but was later dwarfed by a vast plateau. Volcanic activity around 40 million to 20 million years ago lifted the Earth's surface, forming new mountai...
Researchers propose that crushing large olivine crystals reduces plate resistance, allowing it to bend into segments. Simulations support observations from nature, including fault patterns and seismic velocity structure.
Environmental engineers at Duke University demonstrated that sharp contrasts in small landscape features refine local weather developments and influence climate trends. The study suggests that incorporating detailed data can improve forecast accuracy.
A recent study suggests that strike-slip faulting is an active deformation mechanism on Titan's surface, driven by diurnal tidal stresses and pore fluid pressures. The researchers found that shallow faults near the equator are optimally oriented for potential failure, which could facilitate material transport and affect habitability.
A study by Finnish researchers confirms that aerosols formed from plant emitted compounds make clouds more reflective, reducing solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface. This natural mechanism can slow down climate warming, with effects becoming stronger as temperature increases.
Five innovative research projects tackle fundamental questions of environmental and earth science, including the origins of Earth and life on Mars. The studies aim to advance our understanding and lead to important scientific breakthroughs.
A WVU-led research team will test the potential of geothermal energy by drilling three miles into the ground. The project aims to reduce carbon footprint and decrease energy costs for the university, with potential implications for industries across West Virginia.
The Dead Sea is shrinking at a rate of about one meter per year, causing land subsidence of 15 centimeters annually. Researchers have linked this trend to hydro-meteorological fluctuations, revealing a direct connection between water table fluctuations, evaporation, and land movement.
Researchers developed machine learning models that can predict daily solar radiation using only thermal data, improving upon existing methods in various geo-climatic conditions. The models have been tested in nine locations across southern Spain and North Carolina, showing significant improvements in accuracy.
A study led by a Syracuse University Ph.D. candidate reveals that tectonically active faults are the main force behind tropical mudslides in Colombia. The research uses thermochronology data to show that erosion rates are highest near areas with active faults, not just precipitation rates.
Hilary Martens receives $443,000 grant to investigate the structure of the Earth's interior using GPS observations of ocean tides. The project aims to improve understanding of plate tectonics and surface hazards like earthquakes and volcanoes.
A University of California San Diego engineering professor has solved the mystery of deep-focus earthquakes, which originate between 400 and 700 kilometers below the Earth's surface. Her new theory explains how high pressures cause olivine rock to transform into denser spinel, leading to volume collapse and seismic waves.
A new study analyzes thousands of geological features to quantify the response of ancient eolian systems to global climatic shifts. The results demonstrate that preserved sedimentary architectures developed under icehouse and greenhouse conditions are fundamentally different due to contrasting environmental conditions. This research ca...
A new data-driven global climate model projects significant urban heat stress and reduced relative humidity in cities by the end of this century. The study's findings emphasize the need for local urban climate projections to support city planners' adaptation strategies, such as green infrastructure interventions.
Paleoseismic trenching reveals three surface-rupturing earthquakes occurred approximately 8,800, 4,200, and 1,000 years ago on the Gales Creek fault. The study suggests that earthquakes occur about every 4,000 years on the fault, posing significant seismic hazard to the Portland metro area.
A magnitude 4.9 earthquake triggered by hydraulic fracturing in a Chinese shale gas field occurred along a fault about one kilometer deep. The event challenges current understanding of seismic risk for shallow faults, highlighting the need to reassess evaluation strategies.
Researchers reconstructed Oligocene sea surface temperatures and found a warm global climate despite low atmospheric CO2 levels. The findings challenge existing understanding of greenhouse climates in the past and shed light on Earth's surface temperature evolution.
The study found that during the pandemic, locked-down areas experienced improved GPS data quality due to reduced vehicle noise, enabling more precise elevation changes and better flood risk assessments. The researchers recommend installing GPS sensors in less noisy environments.
A magnitude 5 earthquake near Le Teil in southern France revealed unexpected surface rupture and ground displacement, reactivating the ancient La Rouvière fault. The event raised concerns about seismic risk in France and Western Europe, with potential for other faults producing similar surface ruptures.
A review in European Geosciences Union's journal offers a roadmap for weaving Indigenous knowledge with modern research, focusing on the geosciences. This approach can provide insights into events erased from the geological record and support native communities in making informed decisions about potential hazards on their ancestral lands.
High accuracy surface modeling (HASM) integrates extrinsic and intrinsic properties, producing accurate results in various applications. The fundamental theorem for earth surface system modeling (FTESM) combines surface theory, system theory, and optimal control theory.
Researchers found remnants of bridgmanite in large type IIb diamonds, suggesting they formed at depths of over 660 km. This confirms predictions that both the Hope and Cullinan diamonds are super-deep, originating from more than three times deeper in the Earth's mantle
A new study proposes a model for the formation of diamond-bearing kimberlites in Northern Alberta, which was caused by the movement of an ancient slab of oceanic rocks. The research combines geophysical imaging, geochronological dating and plate motion calculation to explain how diamonds came to Earth's surface.
Deep earthquakes can provide vital clues to understanding plate tectonics and the Earth's interior. A new model simulates subduction zones, showing that deformation is a major factor in deep earthquakes.
Researchers discovered an oxygen-excess phase in the mid-mantle that contains more oxygen than hematite. This new phase could have long-termly oxidized the shallow mantle and crust, influencing global habitability.
Researchers have developed a way to study liquid silicates at extreme conditions, providing clues about the Earth's origin story and the formation of rocky planets. The study may lead to a better understanding of the planet's early molten days and potentially unlock secrets of exoplanets.
Researchers from Germany, Chile and the US use satellite data to identify Earth's surface deformation months before massive earthquakes. This detection enables scientists to better understand precursor activity that may trigger earthquakes.
Researchers from FSU and partner universities mapped carbon, nitrogen, and carbon-14 distribution in the southern Gulf to create a baseline for future studies. They found no signs of remaining oil disturbance in sediment, highlighting the importance of understanding pre-existing conditions for assessing ecosystem changes.
Researchers mapped and measured fault roughness using high-resolution seismic data, finding that rougher surfaces are stronger and more resistant to earthquake slip. The study's findings may help explain why certain earthquakes are stronger than others.
Researchers have found that fault segments connected at depth can influence earthquake risk and magnitude. A study suggests that a rapid decay in slip at the edge of a fault segment indicates a connection below the surface.
Future climate change will cause drylands to expand at an accelerated rate, but their average productivity is expected to decline. The study found that while total global productivity may increase by 12%, individual dryland areas will experience decreased productivity due to changes in precipitation and temperatures.
An international team of scientists has identified the conditions that lead to slow motion earthquakes by drilling down to 1km deep in water depths off New Zealand. The study revealed a unique mix of different rock types and topography that causes slow slip events, which can trigger larger earthquakes and tsunamis.
A major international study has shed light on the mechanisms triggering deep earthquakes up to 40km below the Earth's surface. The research suggests that interaction between creeping shear zones loads stiff rocks, causing them to snap and generate earthquakes.
A new framework for integrated geodynamic models is being developed by a team of researchers, including Clemson mathematician Timo Heister. The Advanced Solver for Problems in Earth's Convection (ASPECT) software will simulate processes in the Earth's mantle, providing insights into geological events and tectonic plate movements.
A University of Queensland-led team proposes a global goal to limit the loss of nature by setting a 'no net loss' target for natural ecosystems. The researchers considered socioeconomic factors across 170 countries and recognized the need for equitable contributions to conservation and restoration.
A new study published in Scientific Reports found that a geostationary satellite can obtain more cloud-free observations than polar-orbiting satellites, allowing for continuous monitoring of vegetation changes. The Himawari-8 AHI sensor captured seasonal vegetation changes in Central Japan with greater frequency and accuracy.
A new study suggests Earth's oxygenation was driven by internal biogeochemical feedbacks involving phosphorus, carbon, and oxygen cycles. This theory produced the same three-step pattern as the geological record without requiring biological advances beyond simple cyanobacteria.
New findings published in the Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America extend the history of Teton Fault earthquakes, suggesting multi-section ruptures may have occurred. The study, which analyzed trenches around Leigh Lake, estimates a 10,000-year-old earthquake with a magnitude of 6.6 to 7.2.
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer present in winter months can lead to greater ground failure and damage after earthquakes. The study on two historical earthquakes in Kazakhstan shows that the presence of this layer can generate more severe ground fracturing during earthquakes in the winter.
Researchers found that a shallow frozen ground layer likely caused more ground failure in the 1911 Kemin earthquake due to its ability to inhibit drainage of pore-pressure excess. The study suggests seismologists should consider seasonality in soil characteristics when making probabilistic liquefaction or ground failure assessments.
A team of scientists found that two-thirds of the Earth's surface moves faster than the underlying mantle, with the surface dragging the interior. The study suggests that the balance of forces changes over geological time, especially for continents.