Articles tagged with Earth Surface
NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale mission (MMS) is breaking records with a Guinness World Record for the highest altitude fix of a GPS signal, reaching 43,500 miles above Earth. The four MMS spacecraft maintain tight formations to map magnetic reconnection and study phenomena around the universe.
Florida State University geology researcher Mainak Mookherjee explores feldspar elasticity to explain seismic discontinuity. At extreme pressures, feldspar decomposes into denser mineral phases, which could partially explain this phenomenon.
Researchers computed precise amount of continental crust before and after collision, concluding that half the mass is missing due to sinking into mantle. The finding explains puzzling geochemistry and throws out long-held idea that continental crust can't descend into mantle.
Scientists developed a method to estimate weakness in the Earth's outer layers, allowing for more accurate predictions of volcanic activity and earthquakes. The new model uses surface-based electromagnetic imaging techniques to estimate viscosity variations, which can be used to understand processes driving tectonic plate deformation.
A new bivalve species, Borniopsis mortoni, has been discovered dwelling on a sea cucumber in mudflats off southwestern Shikoku Island, Japan. The species uses the host burrows for shelter from predators and has adapted to its small body size due to the narrow burrow of the host sea cucumber.
The quasi-biennial oscillation, a 60-year wind pattern in the tropical stratosphere, has been observed to suddenly change, sparking interest among scientists. The disruption does not have immediate impact on weather or climate but raises questions about its causes and potential effects.
A new study by Dr. Georgina King and her team has disproved the idea that surface processes control tectonic deformation in the eastern Himalayas. The research reveals that changing tectonics, rather than climate, drives erosion rates in this region.
A team of ASU researchers has found that major earthquakes can actually down-drop mountains while uplifting the surrounding foothills, challenging conventional wisdom on the mechanisms of mountain building. This new understanding may help anticipate seismic hazards in advance of devastating earthquakes.
Scientists found that sections of the West Napa Fault continued to slip after the primary earthquake, posing additional hazards to infrastructure. The afterslip caused certain areas to shift by as much as 40 centimeters in the month following the main earthquake.
A new system to map the world's biomes has been developed, providing an objective method for monitoring how vegetation reacts as climate changes. The system uses satellite observations to classify the world's vegetation into 24 biome types, revealing substantial shifts in the Earth's surface over the past three decades.
RapidScat detected wind speeds of up to 65 mph near Tropical Storm Frank, with stronger gusts reported south of the center. The storm is generating life-threatening surf and rip currents along Mexico's southern coast.
Tropical Storm Darby has triggered warnings for Hawaii County and a watch for Maui County, with forecasters tracking its northward movement. The storm's strongest winds are located near its center, with sustained speeds of up to 60 mph.
A new study reports that species integrity has dropped below the safe limit on 58% of Earth's land surface, threatening ecosystem services like crop pollination and waste decomposition. The Biodiversity Intactness Index reveals a global biodiversity loss of 84.6%, with nine terrestrial biomes surpassing the suggested threshold.
A new research paper suggests that the Himalayan region is experiencing a buildup of strain energy due to past earthquakes. Historical earthquakes and recent afterslip data indicate that only part of the fault moved during the April 2015 Nepal earthquake, leaving significant strain stored in the fault system.
Researchers have compiled the first global set of observations of the Earth's mantle movement, finding chaotic convection with length scales on the order of 1000km. This discovery challenges long-held geological predictions and has implications for understanding oceanic circulation, past climate change, and hydrocarbon generation.
A new NASA analysis of satellite data suggests that the expansion of the tropics is causing high altitude clouds to shift towards the poles. This shift affects Earth's climate by altering the amount of sunlight reaching the surface.
Fantala storm intensifies over 12 hours, reaching 120 knots in wind speed, with wave heights of 30 feet. NASA's Aqua and International Space Station satellites monitor the storm's progression, predicting a possible threat to Madagascar before turning southeast.
The cloud-based virtual globe portal offers unprecedented speed and ease of use for visualizing Earth's geological evolution. It features interactive reconstructions of supercontinents and 3D visualizations of seafloor geology, allowing users to explore how the planet has changed over time.
Researchers have found evidence of small oxygen concentrations in the Earth's atmosphere 3.8 billion years ago, contrary to previous thought that oxygenation occurred later. This discovery sheds light on the evolution of life on our planet and has significant implications for understanding the pace of life's emergence.
An international team discovered how microorganisms, the Hadesarchaea, survive without oxygen and light, using carbon monoxide to gain energy. This finding expands our understanding of archaea that thrive in deep biosphere environments.
The study reveals that forest clearing substantially affects local climate by altering average temperature and maximum summer temperatures. Evapotranspiration plays a key role in these impacts, with arid areas experiencing the most pronounced effects.
Researchers have found regional temperature variations of up to three times greater than expected in the lower mantle where it meets the core. The discovery will help explain the structure of the Earth and its formation.
A new study suggests that a thicker Earth mantle may be responsible for some of the planet's inner processes. The research found a significant increase in the Earth's mantle viscosity at depths of 1,000 kilometers, challenging previous estimates.
Two new studies by University of Maryland geologists provide different explanations for the boundary within Earth's mantle, with one suggesting increased viscosity and the other denser rock composition. The research sheds light on the physics of the deep Earth, particularly the heat engine driving plate tectonics at the surface.
Researchers used 3D laser scanning to measure surface deformation after the 2014 South Napa earthquake, revealing complex deformation patterns that challenge traditional notions of topography formation. The study also found evidence of 'afterslip' effects that can occur hours to years after an earthquake.
Researchers at Arizona State University propose a model of mantle dynamics involving plumes that transport chemically distinct material to the surface, explaining variability in ocean island basalts. This study provides insights into Earth's interior composition and evolution, as well as potential links to habitable planet formation.
The article discusses imaging spectroscopy's potential in enhancing geological insights, highlighting its power and versatility. It also explores the growing concern of a critical shortage of trained geoscientists in the US workforce, with projected shortages reaching 135,000 by the next decade.
Scientists found evidence of O2 fluctuations in Western Australian rocks, suggesting a temporary increase in atmospheric oxygen levels around 2.5 billion years ago. The data supports the 'Great Oxidation Event' theory, where multiple 'whiffs' of O2 accumulated until a tipping point was crossed.
Researchers found that triggered earthquakes change the elastic properties of the Earth's crust in regions up to 6,000 kilometers away. This dynamic and interconnected system can create a cascading sequence of events thousands of kilometers away.
Researchers used satellite and ground-based measurements to study pulsating auroras, finding that low-energy secondary electrons play a crucial role in their structure and shape. The discovery suggests that these electrons may be more important than previously thought in creating the glowing lights of auroras.
A new study finds that smaller-scale space weather events are amplified near the equator, putting power grids at risk in previously considered safe regions. These disturbances can cause fluctuations in wholesale electricity pricing and damage unprotected power infrastructure.
Researchers estimate that subduction returns almost no carbon to the mantle, with 'exchange between reservoirs in balance.' New analysis sheds light on Earth's climate over geologic time scales and implications for life.
Researchers used innovative methods to examine the ground around Mbeya in Tanzania, finding evidence of fluidisation and massive ground deformation. This discovery could be used to model how structures might be affected by future earthquakes, providing a valuable tool for hazard assessment.
Researchers have imaged tube-like structures in the Earth's magnetosphere, which are 500 to 700 kilometers above the surface. The structures were detected by mapping variations in radio source positions and exploiting the MWA's rapid snapshot capabilities.
Researchers have found a novel way to 'read the Earth's LIPS', revealing a previously missed connection between Large Igneous Provinces and mid-ocean ridges. This discovery changes our understanding of massive volcanism in ocean basins, suggesting that undersea eruptions are less catastrophic than thought.
NASA's CloudSat analyzed Typhoon Dolphin's eye, revealing intense convection and rainfall surrounding the storm. The satellite's data also showed the outward sloping eyewall and overall cloud structure of the category 5 system.
Researchers created a method to determine source characteristics of near-earth surface explosions using seismic stations in Turkey. They found the Syrian tunnel bomb blast was likely around 40 tons, contradicting initial claims of 60 tons. The technique serves as a forensic tool for investigators and governmental agencies.
A new study by USGS researcher R.T. Hanson reveals that California's Santa Clara Valley has recovered its water levels and halted land subsidence through targeted groundwater recharge. This innovative approach, combined with the management of urbanization and industrialization, has helped to preserve the valley's hydrological framework.
Researchers confirm strong warming in the upper troposphere, known as the tropospheric hotspot, using publicly available temperature and wind data set. The study reveals a 10% increase in winds over the Southern Ocean, suggesting ozone depletion may be responsible.
A team of researchers from GFZ explains possible barriers for the ascent of mantle plumes and resolves major conflicts surrounding present model predictions. They found that low-buoyancy thermochemical plumes can develop, preventing massive volcanism and environmental catastrophes.
Researchers created a 3D map of the South Napa earthquake's impact using GPS and satellite readings, predicting ground shaking and estimating human and infrastructure impacts. The study could improve reaction time to deadly earthquakes, reducing fatalities and economic losses.
Researchers from Berkeley Lab measured atmospheric carbon dioxide's increasing capacity to absorb thermal radiation over an eleven-year period at two locations in North America. They found a significant uptick in radiative forcing due to CO2 levels, primarily linked to fossil fuel emissions.
Recent study finds that the global warming slowdown is due to random fluctuations, not systematic errors in climate models. The simulations of climate trends agree well with observations, suggesting that the models are reliable and accurate.
Scientists have identified two key factors behind sudden tectonic plate movements, including the role of thick crustal plugs and weakened mineral grains. This discovery provides new insights into the evolution of plate tectonics and its impact on Earth's climate and biosphere.
A team of scientists has mapped the location of ancient, hydrogen-rich waters found trapped kilometres beneath Earth's surface in rock fractures in Canada, South Africa and Scandinavia. These findings have significant implications for the search for deep microbial life, with potential applications in astrobiology.
Recent results from the Deep Carbon Observatory researchers are filling in the global carbon puzzle with findings that extend our understanding of the origins and limits of life on Earth. The report will reveal new information on diffuse degassing, including how emissions seeping out of soils vary daily and seasonally.
The new Science Across Virtual Institutes project will create a shared platform for broader research at the nation's 10 CZO locations and international counterparts. This will enable scientists to establish common experiments and measurements, providing training for graduate students and post-doctoral fellows.
Scientists at 10 US observatories are improving understanding of Earth's critical zone with a $1.35 million grant from the National Science Foundation. The CZO Science Across Virtual Institutes (SAVI) will develop networked sites to address pressing scientific questions on regional and global scales.
A catastrophic landslide, one of the largest known on Earth's surface, took place in southwestern Utah over 21 million years ago. The Markagunt gravity slide, measuring 1,300 square miles, is comparable in size to the Heart Mountain slide discovered in northwest Wyoming.
A new study projects a significant loss of suitable agricultural land in Mediterranean regions and parts of Sub-Saharan Africa under climate change, while high latitudes experience an expansion of cropland. The simulation highlights the need for sustainable land management and adaptation measures to ensure food security.
Post-tropical storm Norbert generated drenching thunderstorms over Arizona, with TRMM satellite data showing rainfall rates of over 2 inches per hour. The moisture from Norbert caused flooding over inland areas of southern California and led to a state of emergency in Arizona.
Researchers at University of Washington found that heat absent from Earth's surface is plunging deep into the North and South Atlantic Ocean, part of a naturally occurring cycle. This explains the global average air temperature flatlining since 1999 despite greenhouse gases.
Research suggests that giant asteroid impacts significantly altered the early Earth, mixing and melting its surface. The findings provide new insights into the role of asteroid bombardments in shaping the Hadean Earth's surface.
Scripps scientists find evidence of super-fast deep earthquakes that rupture at depths of over 400 km, offering new clues about the forces behind these events. This discovery provides insights into fast-breaking earthquakes near Earth's surface.
A new paradigm for understanding friction has been developed, showing that how things break and slide are intimately intertwined. This breakthrough study provides a fundamental description of the mechanics driving earthquakes.
Researchers used physical analog models to simulate Ganymede's geologic structures, finding that stretching forces created characteristic patterns of ridges and troughs. The study suggests that a process involving crustal breaks due to large amounts of extension is the primary mechanism for forming these features.
A NASA study found that populated areas show increased plant productivity, while rural areas and wildlands see little change. Human land use and factors like nitrogen fertilization drove the growth changes.
A study published in PLOS Biology found that many protected areas are established on low-value land, failing to protect endangered species. The researchers propose a 'happy medium' where countries can achieve significant biodiversity benefits with minimal lost-opportunity costs.
Researchers are developing new models to analyze sedimentary basins, combining geological data with complex simulations to better understand their formation and changes over time. The Basin GENESIS Hub aims to improve resource estimates and exploration targets in deep basins, particularly in remote regions of Australia.
Researchers discover water bound in rock deep in the Earth's mantle, potentially representing the planet's largest water reservoir. This finding may aid scientists in understanding how the Earth formed and what its current composition is.