Articles tagged with Earth Surface
Scientists have created a first-of-its-kind map detailing the height of the world's forests using satellite data. The map provides insights into how much carbon the world's forests store and how it cycles through ecosystems, helping to explain the 'missing' 2 billion tons of carbon annually.
Researchers have made a breakthrough in finding diamonds, discovering that kimberlites owe their origin to hot mantle plumes rising from the core-mantle boundary. This new understanding will help geologists concentrate their search for diamond-bearing rocks within ancient cratons, increasing the odds of finding precious gems.
Researchers have detected subatomic particles, known as geoneutrinos, which could help understand the Earth's internal heat and its impact on geological events like earthquakes and volcanoes. The discovery has significant implications for predicting such events in the future.
The GOCE satellite has determined precise gravitational forces in the Himalayas, confirming previous hypotheses of inaccuracies in conventional models. The satellite's data will contribute to a better understanding of geophysical processes, including earthquakes and ocean circulation.
The Seismological Society of America presents on earthquake forecasting, quantifying seismic event likelihood to provide communities with information about seismic hazards. The session also explores near-surface deformation associated with active faults and debates in earthquake science.
Researchers have uncovered the reason behind a four-billion-year-old 'missing ice age,' solving one of science's greatest mysteries. The discovery reveals that thin clouds and oceans played a crucial role in keeping the Earth warm, contradicting previous theories about greenhouse gases.
A new model of tectonic-plate movements has been developed by University of Wisconsin-Madison geophysicist Chuck DeMets and his collaborators. The MORVEL model offers a precise description of the relative movements of 25 interlocking plates, accounting for 97% of the Earth's surface.
A new model, MORVEL, offers a marked improvement on previous work by estimating the relative movements of interlocking tectonic plates. The study provides precise rates of plate spreading along mid-ocean ridges and helps researchers understand surface processes like mountain-building and subsurface processes like mantle convection.
NASA scientists found a significant increase in UV radiation over the past three decades, particularly in mid-and-high latitudes, attributed to declining ozone levels and increased cloudiness in the southern hemisphere. Despite this, UV levels have stabilized since the mid-1990s, with some areas seeing minimal changes.
Asteroids that come within a quarter of the distance between Earth and the moon experience seismic shakes strong enough to create fresh surface material. The finding helps answer decades-long questions about meteorite origins and opens a new field of asteroid seismology.
The SUNRISE balloon-borne telescope has delivered images showing the complex interplay on the solar surface with unprecedented detail. The mission reveals a connection between magnetic field strength and solar brightness, with implications for Earth's heat input.
Scientists support abiotic synthesis of methane, a main ingredient in natural gas, through chemical reactions. The study suggests that extreme conditions deep below Earth's surface can lead to hydrocarbon formation.
Scientists are using seismic noise to reconstruct the history of hurricanes in the North Atlantic, analyzing patterns produced during hurricanes and regular storms. Preliminary results suggest that hurricanes produce recognizable patterns, allowing researchers to potentially establish a link between global warming and hurricane frequen...
Researchers track the pattern and timing of a new subduction zone's birth in Fiordland, New Zealand, and analyze eclogites carried to the surface via serpentinite channels. The study also investigates the Yukon-Tanana terrane's crustal growth, finding predominantly crustal recycling with minor juvenile crustal growth.
A team led by James E. Quick discovered a fossil supervolcano in the Sesia Valley, revealing unprecedented depth of magmatic plumbing. This find advances scientific understanding of active supervolcanoes like Yellowstone and may help predict future eruptions.
Scientists have developed a new method to monitor underground movements using earthquake data, allowing for comprehensive mapping of the Earth's seismic activity. This breakthrough increases the number of locations that can detect seismic activity and enables monitoring from far deeper within the Earth.
Researchers predict global temperature will increase by 0.15 degrees Centigrade from 2009 to 2014 due to anthropogenic forcing and solar irradiance. The study suggests a recent ice age on Mars, with layered deposits indicating climate oscillations, and sheds light on human's role in global dimming through aerosol emissions.
The GOES-14 satellite has provided its first visible full disk image of Earth, showcasing little activity in the Atlantic Ocean and two tropical waves in the East Pacific. The satellite's Imager instrument is taking high-resolution images at a 1 km resolution from an altitude of 36,000 km above Earth's surface.
Researchers at the University of Liverpool have developed a 'cloak' that can control surface waves, reducing damage from earthquakes. The technology involves concentric rings of plastic that deflect waves away from protected areas, offering potential protection for densely populated regions.
Biophysicists at JILA have created nonstick gold surfaces and laser-safe gold nanoposts, enabling the precise trapping of biomolecules. This breakthrough could lead to a 10-fold increase in single molecules studied in certain assays, resulting in new insights into molecular diversity.
Researchers found a large cylindrical blob of cold material, known as a lithospheric drip, beneath the Great Basin in central Nevada. The finding provides new insights into fine-scale mantle convection processes and their connections to volcanism and mountain-building.
The first issue of Lithosphere features studies on Holocene surface ruptures in New Zealand, a fluid factory in solid Earth, and the erosion of the Wasatch Mountains. Researchers found evidence of five surface-rupturing earthquakes in New Zealand and proposed a new model for fluids in Earth's interior.
A new lunar map created at unprecedented 15-kilometer resolution confirms very little water on the Moon, even deep in its interior. The discovery could shed light on water on other planets like Mars.
The report highlights the importance of aerosol research in predicting Earth's future climate. Scientists need a better understanding of how aerosols affect climate to narrow down temperature increase uncertainty by nearly two-thirds.
Researchers discovered that worm grunters inadvertently imitate mole sounds, driving earthworms to the surface. The technique, practiced in the southeastern US, has been linked to an innate reaction in worms to escape moles.
The OneGeology project has successfully created the world's first digital geological map, providing a global overview of the planet's rocks. This achievement enables nations to share data, access maps, and gain insights into natural resources and geohazards.
GLAST successfully launched on June 11 and is now safely in orbit approximately 350 miles above the Earth's surface. Engineers are conducting daily checks to ensure all systems function correctly before turning on its instruments.
Scientists analyzed ancient zircons to find evidence of heavy weathering by an acidic climate 4.3 billion years ago, suggesting the destruction of early rocks and possibly habitats for life. This discovery provides new insights into the Earth's habitability, contradicting previous theories on the formation and evolution of continents.
Numerical earthquake models are providing a means to understand physical processes and predict earthquakes, reducing damage and loss of life. Simulations show that surface-rupturing earthquakes absorb more seismic energy than buried ones, resulting in less ground shaking.
Aeolian Research is a new quarterly journal launching January 2009, covering fundamental studies of wind physics and deposition of sediment. The journal aims to provide a single platform for aeolian process research, bringing together experts from various fields.
Researchers present applications of radar technology for exploring water beneath the surface, addressing soil erosion, groundwater depletion, and pollution. GPR-derived dielectric permittivity is used as a surrogate measure for soil water content, providing high-resolution subsurface images.
A UBC study suggests that an ancient magma ocean may have existed beneath the Earth's surface, accounting for the discrepancy between the planet's mantle and core composition. This layer of molten rock would have stored some of the elements found in chondrite, primitive rocks from the earliest time of the solar system.
Citizens can generate accurate geographic information using Web 2.0 technologies, offering valuable insights into local activities and unreported events. Volunteered geographic information has the potential to revolutionize geographic information systems.
Geologist Bruce Marsh proposes that magma channels fractured the Earth's surface, providing a 'template' for later erosion to create valleys and mountain ranges. The discovery in Antarctica's McMurdo Dry Valleys dates back at least 180 million years, shedding light on land-surface evolution.
A recent study by the University of Leeds reveals that porous sandstone can react quickly with injected fluids, making it a potential safe reservoir for carbon dioxide. This reaction is essential if the captured CO2 is not to leak back to the surface, and could provide a long-term solution for tackling climate change.
Researchers at the University of Bonn found that majorite minerals act as oxygen reservoirs, releasing stored oxygen to form water and sustain life on Earth. This mechanism helps prevent the Earth from becoming as dry and inhospitable as Mars.
Scientists have located the spin transition zone of iron in Earth's lower mantle, a discovery that could improve our understanding of the planet's structure, composition, and dynamics. The study used advanced techniques to probe the electronic spin state of iron under high pressure-temperature conditions.
Simulated climate change scenarios show varying effects on groundwater recharge, with some areas experiencing dramatic increases and others minor changes. The study highlights the importance of considering both surface and underground climate impacts in resource management and government policies.
A new study reveals that undersea mountain ranges, like the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, generate significant turbulent mixing in the Atlantic Ocean. This mixing affects the overall balance of warm and cold water temperatures, controlling the strength of the Gulf Stream and its impact on global climate patterns.
Researchers have found clear evidence that a major Alaskan earthquake in 2002 triggered tremor episodes on Vancouver Island, revealing the presence of slow-slip events in a subduction zone. The tremors were measured by seismometers and lasted about 15 seconds, providing valuable insights into the rupture process.
A new study published in Nature finds that increasing surface ozone near the Earth's surface can lead to significant reductions in regional plant production and crop yields. This could undermine the ability of plants and soil to slow down global warming, as they currently store about a quarter of human carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers adapt oil industry technology to image the core-mantle boundary at 2,900 kilometers beneath Central and North America, providing detailed views of the lower mantle. The technique helps understand Earth's internal heat engine and giant cycle of heat production and transfer.
Satellite imagery revealed a significant decline in Himalayan glacier thickness by up to 10 meters between 2000 and 2004. The research used digital field models to compare NASA and French satellite data, resulting in an average annual mass balance of -0.7 to -0.85 meters per year for the studied region.
A new probability model designed by Stanford University geophysicists weaves together data from Global Positioning System (GPS) and the geological record to estimate fault movement rates. This time-dependent model reconciles the discrepancy between GPS-paleoseismology data, providing a more accurate picture of slip rates.
Mark Brandon's award-winning research explores the dynamics of erosion in tectonically active mountain ranges. His work has shed light on the interplay between accretion, erosion, and wedge growth in shaping the Earth's surface.
Geologists drilled nearly five months to recover samples of hard rock called gabbro from intact ocean crust, offering insights into fast-spreading oceanic crust formation. The discovery sheds light on the origin of oceanic crust and its composition.
Researchers apply constructal theory to predict global climate characteristics, including average wind speed and temperature differences. The findings challenge previous understanding of factors driving climate patterns and may aid in predicting environmental changes.
Researchers have found that a large swath of territory in the Northeast is slowly moving southward in relation to the rest of the continent. This region is recovering from the weight of ancient glaciers and has long been known to be rising slowly due to their retreat.
Researchers have found that rivers on Titan, a moon of Saturn, share similar characteristics with those on Earth. The key parameters that differ between the two are gravity acceleration, fluid viscosity, and sediment specific gravity. These similarities suggest that fluvial processes may be more consistent than initially thought.
A Rensselaer researcher has been awarded $845,000 in federal funding to improve computer representations of terrain on the Earth's surface. The research aims to reduce errors in commercial mapping products and enhance navigation of unmanned aerial vehicles.
Researchers discovered two types of fluids at depths of up to 180 kilometers, with one being a liquid rich in water and the other a thick hydrous melt containing dissolved matter. This study sheds light on the role of hidden fluids in shaping precipitation and volcanic eruptions.
Drillers penetrate active fault zone to observe earthquakes up close, allowing scientists to study conditions under which earthquakes initiate and grow. The SAFOD project combines data from the borehole with thousands of seismic measurements to investigate plate tectonics and fundamental scientific questions.
Urban areas affect climate, with satellite data showing changes in surface properties like thermal conductivity and vegetation cover. NASA satellites capture these changes, enabling improved simulation of urban effects in climate models.
Researchers at University of Colorado Boulder developed a new method to visualize forces beneath the Himalaya, allowing for a deeper understanding of earthquakes and mountain formation. The study uses seismic sensors and creates high-resolution images of the crust and upper mantle.
Researchers argue that oxygen-rich atmospheres are essential for complex life to exist. However, since levels of oxygen won't have had time to develop sufficiently before a sun dies, life may not be able to evolve on planets orbiting short-lived suns.
Researchers in Nepal have identified a previously unknown fault that confirms intuition about deformation at depth in the Earth's crust. The discovery suggests a feedback mechanism between erosion and tectonic deformation, with implications for understanding mountain building processes.
According to a new study published in Science, the Earth's surface has been getting brighter for more than a decade, with an increase of about 4% over the past decade. This trend may accelerate warming at the surface and unmask the full effect of greenhouse warming.
A frozen sea was discovered near the Martian equator using 3D images from the Mars Express probe, revealing a vast area of ice that may have been home to primitive life. The find is significant as it suggests that liquid water on Mars existed for thousands of millions of years, providing a possible habitat for life.
Researchers have made significant progress in understanding the causes of recent climate change, attributing warming to human influences. By analyzing climate models and observational records, scientists have identified key drivers of temperature changes, including greenhouse gases and solar irradiance.
New studies using gap analysis and high-quality global databases reveal significant gaps in coverage of protected areas, affecting up to 43% of terrestrial species. The research suggests that expanding protected areas in tropical environments could improve conservation efforts for over 11,000 vertebrate species.