Articles tagged with Equator
Scientists propose a colossal cliff across ancient North America may have exposed Grand Canyon's oldest rocks nearly a billion years before it was carved by the Colorado River. The study suggests the 'great escarpment' of steep rocky cliffs formed when the supercontinent Rodinia broke apart 800 million years ago.
Researchers found that trematode parasites are more abundant in cooler temperate waters, defying the typical pattern of higher biodiversity near the equator. Temperature and host mobility play a major role in shaping parasite distributions, with certain species thriving in areas where hosts can tolerate infections better.
Researchers have discovered that sudden shifts in the Southern Westerly Winds 15,000 years ago triggered a massive growth of ancient bogs across the Southern Hemisphere. The study found that the shifting winds created an ideal climate for the swamps to form, and now believe they play a crucial role in regulating carbon stores in peatland.
A recent study from the Indian Institute of Science found that cloud band strength plays a key role in its movement and density of rains during Indian wet spells. The researchers discovered that only strong equatorial cloud bands drive northward propagation, increasing moisture and triggering stronger winds.
A study of paper wasps found that species near the equator tend to be larger than those at higher latitudes. The researchers analyzed 429 specimens from 39 species and found a direct correlation between latitude and body size.
Scientists propose alternative explanation for doldrums' lack of wind, attributing it to sinking air masses and clear weather conditions. The study challenges traditional textbook explanation and offers new insights into the Intertropical Convergence Zone.
A new study from North Carolina State University and Duke University found that wind plays a critical role in ocean currents in the equatorial Pacific. The research suggests that better simulating these processes is essential for creating more accurate models of global warming, which can help policymakers make informed decisions.
Researchers found that coastal trapped waves and tidal mixing control primary production in the tropical Angolan upwelling system. Productivity peaks occur seasonally, with strong fluctuations during austral winter.
Research investigates impact of storm fronts, tropical storms, and cyclones on ocean circulation, finding changes in atmospheric synoptic variability (ASV) slow down ocean circulation and decrease primary productivity. ASV variations also affect mixing of ocean's layers and strength of oceanic circulation systems.
Researchers used Fibonacci's method to calculate the Moon's shape, finding that its poles are half a kilometre closer to its centre of mass than its equator. This information is crucial for applying GPS technology to the Moon.
Researchers have identified a phenomenon that could help coral reef managers plan and act for the future. Ocean processes during El Niño strengthened the North Equatorial Counter Current, driving cooler plankton-rich waters to Palmyra's coral reefs and enabling them to better manage heat stress.
A recent study using planktonic foraminifera fossils found a global clade-wide shift in marine latitudinal zones towards the Equator. The researchers discovered that this shift was not tied to species diversity or functional traits, but rather ecological and morphological characteristics of the organisms.
The Aztecs tracked seasonal variations in weather by watching the sunrise against the peaks of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Their agricultural system accurately fed a population of up to 3 million people before the Spanish arrival.
Researchers have discovered that small eddies, swirling at the edges of massive ocean currents, are a key source of nutrients for phytoplankton. These nutrient-rich eddies help maintain healthy populations of phytoplankton, which are essential for carbon sequestration and mitigating climate change effects.
The construction of dams and changes in land use have significantly impacted the amount of sediment rivers carry to oceans. Sediment transport has decreased by 49% globally due to dam construction, while increasing on 36% of rivers in the south, primarily driven by deforestation.
A new guideline, AGReMA Statement, provides recommendations for researchers to describe mediation analysis in their papers. The checklist aims to improve the accuracy, completeness, and consistency of reporting mediation analyses.
The Equatorial Undercurrent has strengthened by over 20% since 2008, leading to increased oxygen concentrations and a habitat expansion for tropical pelagic fish. The strengthening of the current is mainly caused by strengthening trade winds in the western tropical North Atlantic.
Researchers at Oregon State University used thousands of genetic markers to determine the Pacific albacore's population structure. The study found that fish from different hemispheres intermingle and sometimes breed with each other, revealing a lack of clear boundaries between North and South Pacific populations.
A new study models the climate on a future supercontinent, predicting significant changes in temperature and habitability. The Amasia scenario, with continents converging around the poles, would lead to colder temperatures and more snowfall, while the Aurica scenario, closer to the equator, would result in warmer temperatures.
A University of Colorado Boulder-led team has discovered a critical connection between equatorial winds and atmospheric waves at the South Pole. The study highlights how winds in the deep tropics affect the polar vortex, triggering outbreaks of cold weather patterns in mid latitudes.
A new species of riffle beetle, Podonychus gyobu, is described from Kyushu, Japan, with a disjunct distribution across the equator to Indonesia. The genus was previously known only in Indonesia and has a unique characteristic of having six-segmented antennae.
A study led by Marius Roesti of the University of Bern found that predation by large fish is stronger in temperate zones than near the equator, contradicting the biotic interactions hypothesis. The researchers analyzed over 900 million predator attacks and found that fish species richness peaks at the equator.
A new study by Berkeley Lab suggests that the East Asian Monsoon will shift geographically as the climate warms, leading to less rainfall in certain regions. The researchers used global climate models to investigate changes in the Hadley cell, resulting in a contraction of monsoon rains towards the equator during summer months.
A new study has found that Atlantic coccolithophores are surprisingly scarce in fertile equatorial waters, despite being abundant in subpolar and temperate regions. This discovery sheds light on the inner workings of the ocean carbon cycle and raises questions about the impact of coccolithophore populations on global productivity.
Researchers have identified 'terminator' events that mark the end of sunspot cycles, potentially triggering plasma tsunamis and the start of new solar cycles. The study provides insight into the mysterious timing of sunspot cycles, which are crucial for predicting solar storms that can disrupt Earth's upper atmosphere.
Researchers confirm that the tropical atmospheric circulation pattern, the Hadley cell, is weakening due to anthropogenic emissions. This finding has significant implications for predicting future subtropical rainfall and the drying of regions already receiving little rainfall.
A study found that the sleep/wake cycle is delayed by two hours for every 50-degree increase in latitude during winter, due to changes in sunrise time and insolation. This lag can be mitigated through Summer Time Arrangements or Daylight Saving Time (DST) adjustments.
A new study published in Nature Communications found that coral reefs near the equator are less affected by ocean warming than those at higher latitudes. Corals in these regions were found to be more tolerant of high temperatures, with some even able to withstand temperatures that would bleach corals elsewhere.
A North Carolina State University study found that US indoor climate preferences are most similar to those of west central Kenya and northeast Africa, with warm conditions and low humidity prevailing. The survey of 37 states showed that Americans aim for a climate closest to the outdoor conditions in these regions.
The study finds that Bennu exists in a delicate balance between two competing forces, its wild spin creating a competition between gravity and centrifugal acceleration. This balance affects the asteroid's long-term evolution and potential demise.
Astronomers have discovered that particle escapees from black holes steal rotational energy through interactions with magnetic fields, resulting in high-speed plasma jets. The new simulations show two main mechanisms: the Blandford-Znajek process and a particle-boosting mechanism near the equator.
Scientists identified a six-seven year cycle of spectacular disturbances at Jupiter's equator, where clouds vanish completely allowing deeper viewing into the planet's atmosphere. The researchers expect to see another event soon, possibly as early as next year, with implications for NASA's Juno mission.
Researchers used Kepler spacecraft to monitor stellar oscillations of 40 Sun-like stars, finding signs of differential rotation in some. The equators spin nearly twice as fast as mid-latitudes in the strongest signals, posing a challenge to existing theories.
Researchers have discovered a complex and previously unknown phenomenon in Jupiter's upper atmosphere. The discovery reveals that the planet's magnetic equator is surprisingly simple, but its ionosphere between the equator and pole is very complex.
A recent study found that polar regions are experiencing earlier springs, with advances of up to 16 days earlier than a decade ago. This is attributed to rapid springtime warming at higher latitudes, which has significant implications for migratory bird species and their habitats.
Tropical Cyclone Ockhi is battling increasing wind shear and dry air as it moves north, weakening the storm. The cyclone is expected to become a remnant low pressure area by Dec 6, near Gulf of Khambhat.
A new model for tropical plant biodiversity suggests that the storage effect enables tree species to coexist and is stronger in the tropics. Long-term forest monitoring data from 10 plots across 64 degrees of latitude reveal that successful reproductive events become more synchronized as latitude increases.
Whale sharks track ocean fronts for food and migration purposes, revealing a network of 'highways' across the Eastern Tropical Pacific. The study provides insights into whale shark behavior, informing conservation efforts and population estimates.
Researchers developed a new approach to identify individual equatorial waves in wind and geopotential height fields using classical equatorial wave theory. This allows for the temporal and spatial evolution characteristics of equatorial waves, including their initiations, propagations, and interactions with tropical convections.
A global pattern in predation on insect herbivores has been discovered using 'dummy caterpillars', revealing that tiny arthropod predators like ants drive the increase in predation risk towards the Equator. The study found a significant decrease in predation risk near the poles, with a corresponding increase near the Equator.
A new study models herbivore arthropods across six continents and finds that predation rates decrease with increasing latitude and elevation. The research suggests that caterpillars may have evolved shorter development times to counteract increased predation at lower latitudes.
A subsurface ocean of water ice may lie beneath Pluto's heart-shaped region, aligning almost exactly opposite its moon Charon. The existence of this ocean solves a longstanding puzzle and provides an explanation for the planet's gravitational tug-of-war with its moon.
Research suggests Pluto's subsurface ocean could be responsible for its current location. The 'heart' region, Sputnik Planitia, may have accumulated ice that made the planet roll over, creating cracks and tensions in the crust. This process, called true polar wander, allows planets to reorient without changing their spin axis.
Research from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill reveals that regions close to the equator are contributing more to the total global ozone increase due to their proximity to intense sunlight and heat. The study suggests that strategic policy planning is needed to address this issue.
The remnants of former Hurricane Pali have dissipated and elongated due to strong vertical wind shear, losing its closed center. It is no longer possible to definitively locate a closed center in the system.
Tropical Depression Pali has weakened to a depression with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, moving southwest towards Hawaii and expected to dissipate on January 15. The storm's proximity to the equator and south-southwesterly vertical shear are contributing factors to its demise.
Tropical Storm Pali continues to thrive in the Central Pacific Ocean, with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph. It is expected to maintain tropical storm strength until Saturday, Jan. 16, moving toward the Equator.
A new MIT study found that Earth's geomagnetic field intensity is double the long-term historical average, indicating it has a long way to fall before reaching an unstable level. This suggests that the current field intensity has a long buffer zone, making a reversal less likely in the near future.
Researchers have discovered ancient fossil forests in Svalbard, Norway, dating back 380 million years, which may hold the secrets to a 15-fold reduction in atmospheric CO2 levels. The dense, equatorial forests were likely formed by lycopod trees and could provide valuable information on the evolution of tree-sized vegetation.
Smaller geomagnetic storms cause fluctuations in wholesale electricity prices in equatorial regions due to the amplified effects of the electrojet. The research highlights the need for scientists to investigate the infrastructure and economic implications on countries near the equator.
A study by the University of California, Davis found that ocean changes are affecting the survival rates of Coho and Chinook salmon, causing them to become more synchronized. This loss in biodiversity can't be addressed through freshwater management alone.
Tropical Storm Chan-Hom is expected to become a typhoon in the next day and pass closely to Guam on July 4. Tropical Cyclone Raquel appears less organized and is forecasted to dissipate in the next couple of days.
Researchers found that equatorial bats in Panama do not employ the sophisticated echolocation technique used by other bat families, instead using a simpler method to locate prey. This lack of refinement may be due to the abundance of food at the equator, making advanced hunting techniques unnecessary.
As warmer ocean temperatures speed up metabolic needs for oxygen, animals will struggle to find sufficient oxygen in lower-oxygen waters. This shift will result in marine habitats being displaced towards shallower, more oxygen-rich areas, with some species becoming oxygen-starved.
Scientists have found that warming waters in the tropics are slowing the development of baby fish larvae, putting their survival at risk. This discovery raises concerns about the impact of global warming on fish populations and food security for millions of people living near the equator.
University of Pittsburgh researchers Matthew Koski and Tia-Lynn Ashman proved that Gloger's rule exists among flowers, where larger bull's-eye centers are associated with higher levels of ultraviolet light near the equator. This finding expands our understanding of biological responses to global climate change.
Researchers used super high-speed cannon to simulate collisions on celestial bodies. They found that damage from the impact starts where one would expect, but fails in opposite direction and propagates outward like a blooming flower. The study suggests Vesta's 'belt' formed by an oblique impact.
Brightpoints provide a new way to track magnetic field evolution and material flow inside the sun. Researchers found that bands of these markers moved steadily toward the equator over time, along the same path as sunspots.
A recent study found that six common species of fish near the equator are unable to survive in warmer waters, with some species experiencing a narrow temperature range. This suggests that climate change poses a significant threat to these fish populations, which could have devastating consequences for human societies reliant on them.
A new study reveals that biodiversity is higher in the tropics due to increased genetic diversity among subspecies, which are more likely to arise in harsher environments typical of higher latitudes. This counterintuitive finding suggests that species turnover and extinction rates may be balanced near the equator.