Articles tagged with Geochemistry
New modeling study reveals ephemeral streams contribute up to 55% of US river flow, playing a crucial role in transporting pollutants and nutrients. The findings highlight the importance of including these temporary streams under federal clean water regulations.
Researchers used stable oxygen isotope Delta-O-18 to analyze ITCZ changes over 30,000 years. The study identifies main components for ITCZ size, strength, and position influenced by Earth's axis inclination and orbit eccentricity.
Researchers analyzed local earthquakes and geochemical data from recent lava samples to determine the source of eruptions. The evidence implies a moderately-sized magma reservoir delivering magma to the surface, indicating continued volcanic episodes into the future.
Biogenic sources of VOCs dominate summertime air pollutant formation in Los Angeles, increasing with temperature. Temperature-dependent emissions drive ozone and secondary organic aerosol pollution, with roughly 60% formed through biogenic VOC emissions.
Analysis of nuclear bomb testing reveals plants store more carbon, with a shorter storage duration than previously estimated. Current Earth system models underestimate carbon uptake into terrestrial vegetation and soils.
Nitrous-oxide emissions have increased by 40% over the past four decades, resulting in accelerating atmospheric accumulation of this potent greenhouse gas. Agricultural production is the largest source of emissions, and improving practices can help reduce nitrous-oxide emissions and water pollution.
A review study published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment highlights the need for better monitoring of changes in soil and surrounding ecosystems after wildfires. This enhanced monitoring could inform decisions on treating drinking water sourced from burned areas, reforestation, and protecting workers against toxins.
Researchers found that weathering in the region leads to an overall CO2 uptake, but near-surface processes only determine the CO2 balance in areas with a thick and cold crust. In contrast, the western side of the Central Apennines is a significant CO2 emitter due to deep-seated outgassing from carbonate rocks.
A new study using atmospheric isotopes suggests Io has been volcanically active for its entire 4.57 billion-year history, driven by tidal heating. The findings indicate that Io has lost most of its sulfur through volcanic outgassing and recycling, supporting a long-lived volcanic history.
Researchers suggest using DOM to assess freshwater chemodiversity and monitor pollution effects on ecosystem health. High-resolution mass spectrometry can help pinpoint pollution sources, including those in drinking water.
A recent study found that microbial communities thrive on inactive hydrothermal vent smokers, producing organic carbon and fixing CO2. These ecosystems are crucial for understanding the deep-sea carbon cycle and its interactions with the environment.
A new study found that atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) drawdown from chemical weathering of rocks is limited to a narrow range of moderate erosion rates. This has significant implications for understanding the constraints of weathering-mediated CO2 drawdown and resolving conflicting data on its impact on the climate.
Researchers propose that cosmic dust, rich in essential elements, accumulated on early Earth's surface near melting glaciers, sparking prebiotic chemistry. Simulations suggest these environments could have produced the organic molecules necessary for life.
Researchers found evidence of hydrothermal or metamorphic activity within the icy dwarf planets Eris and Makemake, which have methane deposits with geochemical origins. The discovery suggests elevated temperatures in their rocky cores, potentially leading to liquid water and habitability.
The samples from Wild 2 comet have revealed a record of the solar system's dynamic formative years, shedding light on the events that shaped its history. Researchers have found unusual carbon-iron assemblages and precursors to igneous spherules in the comet material.
The 2023 Geothermal Rising Conference highlights growing interest in superhot rock geothermal, with papers validating its viability for high power output and small spatial footprint. Researchers are developing new technologies to access these resources, including millimeter wave energy to drill deeper holes.
Researchers analyzed dolomite rocks and found a high proportion of C-13, indicating strong methane formation by microorganisms in water with low sulphate content. The sediment's chemical development is controlled by crater floor cooling and water supply, not climatic changes.
Researchers have discovered that dolomite crystal growth requires cycling of saturation conditions, resolving the 'dolomite problem' that has puzzled scientists for nearly two centuries. This process can speed up dolomite growth by up to 10 million times, which may be crucial for producing large amounts of dolomite on Earth's surface.
Scientists discover new sulfur cycle mechanism in Lake Superior's ancient waters, highlighting the crucial role of organic sulfur compounds. The findings provide insight into how sulfur was cycled in Earth's oceans billions of years ago.
Scientists have found evidence of past oxygen loss in the world's oceans during glacial periods, indicating that current climate change may not be permanent. The discovery was made by analyzing seafloor sediments from the past 145,000 years, which showed a build-up of cobalt during the last ice age.
Scientists have discovered a simple test for signs of past or present life on other planets, using artificial intelligence to distinguish between biological and abiotic samples with high accuracy. The method has the potential to revolutionize the search for extraterrestrial life and deepen our understanding of Earth's earliest life.
An international team of scientists has discovered a link between Earth's ancient atmosphere and the chemistry of its deep mantle. The study found that sediment recycling provided atmospheric access to the mantle, leading to increased oxidation of calc-alkaline magma and altering the composition of the continental crust.
Researchers confirm fracking triggers tremors, which can be used to track fluid movement and monitor fault activity. This finding has implications for sustainability and climate science, as carbon sequestration through fracking may reduce atmospheric emissions.
A team of scientists led by University of Alaska Fairbanks geology professor Sarah Fowell are collecting samples from beneath the sea floor to learn about vegetation and climate of region 25,000 years ago. The project will be shared via digital and social media channels.
Researchers found evidence of 2.9 billion-year-old glaciers in South Africa using relative oxygen isotope concentrations and physical proof. The discovery suggests the presence of continental ice caps at that time or a previously unknown 'snowball Earth' period.
Researchers at Arizona State University have developed a method to mix sodium with lithium in high-quality batteries, driving down costs and ensuring the supply. The technique uses a specialized technique to measure energetic stability, allowing for a more stable mixture of up to 20% sodium.
Researchers found large quantities of plastic mulch fragments in strawberry fields, negatively impacting soil qualities and microbial respiration. The study's findings suggest that biodegradable or natural mulches could be alternatives to reduce long-term plastic pollution.
A team of international scientists has discovered a large granite mass buried under the surface of the Moon's far side, measuring 50km across. This finding is unexpected, as granites are nearly absent in the Solar System outside of Earth.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirms that the Megalodon shark was warm-blooded, with a body temperature estimated at around 27°C. This discovery provides empirical evidence for the extinct species' internal heat production, shedding light on its biology and ecological role.
A team of researchers led by Dr. William Gilhooly III found that viruses are infecting sulfur bacteria, altering their genetic code and influencing their behavior in oxygen-deficient lakes. This discovery opens up new avenues for understanding the impact of viral infections on bacterial ecosystems.
Researchers have pushed back the age of the massive Ontong Java Plateau eruption by 10 million years using high-precision argon isotope dating. The revised dates suggest the event occurred after the onset of Ocean Anoxic Event 1a, challenging previous theories about its cause.
A team of researchers led by Indiana University's Chen Zhu aims to understand the chemical processes that trap CO2 in rocks. They will employ an isotope tracer method to investigate basalt-CO2-water interactions, which have shown potential for rapid carbon storage.
New research by Oregon State University suggests the Ontong Java Plateau is younger and its eruption was more protracted than previously believed. The findings contradict long-held assumptions about the formation of the plateau being linked to a global oxygen-depletion event that formed black shale deposits worldwide.
A study by University of Zurich researchers found that global warming is accelerating the decomposition of soil humus and affecting plant storage of carbon. The findings have significant implications for relying on soils as a natural carbon sink to tackle global warming.
The InVADER Mission successfully deployed a high-tech laser laboratory on the ocean floor, marking a paradigm shift in ocean research and exploration. The Laser Divebot collects compositional data without disturbing the environment, removing the need for physical samples.
Existing global forests could store an additional 44.1 petagrams of carbon if left unmanaged, but this would only offset 4 years of CO2 emissions under current rates. The study's findings highlight the limited carbon sequestration potential of unmanaged global forests.
The study analyzed 45 copper objects from Northern Central Europe and Southern Scandinavia, revealing changes in distribution networks across prehistoric Europe. The findings suggest that copper artefacts originated primarily from southeast Europe before 3500 BC, with later sources including the Eastern Alps and British Isles.
A study from Smithsonian researchers deepens understanding of Earth's crust by testing and eliminating the garnet hypothesis about why continental crust is lower in iron and more oxidized. The findings suggest that intense heat and pressure cannot produce the necessary conditions for garnet formation, contradicting a popular explanation.
Researchers found that golden fossils from Germany's Posidonia shale are primarily made up of phosphate minerals, hinting at the presence of oxygen in the environment. The discovery suggests that oxygen played a crucial role in driving chemical reactions needed for fossilization.
A team of researchers analyzed stone artefacts from Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, and Caroline Islands to understand relationship between western Pacific Polynesian societies. Geochemical analysis revealed six adzes sourced from a single fortified quarry complex in American Samoa, indicating long-distance mobility.
A research team from Germany, Austria, Canada, and the USA analyzed Troodon eggshells using a new method, revealing that they were produced at temperatures of 42°C and 30°C. The findings suggest that Troodon females laid eggs in communal nests, similar to modern ostriches.
A recent study published in Nature Communications reveals that Earth's anisotropic inner core structure is driven by the dipole geomagnetic field. The researchers found that hexagonal-close-packed (hcp) Fe-H alloy exhibited both seismic anisotropy and H-ion diffusion anisotropy under high pressure-temperature conditions.
Researchers have overturned the traditional view that oxygen derives from water splitting, instead finding that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced at mineral-water interfaces are a key source of oxygen. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the evolution of Earth's atmosphere and the habitability of early life.
Researchers from ETH Zurich, Harvard, and Cambridge join forces to study chemical and physical processes of living organisms and environmental conditions for life on other planets. Synthetic cells enable scientists to deconstruct complex systems, understand basic principles of life and evolution.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Texas at Austin found that the ocean's ability to absorb CO2 will peak by 2100 and become less efficient after 2300 due to a surface layer of low-alkalinity water. This emergence hinders CO2 absorption, leading to faster warming.
A detailed and dynamic model of the Earth's surface over the past 100 million years provides a high-resolution understanding of its creation and sediment flow to oceans. The model will help scientists predict future changes and understand ocean chemistry.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have synthesized cerianite, a rare earth mineral with antioxidant properties, using an environmentally friendly method. The study provides new insights into the occurrence and behavior of cerianite in natural deposits and expands knowledge on REE synthesis.
Scientists have discovered a new type of solid crystal that forms when water and table salt combine in cold and high-pressure conditions, potentially existing on the surface of Jupiter's moons. This finding has significant implications for planetary science and the search for extraterrestrial life, as it could explain the mysterious ch...
Researchers use heavy hydraulic presses to mimic early Earth's conditions and recreate the differentiation process in miniature. They found that iron melts could pass through grain boundaries, exchanging chemical elements like oxygen and sulfur with the surrounding mantle.
Researchers have found that relatively oxidized fluids fed Earth's earliest hydrothermal systems, which may have supported prebiotic organic synthesis. The discovery provides new insights into the geochemistry of these ancient systems and their potential role in the emergence of life on Earth.
Silicate weathering helps regulate Earth's climate by removing CO2 from the atmosphere at lower temperatures. The process is influenced by various landscape-scale conditions and physical processes, with temperature sensitivity varying depending on these factors.
Researchers found that 90% of Earth's mass came from non-carbonaceous material and 10% from carbonaceous chondrite material. The studies indicate that volatile elements were not evenly distributed in the solar nebula, with K coming from NCs and Zn having a mixed source.
A recent study by CSIC reveals that soil biodiversity is essential for the maintenance of urban greenspaces, supporting various ecosystem functions such as carbon sequestration and water regulation. The study highlights the importance of invertebrates and microbes in these ecosystems, emphasizing their role in maintaining soil health.
Researchers found high ferric iron content in agglutinate glass from lunar soil returned by China's Chang'e-5 mission. The discovery challenges previous knowledge about lunar ferric iron and suggests ongoing charge disproportionation reactions, leading to progressively increasing ferric iron on the Moon's surface.
Researchers identified seven exotic igneous clasts in Chang'e-5 samples, providing critical information about the Moon's lithological diversity and regolith gardening process. The findings indicate that there are still unknown geological units on the moon, which may aid future lunar exploration missions.
A team led by Professor Thorsten Hoffmann uses small, portable observation drones equipped with miniaturized sensors to analyze volcanic gases and predict eruptions. The ratio of carbon dioxide levels to sulfur dioxide can reveal the likelihood of an impending eruption.
A team of scientists found evidence that 37 ichthyosaurs died in the same location, suggesting they were migrating to give birth over hundreds of thousands of years. Geochemical tests revealed no signs of environmental disturbance or mass stranding events, pointing to a more plausible explanation for their demise.
The São Paulo School of Advanced Science on Nanotechnology, Agriculture and Environment will cover topics such as nanotechnology innovation, sustainability, and biological applications. The event will feature renowned scientists as speakers and provide hands-on experiments, technical visits, and didactic activities.
The expansion of forests in Central Europe, circa 11,000 years ago, led to the decline and eventual extinction of large Ice Age mammals such as mammoth and bison. The growth of trees deprived these herbivores of their main food source, grass.
Researchers found that rusty center pivots indicate a lack of nitrate in the groundwater they feed. In fact, most wells supplying full-rust and part-rust pivots had nitrate concentrations below the EPA's safety threshold. However, some part-rust pivots showed higher nitrate levels, highlighting the need for further investigation.