Articles tagged with Geodynamics
Researchers found that a spherical-shell dynamo can exist in two stable equilibrium states, with tiny initial fluctuations determining the polarity. The study suggests that breaking this stable state is necessary to trigger magnetic reversals, possibly through mechanisms outside magnetohydrodynamic theory.
Asteroids in binary systems actively exchange rocks and dust through gentle, slow-motion collisions, reshaping them over millions of years. The DART mission's findings confirm the YORP effect, where sunlight makes small asteroids spin faster, causing material to fly off their surfaces.
A new study reveals that offshore wind farms can create complex wake structures that interact with each other, affecting surface currents and sediment transport. The research suggests that turbines spaced farther apart can reduce turbulence caused by tidal wakes, leading to optimized wind farm designs.
The study found that organic materials in sediments decompose under supercritical conditions, releasing hydrogen molecules. This process is a more significant source of dissolved hydrogen in the ocean than previously believed.
New research using earthquake and satellite data reveals the Iberian Peninsula is rotating clockwise due to collision between Eurasia and Africa plates. The study provides insights into geodynamic processes and deformation fields in the region.
Tulane researchers discovered that an area of the African tectonic plate, previously thought to be weak, is now resisting deformation due to dehydration 80 million years ago. This process strengthened the plate and made it more resistant to future breakup.
A new study reveals that Madagascar's striking landscape was shaped by two great rifting events, separated by nearly 80 million years. These tectonic shifts created fragmented environments where species evolved independently, contributing to the island's extraordinary biodiversity.
Researchers at MIT have traced the energy released by 'lab quakes' and found that 80% of a quake's energy goes into heating up the region around the epicenter, while only 10% causes physical shaking. The study's findings could help seismologists predict earthquake vulnerability in regions prone to seismic events.
The new textbook bridges the gap between traditional divisions in teaching and practicing tectonics, seismology, geodesy, and geodynamics. It provides a basis to explore fundamental connections between the planet's deep interior and surface.
Researchers have discovered that low-velocity zones beneath subducting tectonic plates are caused by partial melts generated from upwelling water-rich mantle material. These melt pockets rise through the mantle, creating a global water-recycling loop and lubricating plate motion.
Researchers found that ground acceleration from moonquakes can shift lunar landscapes and threaten stability of future missions. The study assesses damage risk using new models of quakes and finds a one in 20 million chance of a potentially damaging moonquake occurring near an active fault.
Researchers have discovered a new way microbes derive energy from chemical reactions driven by crustal faulting in deep subsurface areas. This process produces hydrogen and oxidants, sustaining microbial metabolism in the deep biosphere.
An international team of researchers proposes that a meteorite impact just west of Winslow, Arizona, created Meteor Crater and triggered a massive landslide in the Grand Canyon. The study found evidence of a paleolake forming at the same time, with driftwood dating back to around 55,000 years.
Researchers found that ancient Homo sapiens used tailored clothing and ochre-based sunscreens to protect themselves from harmful UV light during the Laschamps excursion. This period of reduced magnetic field strength allowed more cosmic radiation to reach Earth's surface, potentially contributing to the decline of Neanderthals.
This study revisits the India-Asia collision by integrating geological, geophysical, and geochemical data. It challenges the ongoing collision assumption and instead suggests that the plateau uplift was governed by post-collisional mantle dynamics in the Late Cenozoic.
A new study by Tel Aviv University reveals Rujm el-Hiri's original alignment does not match celestial observations, casting doubt on its use as an astronomical observatory. The site's current orientation differs from its original position due to thousands of years of geodynamic shifts.
Scientists have developed a state-of-the-art computational model predicting land, ice and global sea-level interactions. The model estimates that reducing greenhouse gas emissions could slow melting Antarctic ice enough to allow Earth uplift to partially stabilize the ice sheet and prevent some future sea-level rise.
Researchers estimate that between 280 to 360 meteorites strike Mars each year, forming impact craters greater than 8 meters across. The study uses seismic data from the NASA InSight Mission to make this estimate, which is five times higher than previously thought.
A recent study analyzed ground displacements caused by the December 2020 Petrinja earthquake, showing a magnitude of horizontal shifts of up to 40 centimeters. The research used an unprecedented amount of geodetic data to reconstruct three-dimensional motions and sheds light on the region's tectonic activity.
Daily tracking of ice melt has been made possible with a new method developed by researchers at DTU using 61 national GPS stations in Greenland. The study provides significant advancement in monitoring ice mass loss and understanding the processes behind the ice melting.
The Lunar Environment Monitoring System, developed by UMD researchers, will track seismic activity on the moon's surface during the upcoming Artemis III mission. The system's data will help prepare NASA for a long-term presence on other planetary bodies.
Researchers used computer simulations to demonstrate that a subduction zone originating in the Western Mediterranean will propagate into the Atlantic under the Strait of Gibraltar. This will create a new Atlantic subduction zone, which will then move down into the Earth's mantle.
Researchers have discovered distinct characteristics of the lower mantle flow field beneath the Philippine Sea Plate. They found that ancient N-S fast velocity directions exist at depths of 700-900 km and are not related to slab subduction or a mantle plume.
A team of scientists found evidence that the moon's shrinkage led to surface warping in its south polar region, including areas proposed for crewed Artemis III landings. Shallow moonquakes can devastate hypothetical human settlements on the moon due to loose sediments and unstable surface slopes.
Researchers analyzed whiteschist from the Dora Maira Massif to study rapid upward movements, revealing a sharp decrease in pressure or decompression. This suggests that UHP rocks may not have reached a depth of 120 kilometers before returning to the surface.
Researchers used seismic data to locate and identify a thin layer of molten silicates overlying Mars' metallic core. The discovery reveals a denser and smaller Martian core, aligning with other geophysical data and analysis of Martian meteorites. This finding provides new insights into how Mars formed, evolved, and became a barren planet.
Scientists have discovered that superdeep diamonds can provide a window into the growth and formation process of ancient supercontinents like Gondwana. By analyzing tiny inclusions within these diamonds, researchers were able to determine the age of the mantle rocks that helped buoy and grow the supercontinent from below.
Geologists found evidence of subduction at continental margins during periods of continental flooding, which raised sea levels. The study suggests that subduction under Gondwana may have caused the Sauk Transgression, a major flood event in North America's geologic record.
New research from Rice University suggests that ancient microorganisms helped cause massive volcanic events by facilitating the precipitation of minerals in banded iron formations. The study provides insight into processes that could produce habitable exoplanets and reframes scientists' understanding of Earth's early history.
Researchers used NASA InSight data to directly measure Mars' core properties, finding a completely liquid iron-alloy core with high percentages of sulfur and oxygen. This discovery provides new insights into Martian formation and geological differences between Earth and Mars, potentially impacting planetary habitability.
Researchers used computer simulations to understand the formation of new subduction zones and the development of the Caribbean large igneous province. The study found that simultaneous subduction of two plates led to a major mantle flow, triggering the formation of a plume and extensive magmatic activity.
Scientists from the University of Arizona have discovered a giant active mantle plume pushing the surface of Mars upward, causing earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The finding suggests that Mars' deceptively quiet surface may hide a more tumultuous interior than previously thought.
Scientists propose a new classification scheme using the Beaumont number to describe whether mountain elevation is controlled by weathering and erosion or properties of the Earth's crust. The study resolves a long-standing question about the controlling factors of mountain growth, finding that it depends on geographic location, climate...
Research reveals that magmas from Mount Etna and Mount Vulture have extremely high Nb/Ta ratios, indicating a deep carbon-rich lithospheric mantle beneath southern Italy. This process contributes significantly to global volcanic CO2 emissions.
The special issue covers observations of exoplanet geology, composition, atmosphere, and potential habitability. SwRI researchers Dr. Natalie Hinkel and Dr. Cayman Unterborn collaborated with Dr. Oliver Shorttle to create a diverse overview of exoplanets, making it accessible to a wide community of scientists.
Scientists aim to develop computer models that can forecast earthquake chances and impact, like weather forecasting. The project will also train students and researchers from diverse backgrounds to work on computational geoscience.
Researchers study crust and upper mantle velocity structure in SE Tibet to understand geodynamic processes. The study reveals three major geodynamic modes: rigid block extrusion, plastic deformation, and asthenospheric upwelling.
Researchers from University of Seville analyzed geodynamic behavior of Tenerife island and found millimetric coming together with Gran Canaria, potentially caused by a fault between the two islands. The islands' gravitational sinking has been detected through GPS data since 2004.
Researchers used seismograms collected in the Sierra Nevada EarthScope field experiment to image the earth under the range. Their results reveal that the entire eastern Sierra overlies low-velocity upper mantle and lacks dense, quartz-poor lower crust. This suggests that a long strip of dense rock fell away to the west and south, causi...
New Geosphere papers examine volcanic zones, the Sierra Nevada, and Utah's Confusion Range. The study on the Confusion Range may provide new opportunities for petroleum exploration in the region.
Recent model calculations suggest that Earth's primary crust formed during the Archean eon was so dense it subside into the mantle. This process, known as delamination, triggered a return flow of mantle material to form new crust.
Seawater intrusion is a common cause of contamination in coastal aquifers worldwide, particularly in the Mediterranean region. In Spain, about 60% of coastal aquifers are contaminated, making it a serious phenomenon with significant economic and environmental impacts.
Researchers have completed the most meticulous survey ever made of the San Andreas Fault, revealing detailed features that were previously unseen. The 'B4' Project used ultra-high-resolution global positioning system (GPS) technology and a radar-like system called lidar to map the fault with 5-centimeter vertical resolution.