Articles tagged with Geophysics
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.
The newly discovered planet, LP 791-18d, is almost the same size as Earth and has a chaotic environment with intense temperatures and possible volcanic activity. The planet's proximity to its neighbor LP 791-18c could create hazardous gravitational forces, but also potentially seed its atmosphere with gases and water.
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.
Climate change is driving a shift towards more frequent flash droughts worldwide. The study, published in Science, reveals that regions with limited time for preparation are at highest risk. Early warning systems can help mitigate the impacts of these rapid-onset events.
Researchers used a novel method to study tectonic plate movement, finding two significant slowdowns in the South American plate over the past 15 million years. These events may have contributed to the widening of the Andes mountain range by causing unstable material to tear free and sink into the mantle.
An international team, led by Eric Sandvol from the University of Missouri, aims to better understand the makeup of the earthquake zone and surrounding areas. The team plans to deploy 250 seismometers around the East Anatolian fault to study energy waves produced by earthquakes.
A recent study determined that the magnitude of a February 2023 Turkish earthquake is the largest ever recorded in its history. The researchers used a novel method to measure the event's moment magnitude, which yielded results higher than previously reported ones.
Researchers Paul Byrne and Rebecca Hahn have compiled a global catalog of 85,000 volcanoes on Venus, providing the most comprehensive understanding of the planet's volcanic properties. The dataset includes detailed analyses of volcano distribution, size, and clustering, which will aid in locating future active lava flows.
Researchers at USTC and Stanford University propose a novel approach to determine crustal stress from fluid flow signatures in deep boreholes. The method uses binary classification and image logs to efficiently estimate the stress state, which is comparable to conventional methods.
Researchers used a 3D radar scan to reveal that Malaspina Glacier is undercut by channels, making it more vulnerable to melting and potentially contributing significantly to global sea level rise. The glacier's bulk sits below sea level, and its coastal barrier erodes, allowing ocean water to access the glacier and accelerate its retreat.
Heat flow in the Earth's core is linked to anomalies in the magnetic field, particularly over Africa and the Pacific. The cooling process does not happen uniformly, causing regional changes to the magnetic field.
Scientists used rare isotopes to study erosion rates in the Andes Mountains, finding that sediments eroded from high mountain watersheds were shielded from cosmic rays for at least 7-15 thousand years. This helps predict where future landslides might occur and understand landslide risks.
A new German Research Foundation-funded project investigates the possibility that a Roman land ditch was created in the Hessian Ried in the 1st century AD. The research aims to find the canal's original course and study its relationship with nearby Roman settlement sites.
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 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.
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 new model could help locate untapped reservoirs of accessible helium, addressing the current global shortage. The research proposes factoring in nitrogen concentration to account for previously unexplained helium-rich deposits.
The DART mission successfully demonstrates the feasibility of redirecting near-Earth objects like asteroids to prevent large-scale destruction. The spacecraft's impact on Dimorphos, a small asteroid moon, resulted in an orbital change that confirms the viability of asteroid deflection as a planetary defense strategy.
Researchers used AI to analyze thousands of satellite measurements, revealing four categories of ice movements linked to meltwater flow. The study provides insight into how the Greenland ice sheet reacts to warmer temperatures and more meltwater.
Researchers at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered a frictional phenomenon that governs how quickly faults heal after an earthquake. This discovery could help scientists understand when and how violently faults move, providing valuable new insights into the causes and potential for large earthquakes.
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 used computational simulations to model Charon's internal ocean freeze and its effects on the moon's surface. The study found that the freezing of an internal ocean may have formed deep depressions along Charon's girth but was unlikely to lead to cryovolcanoes erupting with ice and water in its northern hemisphere.
A study using tree rings reveals a 400-year trend of increasing droughts and floods in the Kabul River Basin, with severe events becoming more frequent. The research suggests that climate change is intensifying hydrological cycles, leading to devastating consequences for natural resources management.
Researchers at Northwestern University developed a new earthquake probability model that considers the specific order and timing of previous earthquakes. This allows for more accurate forecasting and explains why earthquakes sometimes come in clusters.
Researchers developed DeepLandforms, an open-source AI tool for mapping planetary surfaces, demonstrating its effectiveness in creating accurate geological maps on Mars. The tool's use of deep learning techniques enables fast and customizable mapping of planets, paving the way for future exploration and discovery.
The University of Texas at El Paso will establish a national Center for Collective Impact in Earthquake Science, addressing low-probability but high-impact earthquake risk and community needs. Researchers aim to develop leading-edge earthquake research projects and integrate diversity into their work.
Researchers analyzed fossil bed in Nevada's Berlin-Ichthyosaur State Park to determine cause of mass extinction. They found evidence that ichthyosaurs died due to migration, not mass stranding or environmental toxins.
Researchers from the University of Washington analyzed the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption in the South Pacific, discovering that ionosphere signals can help explain why tsunami waves grew larger and traveled faster than predicted. The study validated the use of GPS signals traveling through the atmosphere to track events on the gro...
Researchers from Brazil and UCLA used computational fluid dynamics/discrete element method to study barchan dune formation, shedding light on grain-scale dynamics. The study enables investigation of forces within dunes and grain motion, paving the way for predicting future dune fields on Earth and Mars.
A team at the University of Tokyo has discovered that analyzing the ratio of argon-40 to helium-3 in magma gases can indicate the risk of different types of eruption. By monitoring these gas ratios, scientists hope to develop a portable equipment for real-time, on-site measurements, enabling early warning systems and potentially saving...
A new study models likely future cliff retreat rates of two rock coasts in the UK, finding that rock coasts are likely to retreat at a rate not seen for 3,000-5,000 years. The researchers predict that rock coast cliffs will retreat by at least 10-22 meters inland due to accelerating sea level rise.
The Subduction Zones in Four Dimensions (SZ4D) initiative aims to improve understanding of subduction zone hazards through a collaborative effort. The plan involves deploying new instrumentation and developing more accurate models to predict large earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides.
A team led by Douglas Jerolmack and Paulo Arratia used laboratory experiments to understand how mudslide failure and flow behavior relates to soil material properties. They found a clear signal in 'dirty' samples using high-tech rheometers, shedding light on the tipping point for slope liquefaction.
A recent study published in Nature suggests that Mars is still experiencing volcanic activity, with quakes originating from the Cerberus Fossae region indicating a warm source of molten lava. The seismic data also shows darker deposits of dust surrounding the area, suggesting geological evidence of more recent volcanic activity.
Researchers have discovered that two seismic events detected by NASA's InSight lander were caused by meteor impacts, sending surface waves across the planet. These collisions provide valuable information about Mars' interior structure, with one study finding a denser crust than previously inferred.
A joint study by TAU and Hebrew University accurately dated 21 destruction layers at 17 archaeological sites in Israel, using geomagnetic field reconstruction. The new data verify Biblical accounts of Egyptian, Aramean, Assyrian, and Babylonian military campaigns against the Kingdoms of Israel and Judah.
A team of scientists led by Sophie Coulson and Jerry X. Mitrovica have detected the first definitive proof of elusive sea level fingerprints. The findings validate almost a century of sea level science and help solidify confidence in models predicting future sea level rise.
Scientists from the University of Rochester have provided a more accurate simulation of the impact that formed Earth’s largest crater two billion years ago. The new research suggests the impactor was much larger, about 20 to 25 kilometers in diameter, and traveling at a velocity of 15 to 20 kilometers per second.
The analysis of particles from asteroid Ryugu has revealed a high carbon content, similar to the Sun, and the presence of rare earth metals in concentrations 100 times higher than elsewhere in the solar system. The findings suggest that Ryugu originated from a parent asteroid formed in the outer solar nebula.
The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai eruption injected at least 50 million metric tons of water vapor directly into the stratosphere, potentially increasing global stratospheric water vapor by more than 5%. This unprecedented event could lead to changes in atmospheric chemistry and dynamics, including stratospheric cooling and surface warming.
Researchers have found evidence for a massive, molten chamber within the ancient crust of South Africa, contradicting recent views on the existence and longevity of such structures. The discovery suggests that 'big tank' magma chambers may be more common than thought, with implications for our understanding of Earth's geological history.
Scientists have found that the tectonic stress in Japan's Nankai subduction zone is less than expected, contradicting predictions of a major buildup of pent-up energy. The research suggests that the fault may not be as unstable as thought, but still requires further investigation and long-term monitoring.
Researchers propose that a violent event 150 million years ago destroyed a moon called Chrysalis, causing Saturn's iconic rings to form recently. This event could also explain Titan's eccentricity and Saturn's obliquity, providing a possible solution to long-standing puzzles in planetary formation.
A new study identifies areas in Antarctica's East region that could significantly contribute to sea-level rise if they undergo basal thaw. The researchers used numerical ice sheet models to simulate temperature changes at the base of the ice sheet, revealing regions such as Enderby-Kemp and George V Land as most susceptible to thawing.
Researchers found the Tonga tsunami reached 90 meters in height, outperforming previous tsunamis like 2011 Japan tsunami. The event emphasized the need for improved detection systems, as volcano-based tsunamis are currently 30 years behind earthquake-based event monitoring tools.
A new study by researchers at University of California - Riverside found that the position of continents can have a devastating effect on deep ocean creatures. Continental movement can cause a sudden collapse in global water circulation, leading to a stark separation between oxygen levels in the upper and lower depths.
A new paper assesses hydraulic fracturing's impact on seismic hazards like microearthquakes. It found that preconditioning with hydraulic fracturing decreases the magnitude and frequency of induced tremors.
A new study suggests Europa's ice shell could be orders of magnitude purer than previously thought due to the formation of frazil ice, which keeps salt in seawater. This could affect the ice's strength and heat transfer, making it crucial for understanding Europa's habitability.
Researchers developed a methodology to attribute coastal glacier retreat to human-caused climate change, revealing that even modest global warming causes most glaciers to melt or retreat. The approach simulates the behavior of real ice sheets like Greenland's, helping predict major ice loss and informing decision-making for policymakers.
A novel three-dimensional model of the fluid stored deep in Earth's crust along the Cascadia Subduction Zone provides new insight into how the accumulation and release of those fluids may influence seismic activity. The study's findings have applications for increasing understanding of seismic activity along the Cascadia Subduction Zone.
A team of researchers has confirmed that regions in the central Andes Mountains were formed through a process called lithospheric dripping, where parts of the planet's outer shell sink into the mantle over millions of years. This discovery may have implications for other terrestrial planets with non-Earth-like plate tectonics.
Researchers at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences found evidence of the inner core's six-year cycle of super-rotation and sub-rotation. The study suggests the inner core changed direction in the six-year period from 1969-74, causing variations in the length of day.
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...
Researchers analyzed iron samples from asteroid cores to determine the timing of asteroid core cooling and collisions. The study suggests that violent collisions occurred within a 7.8-11.7 million year window after solar system formation, indicating a chaotic early phase.
Researchers convert undersea optical cables into environmental sensors, detecting seismic vibrations and ocean currents with greater precision. This approach enables a large network of permanent and real-time seafloor sensors to be implemented without modifying existing subsea infrastructure.
Researchers from CU Boulder suggest that ancient moon volcanoes may have spewed out huge amounts of water vapor, forming stores of ice on the lunar surface. This discovery adds to evidence that the moon may be awash in more water than previously believed, with potential implications for future lunar missions.
The January 2022 volcanic eruption of Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha‘apai was one of the most powerful recorded, generating long-range infrasounds and global tsunamis. An unexpected atmospheric wave contributed to the tsunami 'forerunner,' arriving earlier than expected.
Researchers have discovered a 30-mile-long, 9-mile-wide subglacial lake in East Antarctica that may hold the key to understanding the continent's glaciation history. The sediments at the bottom of Lake Snow Eagle could provide valuable insights into climate change and the ice sheet's possible demise.
Researchers have found a deep sub-ice stream groundwater system in West Antarctica, containing more than ten times the volume of shallow hydrologic system above. This discovery highlights the critical role of groundwater hydology in understanding ice sheet dynamics and its potential impact on sea level rise.