Articles tagged with Geophysics
A new method developed by LMU geophysicist Max Moorkamp improves the accuracy of understanding the Earth's crust composition. By combining data on electrical conductivity and density, researchers can better distinguish between fluids and solid graphite in geological regions.
A seismic algorithm has been developed to detect and locate volcanic eruptions in near real-time. The algorithm was tested using the Hunga Tonga Ha'apai eruption, which ejected around 10 km³ of ash and lava, making it the largest explosive eruption of the 21st century.
Researchers find evidence of water pockets beneath the icy surface of Europa, which could facilitate exchange between the subsurface ocean and nutrients from neighboring celestial bodies. The discovery suggests a dynamic ice shell that supports habitability on the Jupiter moon.
Researchers at UToledo validated geoelectrical methods for detecting anomalies related to disturbed ground and human decay. Ground-penetrating radar showed stronger signals for mass graves than individual ones.
Geophysicists and computer scientists collaborate to better understand the dynamics of earthquakes and tsunamis. The team has identified three major characteristics that play a significant role in determining an earthquake's potential to stoke a tsunami, including stress along the fault line, rock rigidity, and sediment layer strength.
A fibre optic cable was used to record volcanic events at Mount Etna, detecting seismo-acoustic activity and mapping hidden structural features. The Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) method proved suitable for volcano monitoring and hazard assessment.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have identified a unique sound signature produced by rocks as they crack and break. This discovery was made using a combination of supervised machine learning, causal discovery, and rapid simulations. The team found that an unusual pattern of positive and negative measurements in sound wave-transmiss...
Researchers used teleseismic P waveform data to estimate rupture process and fault geometry simultaneously, identifying an irregular rupture sequence with diverse geometries. This approach mitigates potential modeling errors, providing a better understanding of complex fault systems.
A new machine learning study analyzed 10 years of weather data to identify three major categories of weather patterns and their effects on thunderstorms. The study aims to isolate the impact of aerosols, tiny particles suspended in the atmosphere, on storm severity.
A study analyzing 9,000 years of Earth's history found that strong El Niño events intensified over time but with a small change due to global warming. Researchers used ancient coral data and powerful supercomputers to conduct their research, calling for further investigations into earlier climate periods.
Scientists discovered that earthquakes influence tectonic plate movement, altering frequency and patterns of quakes. This finding suggests improved earthquake risk models can be developed by incorporating feedback mechanisms after an earthquake.
Researchers used geochemical data from 225 hot springs to create a detailed map of the boundary between the Indian and Asian continental plates, revealing processes occurring deep below the surface. The findings suggest that an old theory about the flat position of the Indian plate beneath Tibet is no longer tenable.
New research reveals that magma's water content controls its storage depth in active arc volcanos, contradicting previous assumptions. The findings have significant implications for refining physics-based eruption-forecasting models.
A network of simple seismic stations hosted in volunteers' homes helped understand the Mw7.2 Nippes earthquake and its aftershocks. The citizen seismometer network contributed crucial data to characterize the event and forecast damaging aftershocks, highlighting the added-value of citizen seismology for rapid earthquake response.
Researchers used lab-based mimicry to reveal a new crystal structure that has major implications for our understanding of the interiors of large, rocky exoplanets. This discovery could have revolutionary implications for how we think about the dynamics of exoplanet interiors.
Researchers created a 3D tectonic model combining geological, geophysical and satellite data to resolve timescales between earthquakes and mountain range formation. The study reveals that most uplift occurs in the period between earthquakes, improving local seismic hazard maps.
Scientists have found that the West Antarctic Ice Sheet formed 35 million years ago, with warm deep water delaying its expansion to the sea. This discovery helps improve forecasts of its future stability and ice retreat.
Researchers use white laser beam and diamond anvil cell to measure SiO2 glass density, yielding key information on its refractive index and path length. This breakthrough helps geoscientists understand Earth's interior and solid mantle formation.
University of Utah researchers measured 14 rock towers in Utah to predict their seismic stability. They used mathematics that describe built structures' resonance to create a dataset, allowing for predictions without climbing the towers.
Researchers used big data imaging to visualize the entire subterranean formation and its effect on regional tectonics. The findings provide critical information for predicting near-future earthquake processes.
This book provides a fundamental understanding of the physical, biological, and chemical processes governing fine sediment transport in open water. It covers various spatial and temporal scales, from micro-scale to system-wide, and discusses interactions between disciplines such as hydrodynamics and soft soil mechanics.
A recent study led by the University of Texas at Austin has found that liquid water detected under Mars' ice-covered south pole is likely a dusty mirage. However, the researchers suggest that ancient lakes and riverbeds may still be present on the planet, offering clues about its wetter past.
Researchers developed a new avalanche forecasting method using computer simulations of snow cover, which can detect weak layers and identify hazard in a different way. The approach showed consistent results with observed frequencies over 16 years, offering potential to support forecasting in the future.
Researchers identify three key regional factors controlling subduction zone earthquakes and tsunamis. The study's unified model explains the physical processes during a major earthquake and tsunami, accounting for complex fault geometry and rock behavior.
Researchers at Brown University propose a new explanation for the Moon's lack of a strong magnetic field, suggesting that sinking rock formations could have intermittently generated strong magnetic fields. This process could have occurred over the first billion years of the Moon's history, producing intermittent strong magnetic fields.
An international team of geomorphologists and physicists has discovered a consistent number in the frequencies of shifting grains, enabling reliable classification of newly discovered sand ripples. This finding could help explain the formation of mysterious new sand waves on Mars and evaluate past climatic conditions.
Researchers discover Amazon basin as main mechanism for precipitation in Atacama Desert, accounting for 40-80% of total precipitation. The findings reveal a new pathway of water supply for the driest region on Earth, aside from summer rain, through moist easterly winds and winter storms.
Researchers found that only 45% of hotspot volcanoes are hot enough to actively upwell from the deep mantle, while 15% are cold. Cooler hotspots may originate at upper mantle depths or be fed by cooled deep plumes.
Researchers have discovered that the Matterhorn sways at a frequency of 0.42 Hertz, oscillating roughly in a north-south direction, with similar frequencies in an east-west direction. The mountain's summit experiences amplified vibrations up to 14 times stronger than the reference station at its base.
Researchers have uncovered the truth behind the missing volatiles in meteorites, revealing a massive shockwave phenomenon that stripped elements from planetary building blocks. This finding has significant implications for our understanding of Earth's geochemical evolution and the Solar System's youth.
The Matterhorn oscillates at two frequencies, with movements up to 14 times stronger at the summit than at the foot. Researchers detected these subtle vibrations using seismometers, which are also found in bridges and high-rise buildings, revealing a broader phenomenon.
Researchers from CNRS and ENS de Lyon reveal the driver behind Pluto's Sputnik Planitia basin's flat polygons separated by narrow troughs, which is a sign of thermal convection within the icy mass. The process bears resemblance to ocean movements, not ice layer behavior on Jupiter and Saturn moons.
Freshwater from melting sea ice delays carbon absorption and storage in the Arctic Ocean. The study found that four months of organic carbon production were trapped above 50 meters, with more nutrients and biomass reaching the ocean floor.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals chemical heterogeneities in Apollo 17 sample troctolite 76535, indicating an early rapid cooling of the Moon. This finding challenges previous estimates of a 100-million-year cooling duration and supports initial rapid cooling of magmas within the lunar crust.
Researchers at CU Boulder found that lunar pits and caves showcase remarkably stable conditions, making them attractive options for establishing a long-term human presence on the moon. The environments can help astronauts weather some of the moon's worst extremes but may not be ideal spots to find water.
Researchers have documented a new type of slow earthquake in British Columbia, Canada, triggered by hydraulic fracturing. The events exhibit unique features suggesting they rupture more slowly than conventional earthquakes, challenging the current understanding of induced earthquakes.
Researchers detect distinctive seismic patterns caused by electron spin-crossover in the deep Earth's mantle. The detection method reveals material with altered wave-speed features, consistent with ferropericlase presence.
Researchers have synthesized a new form of carbon glass with three-dimensional bonds, the hardest known glass material. The discovery has potential for mass production and opens up new possibilities in devices and electronics.
A research team analyzed seismic noise recorded over the last decade to better understand volcanic processes at Campi Flegrei. They found that directionality loss in noise data indicates the migration of deep fluids towards the eastern caldera, which triggers earthquakes.
Scientists discovered that low-frequency energy from earthquakes travels in a four-leaf clover pattern near the fault, while higher frequency waves travel in all directions. This finding could improve building designs and mitigate earthquake damage by prioritizing vulnerable areas within the pattern.
Researchers from UNLV have discovered a new mineral, davemaoite, which originated between 410-560 miles deep within the Earth's lower mantle. The calcium silicate compound was trapped in a diamond and preserved due to its incredible strength, making it possible for scientists to study its structure.
Researchers identified a high-pressure calcium silicate perovskite, named davemaoite, trapped inside a deep-earth diamond. This discovery confirms the existence of a new mineral that concentrates elements incompatible in the upper mantle, including rare-earth elements and radioactive isotopes.
New research reveals that sinking tectonic plates are significantly weakened as they enter the mantle, but not broken apart entirely. The study's computer model shows a 'tectonic snake' shape, with stresses pinching the plate along weak points.
A new study presents a broad survey of monogenetic volcanoes in the US Southwest, providing insights into their characteristics and potential hazards. The research reveals that over 1,800 volcanoes have erupted in the region over the past 2.58 million years, with some still posing threats despite being dormant.
Researchers examine how heat affects salt and brine in underground tests to refine computer models and inform policymakers about spent nuclear fuel disposal. The understanding gained will help assess the viability of salt beds as a safe storage option for radioactive waste.
Researchers analyze iron-mass fraction of low-mass rocky exoplanets and find correlation with host star compositions, suggesting role of planet formation processes in shaping final composition. The study reveals distinct populations of super-Earths and super-Mercury class exoplanets with differing compositions.
Researchers at Kyushu University developed a new, low-cost seismic monitoring system that can detect changes in pore pressure with greater than 99.99% accuracy. The system uses a small seismic source and distributed acoustic sensing technology to monitor subsurface formations over an extensive area at a relatively low cost.
A geoscientist is using a $640,000 NSF grant to investigate why the Earth retains surface water instead of sequestering it in the mantle. He aims to develop a novel technique that links noble gas concentrations with water in subducted rocks to construct a map of water concentration across pressures and temperatures.
Scientists have discovered a hydraulic jump mechanism that injects water vapor from the troposphere to the stratosphere above supercell thunderstorms. This process, which can occur several kilometers above the storm, drives intense hydration of the lower stratosphere and may play a major role in severe weather events.
The Dartmouth Engineering team will conduct research on planetary science relating to icy planets' geophysics and astrobiology, aiming to understand the nature of these worlds and their habitability. The project will provide valuable tools for interpreting measurements taken by future missions.
Scientists at Ehime University successfully measured the longitudinal and shear velocities of MgSiO3 majorite garnet up to 18 GPa and 2000 K. The results suggest that elastic softening occurs in mantle garnets with increasing pressure, potentially affecting subducted slab speeds.
A new study led by the University of Colorado Boulder has shed new light on the Great Unconformity, a mysterious gap in the Grand Canyon's rock record that covers hundreds of millions of years. The research suggests that a series of small faulting events may have caused rocks and sediment to wash away, creating the missing window of time.
A new study published in Nature Communications reveals that seismicity at the Castor gas reservoir was triggered by pore pressure diffusion and the failure of loaded asperities on a shallow fault. The research identified three phases of the crisis, including a fast backward migration of earthquakes that resulted in the largest tremors.
Researchers at the University of Rochester found that lunar samples do not show signs of magnetization from a magnetic shield. The lack of magnetization suggests that the moon has never had a prolonged dynamo field. Without this protection, solar wind implanted volatiles like helium 3 in the lunar soil.
Slow slips, or silent earthquakes, are fractures of the Earth's crust that propagate slowly without producing seismic waves. The new database sheds light on the mechanisms behind these events and their potential to trigger regular earthquakes.
Researchers analyzed data from Kīlauea's caldera collapse to characterize friction at a large scale. The study confirms the role of slip-weakening distance in earthquake mechanics and provides insights into the physics governing caldera collapses.
A study by the University of Wyoming reveals that climate and erosion rates significantly impact the relative importance of physical and chemical weathering in rock breakdown. Anisovolumetric weathering, a previously underrecognized process, is now recognized as a common occurrence, influenced by environmental conditions.
The Royal Astronomical Society has awarded its highest honors to Professor Sandra Moore Faber and Professor Yvonne Elsworth for their groundbreaking research in galaxy structure, cosmology, and solar physics. Their achievements have significantly advanced our understanding of the universe.
Researchers developed a numerical method that speeds up calculations for modern supercomputers, making the inverse problem tractable. The new algorithm enables prospectors to make do with fewer exploratory holes and is applicable for searching other types of ores.
Dr. Kelsi Singer has been awarded the 2019 Harold C. Urey Prize for her outstanding contributions to planetary research, particularly in impact cratering and the geology of icy worlds. Her work has revealed insights into the collisional history of the Kuiper Belt and planetesimal formation.