Articles tagged with Mountains
A team led by James Liebherr discovered 14 new species of predatory carabid beetles in the Society Islands, expanding the known distribution of the genus Mecyclothorax. The new species have limited geographic distributions and are found at high elevations, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts to maintain biodiversity.
Researchers discovered that OH radicals significantly influence organic aerosols' mass and composition, leading to changes in concentration and characteristics. This finding necessitates updates to regional and global climate models.
Two new species of rare forget-me-nots have been added to Flora of New Zealand, found in the mountains of the South Island. These uncommon species are Nationally Critical due to their low population numbers and habitat specificity.
The study reveals that glaciers in the Tien Shan Mountains have lost between 0.1% and 0.8% of their surface per year, with the largest retreat observed on the periphery near major cities. This affects the seasonal distribution of water, which will exacerbate droughts during summers.
Tropical Depression Khanun made landfall in western South Korea on July 19, bringing heavy rainfall and thunderstorms. The satellite tracked the northeastern progression of the cyclone as it moved toward North Korea and northeastern China, eventually dissipating due to atmospheric conditions.
A comprehensive review of 24 studies found acetazolamide has limited effectiveness unless baseline AMS risk is high, and some side effects occur at low doses. The authors suggest tailoring treatment to individual risk and acceptability of common side effects.
A new CU-Boulder-led study reveals that rising nitrogen deposition is altering sensitive ecosystems in Rocky Mountain National Park. Plant communities are already showing changes under ambient conditions, with potential impacts on biodiversity and aquatic life.
A new Geosphere study uses virtual fieldwork to analyze terrain data from the 2010 Haiti earthquake, revealing evidence of active faulting and ancient surface rupture. The research also explores the provenance of sandstones in the Colton Formation and the interactions between the Seattle and Saddle Mountain faults.
A new study confirms cougars are re-populating their historical range across the US Midwest. The research reveals cougar populations have spread from Texas to Ontario and Manitoba, with males traveling long distances.
A CU-Boulder-led team has found a handful of bacteria, fungi and archaea in rocky soils on South American volcanoes, exhibiting unique energy conversion methods. The discovery sheds light on the limits of life on Earth, suggesting that certain organisms can survive without photosynthesis.
Climate change is causing glacier lilies to bloom earlier than expected, disrupting the timing of broad-tailed hummingbirds' arrival, which depends on the flowers for nectar. The biologists predict that if current trends continue, hummingbirds will miss the first blooms entirely in two decades.
Recent paleoseismic work reveals an average recurrence rate of 125 years for the San Andreas Fault in the Santa Cruz Mountains, indicating a higher seismic hazard than previously thought. The study also sheds light on how individual segments of the fault system can produce destructive earthquakes.
Researchers from the University of Otago have provided radiocarbon dates for unusual jar and log coffin interments in southern Cambodia's Cardamom Mountains. The findings reveal that the enigmatic burial rituals were practiced from at least 1395AD to 1650AD, coinciding with the decline and fall of the powerful Kingdom of Angkor.
Scientists from NASA's Precipitation Measurement Missions discovered that light rain makes up 50-60% of total precipitation in the region, contributing to freshwater resources. The study used satellite data and ground-based instruments to validate measurements and make new discoveries.
The article discusses new research on dynamic earth processes, including the link between wildfires and sediment transport in coastal watersheds, as well as high-pressure metamorphism in northwest China. Additionally, studies on the Gold Hill shear zone and magma-filled fractures in the Appalachian mountain belt are also presented.
A pan-European study reveals that mountain plants are shifting to higher altitudes, but also experiencing reduced species richness. Climate warming and drought stress are threatening alpine plant diversity worldwide.
This new research presents a well-documented ancient sedimentary record of subduction initiation in California, shedding light on the beginning of this process. The study also provides insights into the Karakoram Fault Zone in Tibet and updates the understanding of the Walker Lane belt in Nevada.
Researchers have discovered a new species of scorpion in Death Valley National Park, California. The species, Wernerius inyoensis, is small and closely related to other species found in Joshua Tree National Park and along the lower Colorado River.
A new study led by Stanford researchers found that ibuprofen significantly reduced the incidence of altitude sickness in a double-blind trial. Ibuprofen reduced symptoms by 26% and was found to be more attractive than other medications, such as acetazolamide, due to its safety profile.
Early snowmelt in the Colorado Rocky Mountains decreases flower numbers and nectar availability, leading to a decline in the Mormon Fritillary butterfly population. The study found that early snowmelt in consecutive years explained most of the variation in population growth rate.
Researchers found pine beetles can breed twice a year, leading to up to 60 times more beetles attacking trees annually. Warmer temperatures also allow beetles to survive and attack trees with previously developed defenses.
A study published in Ecology Letters found that early snow melt in the Colorado Rocky Mountains leads to lower flower availability, negatively affecting the growth rate of the Mormon Fritillary butterfly. Reduced flower availability per butterfly explained most of the observed variation in population growth rate.
A UC Riverside Ph.D. candidate will attempt to summit Mount Everest for the second time, this time as part of his dissertation research on Himalayan mountaineering communities. His research focuses on the types of communities climbers create and the transformation of Sherpa society after decades of aiding international climbers.
Marin Clark's study challenges the long-held theory of plate tectonics by suggesting that mantle strength, not mountain height, is the key factor controlling convergence. The Indian sub-continent will halt its collision with Eurasia in about 20 million years due to the strong uppermost mantle beneath Tibet and the Himalayas.
Recent studies suggest that prehistoric pastoralist societies in Eurasia developed distinct economies and triggered the formation of extensive networks of interaction. These 'nonuniform institutional complexity' models describe how small-scale institutions impact wider-scale political economies and shape the growth of great empires.
A new species of colorful lizard was discovered in the Peruvian Andes at high altitudes. The species, Potamites montanicola, is believed to be nocturnal and exhibits unusual behavior such as swimming in streams.
New studies reveal mantle-driven uplift in the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Plateau, while also documenting extensional fault systems in the Aegean Sea. Additionally, researchers examine the impact of fault-enhanced irregularities on groundwater flow paths, with implications for nuclear waste repositories.
Researchers from 13 countries report a continent-wide warming effect on mountain plant communities in Europe, with species shifting towards those that prefer warmer temperatures. The findings suggest that this shift could lead to declines or even local disappearance of alpine plant species due to increased competition.
A new study reveals that male chamois in different populations employ distinct breeding strategies, including 'terminal investment', where they focus on reproduction later in life. This variation could have implications for wildlife management, particularly when it comes to hunting practices.
Researchers found that a 'merging tsunami' doubled in intensity over rugged ocean ridges, amplifying its destructive power before reaching shore. This discovery helps explain how tsunamis can cross ocean basins to cause massive destruction at some locations while leaving others unscathed.
New reports identify extreme vulnerability of Asia's mountainous Hindu Kush-Himalayan region to climate change, with rising temperatures disturbing the balance of snow, ice, and water. Glaciers are shrinking at a rate of 22 percent in Bhutan and 21 percent in Nepal over the past 30 years.
Research highlights the age of continental crust, with over 60% originating in the Archean, 2.5 billion years ago. A new paleomagnetic pole for chron 32 corrects for spreading-rate dependence, improving skewness data accuracy. Seismic ambient noise analysis reveals structural alignments in the Chile Ridge Subduction Region.
Researchers use ancient species distribution to identify areas where vegetation resisted glaciations, providing insights into plant conservation and evolution. The study highlights the importance of mountain ranges like the Hengduan in preserving relic flora.
Researchers created a multilayered silicon structure with air-trapping features that improve water repellency, also absorbing light in the infrared range. This biologically-inspired surface has potential uses in electro-optical devices and chemical sensors.
Dr. Jon Gelhaus, a Philadelphia scientist, received the 'Best Scientist in Nature and Environment' medal for his significant contributions to Mongolian Environmental Science. He is leading a multinational effort to improve water quality monitoring and standards in Mongolia.
Researchers at Stanford University used remote wildlife cameras to confirm mountain lion activity in the preserve, with seasonal patterns and human-lion encounters explored. The study suggests that mountain lions are present about 24% of the time, posing a low risk to humans.
Researchers have uncovered a compound monogenetic volcano at Ilchulbong, Jeju Island, revealing multiple magma pulses and vent shifts. Additionally, petrographic analysis of Enkingen impact breccias indicates significantly more than previously estimated impact melt volume.
Researchers uncover the complete skull and lower jaw of a previously unknown woolly rhino species, dating back to the Pliocene epoch. The discovery sheds light on the creature's diet and adaptation to its environment, revealing it ate high-altitude grasses before adapting to lower elevations during the Ice Age.
Researchers studied the genetic basis of species formation in the Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly, a rare hybrid of Eastern and Canadian tiger swallowtails. The study reveals that hybrid speciation can create new combinations of life history and morphological traits, allowing colonization of novel environments.
Two studies examine the Jemez-Embudo Accommodation Zone in New Mexico and the Tennessee Salient in Appalachia, shedding light on tectonic processes. Geodynamic models and paleomagnetic data reveal no statistically significant rotation in the Rio Grande Rift and indicate a more complex history of curvature formation.
Researchers found the Appalachian tiger swallowtail butterfly evolved from mixing between Eastern and Canadian tiger swallowtails, inheriting genes associated with cold habitats and mimicry. The butterfly has become significantly distinct from its parental species, with unique characteristics and genetic makeup.
A 20-year study in the Ozarks found that burning entire mountains and valleys restored ecological damage, benefiting multiple species. The collared lizard's expansion was facilitated by this process, allowing it to undertake its own restoration effort.
University of Guam ecologist Thomas Marler conducted botanical surveys on Mount Pinatubo's slopes to study primary succession. He found that unstable soil surfaces continue to impact community formation, and elevation and distance from human settlement are key factors in vegetation characteristics.
Researchers found identical lead isotopes in ancient rocks from North America and Antarctica, suggesting a connection between the two continents 1.1 billion years ago. This discovery strengthens support for the SWEAT hypothesis and provides critical clues to the geographic relationships between major continents.
A new species of blind beetle, Paralovricia beroni, has been discovered in Bulgarian caves and clarifies questions about its systematic position within the Carabidae family. The discovery provides insight into the paleogeographic history of the Balkans, revealing a previously unknown subtribe Lovriciina.
Researchers analyzed U-Pb-Hf characterization of the central Coast Mountains batholith, finding spatial and temporal trends in petrogenesis. They also discovered no correlation between Anderson Reservoir stage level and underlying Calaveras fault seismicity, despite calculated differential stress increases.
Scripps researchers identify a new force driving Earth's massive tectonic plates, finding that plumes of hot magma from the deep interior play a crucial role in shaping the planet. This 'plume-push' mechanism has been linked to significant geological events, including the formation of volcanoes and the movement of continents.
Two studies highlight the relationship between neotectonic activity and rockslide failures, with a third investigation into salinity control on parasequence development in ancient carbonate platforms. Researchers found that rock fracturing due to neotectonic activity is a major conditioning factor for failures, while changes in coastal...
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered a well-preserved Late Bronze Age (1500-750 B.C.) fortress in Cyprus, which may have protected an urban economic center from outside threats. The fortress's unique design and location suggest it played a crucial role in the region's history.
The University of Colorado Boulder has been awarded a six-year, $5.9 million grant to continue its long-term ecological studies in Colorado's high mountains, focusing on climate change and human-caused changes. The research at the Niwot Ridge Long-Term Ecological Research site will investigate the effects of warming temperatures, nitro...
Scientists have found a mid-season decline in wildflowers at high-altitude meadows, affecting pollinator populations. This shift is attributed to climate change, which alters moisture availability and flowering timing, leading to ecosystem-wide impacts on animals that feed on pollen and nectar.
Two new beetle species have been identified in streams of Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees mountains in Spain and France. The insects have a restricted range and are similar to other European species.
Researchers discovered that seeds from cones on the forest floor of lodgepole pines can provide a viable seed bank after mountain pine beetle outbreaks, with high germination capacity. However, germination capacity decreases over time, highlighting the need for fire to trigger regeneration.
Researchers developed a predictive model to identify areas at high risk of wetland habitat loss in the southern United States. The study highlights the importance of conservation efforts in these regions, where urbanization and development have led to significant wetland losses.
Researchers from the University of Hawaii at Manoa used GPS data to find that a section of the eastern Andes is locked in place, allowing stress to build up and potentially leading to large earthquakes. The study suggests that earthquakes with magnitudes up to 8.9 are possible in the region.
Researchers found that the accretion of microcontinental blocks significantly affects continental growth, with potentially greater early crust than estimated. Paleosol analysis revealed optimal water-holding potential and fertility levels for subtropical soils from the late Cretaceous period.
Researchers will use cultivated and wild tomato species to determine specific genes controlling chemical evolution and plant metabolism. The goal is to understand how plants produce diverse compounds for survival in their environment.
Textiles and rope fragments found in a Peruvian cave have been dated to around 12,000 years ago, confirming the antiquity of artifacts previously found at the site. The dating technique used reveals that women may have played a key role in textile production during early high-altitude explorations.
Researchers at TUM have developed a geo-sensor system that can monitor unstable mountain slopes and detect movements. The system uses a combination of sensors, including coaxial cables and GPS, to track changes in the slope's structure.
A new study is planned to investigate the health effects of high lithium levels in drinking water on mothers and children in Andean villages. Researchers have found high levels of arsenic, lithium, and other substances in the drinking water and urine of women studied, which may pose a health risk.