Articles tagged with Sediment
A new study has precisely dated the Bentiaba fossil locality to 71.5 million years ago, spanning 30 million years of sediments and shedding light on ancient marine life and environments. The analysis allowed for better understanding of the history of the ancient South Atlantic Ocean.
A new study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences has found that most supposed impact indicators at 29 sites are too old or too young to be remnants of an ancient comet. The researchers tested existing stratigraphic and chronological data sets to determine if these markers dated to the onset of the Younger Dr...
A new method reveals that nearly every drop of water in the Mississippi River network passes through a chemical filter, but this process is operating at max capacity due to high nitrate levels. The river's natural ability to filter out nitrates is being overwhelmed, resulting in an increased risk of dead zones and aquatic life decline.
Researchers discovered a new fossil organism, Plexus ricei, resembling a tapeworm or modern flatworm, with bilateral symmetry unlike any other Precambrian fossils. The discovery sheds light on the earliest origins of bilaterian animals and their evolutionary history.
Using genetic barcoding, researchers found large variations in foraminiferal species collected near salmon farms compared to remote sites. The study established a correlation between species richness and distance from the cages, indicating diminishing species diversity on sites affected by farming.
Researchers found that anammox, a crucial environmental process, is almost completely absent in Narragansett Bay but present in Rhode Island Sound. This disparity suggests that bay sediments lack the necessary conditions to activate anammox.
Researchers have discovered microbial etchings in impact glass from the Ries Impact Structure, Germany, which are remarkably similar to bioalteration textures observed in volcanic glasses. The authors suggest that microbes etched their way through impact glass as they excreted organic acids, creating a potential habitat for life on Mars.
Researchers analyzed 842 Ohio soil samples, finding all had high levels of arsenic above EPA's screening standard. Natural geological and soil processes are the main cause of these high levels.
A recent study by Rice University and colleagues analyzed the environmental fate of black carbon in deep ocean sediments. They found that more than half of black carbon never reaches the bottom, but instead stays dissolved in seawater or gets trapped in particles before sinking to the seafloor.
Researchers have discovered a mid-Cretaceous greenhouse world, with superhigh sea-surface temperatures that prevailed during the Oceanic Anoxic Event 1a. Additionally, scientists have identified impact spherules in Karelia, Russia, which may be linked to the 2.02 Ga Vredefort impact event.
Researchers from Brown University have assembled a 60,000-year record of rainfall in central Indonesia, showing that the region's normally wet climate was interrupted by a severe dry period during peak ice age. This finding provides crucial data for predicting how the region might respond to global warming.
A new tyrannosaurine species, Nanuqsaurus hoglundi, has been identified from a 70-million-year-old Alaskan fossil. The smaller dinosaur is estimated to be around 25 inches in skull length compared to T. rex's 60 inches, suggesting an adaptation to arctic seasons.
A Dartmouth-University of Connecticut study reveals that methylmercury concentrations in estuary waters, not sediment, accurately predict mercury contamination in the marine food chain. The findings suggest a shift in mercury cleanup practices to focus on measuring methylmercury in water column particles.
Studies using an artificial watercourse, called a flume, found that steeper streams require more water to move sediment than previously thought. In very steep channels, sediment motion is often triggered by complete bed failure, resulting in catastrophic events.
Researchers discovered an additional active process producing nanodiamonds in sediments less than 3,000 years old, suggesting a possible extraterrestrial event. The study found no correlation between nanodiamond concentration and alternative processes, supporting the ET impact hypothesis.
Researchers have discovered that dust infiltration into the South Pacific Ocean was 2-3 times higher during ice ages than in warm phases. This increased dust supply stimulated biological production and increased the ocean's capacity to bind carbon, leading to a cooling effect on Earth.
In deep, old, and nutrient-poor marine sediments, viruses outnumber microbes by up to 225 times, controlling the size and composition of microbial communities. Viruses produce new viruses that remain in sediment for longer periods due to limited enzymatic destruction, leading to a high turnover rate.
A review paper highlights how human structures like dams and seawalls are hindering coastal wetlands' natural defense mechanisms. Wetlands can build up their soils to outpace sea level rise through various responses, but human activities are disrupting these processes.
Scientists discovered rapid warming in the Eifel region 12,240 years ago and 100 years later in southern Norway. The study uses volcanic ash as a time marker to explain the 120-year difference in timing.
Research by Plymouth University and the University of Exeter found that microplastic ingestion can decrease energy reserves in marine worms. The study also revealed that ingested plastic can deliver harmful chemicals to organisms, leading to reduced health. This has significant implications for the food chain and marine ecosystems.
A modeling study by US Forest Service researchers shows that reforesting the Lower Mississippi Alluvial Valley can significantly reduce runoff from agricultural lands and sediment entering rivers and streams. Converting agricultural lands to forests in or near battures can greatly lessen water outflow and reduce sediment load, with a t...
A new study examines the geological legacy of Hurricane Irene, shedding light on the long-term record of storm frequency and impact. The researchers found that the lack of definitive signatures from the hurricane in paleostorm records highlights concerns about current understanding of hurricane deposition and preservation.
Researchers found precolonial eastern forests, dominated by American beech, red oak and sweet birch, using 300-year-old leaves buried behind milldams. This knowledge can inform successful stream restoration approaches that consider the past forest makeup.
Researchers have found a new, low-cost technology to reduce mercury contamination in soils and sediments, using activated carbon. The technology reduces methylmercury uptake by up to 90% without physical disturbance.
A Duke University study found elevated levels of radioactivity, salts, and metals in river water and sediments after fracking wastewater discharge. Radioactivity levels were up to 200 times greater in sediment samples collected near the facility than upstream.
Researchers have found that tungsten is leached from sediment into groundwater based on pH and oxygen levels. The study suggests that iron oxide particles play a key role in regulating tungsten concentrations in groundwater, with higher pH levels leading to more tungsten entering the water.
A new Dartmouth study reveals toxic metals from an open-pit mine in Maine's Goose Pond estuary are spreading into nearby sediment, water, and fish, affecting the regional marine food web. Elevated levels of copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead were found, posing a potential health risk to humans who consume seafood from these areas.
Scientists have discovered life forms dating back nearly a hundred thousand years in subglacial lake sediments, challenging our understanding of what can survive in extreme environments. The discovery, made in Lake Hodgson on the Antarctic Peninsula, reveals diverse microorganisms that could hold clues for survival on other planets.
Raimon Tolosana-Delgado's mathematical models help understand rock formation and sediment development, crucial for predicting raw material locations. The prize recognizes his work on developing general models applicable to various raw materials, which could improve exploration and extraction efficiency.
Researchers discover manganese(III) forms up to 90% of total manganese present in marine environments with gradation of oxygen concentrations. The finding sheds light on the complex connections between biology, geology and chemistry in ocean environments.
Researchers studied China's Qinling and Tibetan Plateau orogens, finding evidence of late-stage foreland growth. In India, scientists proposed a cost-effective method for locating diamonds using geological, geochemical, and geochronological data. Additionally, a Middle Paleozoic continental arc was identified in southern China, providi...
Researchers studied various locations across North America, including the Black Canyon of Gunnison, Colorado, and the Sierra Nevada batholith. They found that spatio-temporal variability in fluvial incision rates provides data on uplift and denudation histories of landscapes.
Researchers at University of Delaware and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution found evidence of active bacteria, fungi and other microscopic organisms at depths deeper than a skyscraper is high. The microbes are reproducing, digesting food and moving around despite extreme conditions.
Researchers found evidence of actively metabolizing and proliferating bacteria, archaea, and fungi in the deep biosphere, with implications for global biogeochemical cycles. The study revealed diverse biochemical pathways and movement mechanisms, including flagellar-driven locomotion and gliding.
A new study analyzes geologic records to predict megathrust earthquakes along Canada's west coast. The research identified 22 earthquake shaking events over the past 11,000 years, with a recurrence interval of about 500 years. This study helps Canadian coastal communities improve hazard assessments and emergency preparedness plans.
Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh have discovered evidence of prehistoric copper mining leading to high levels of lead pollution in northern Michigan lakes. The study reveals that human activities contributing to environmental lead pollution began as early as 8,000 years ago.
A team of scientists from NASA's Curiosity rover mission has discovered ancient rounded pebbles on the Martian surface, formed only by water transport. This finding supports the prospect that Mars could have hosted life in the past.
Scientists discovered that foraminifera may be responsible for the decline of stromatolites and the emergence of thrombolites. The researchers found evidence of foraminifera in both types of structures, suggesting a possible link between their disappearance and appearance.
The Antarctic polar icecap emerged 33.6 million years ago, causing significant changes to plankton diversity and primary productivity. This shift influenced global primary productivity dynamics.
Researchers identify two gemstones linked to plate tectonics, including ruby and jadeite. Ocean island coral reefs are shaped by sea-level history and carbonate accumulation rates.
A recent study suggests the Makran subduction zone, beneath the Arabian Sea, has a higher potential for major earthquakes and tsunamis than previously thought. This could threaten the coastlines of Pakistan, Iran, Oman, and India.
A new study analyzes the longest terrestrial sediment core in the Arctic, revealing that the region was warmer around 3.5 to 2 million years ago than previously thought. The findings suggest that small fluctuations in carbon dioxide levels can have a significant impact on Arctic climate.
Researchers found Fe-60 iron atoms in sediments from ocean cores dating back to 2.2 million years ago, indicating a possible supernova impact on Earth. The discovery suggests that magnetotactic bacteria may have created magnetite crystals containing the radioactive isotope.
Graphite has been found to effectively reduce the frictional strength of faults, while sediment processes can generate significant amounts of background noise in oceans. Researchers have also studied how braided river dynamics affect sediment storage and charted the growth of the Turkish-Iranian plateau.
Researchers at Princeton University suggest that Mount Sharp, a 3.5-mile high Martian mound, was likely formed by strong winds carrying dust and sand into the Gale Crater. The analysis challenges the prevailing theory that the mound formed from layers of lakebed silt.
Researchers used ancient DNA to reconstruct past plankton communities in the Black Sea, shedding light on climate-driven changes and human impact. The study found that marine ecosystems are highly sensitive to climate change and human disturbances.
Scientists at the National Oceanography Centre have discovered that dredged sediment in Liverpool Bay moves back to the port within weeks, saving millions of pounds. The study's findings suggest that computer models can accurately predict particle movement, reducing environmental costs and disturbance.
A team of scientists and technicians led by Rice University is conducting a 45-day expedition in the North Atlantic to gather detailed information about the geology of the ocean basin. The $6 million project aims to study the Galicia rift, where sediment has not deeply buried formations that have existed at the bottom of the ocean for ...
Researchers have found that basin sediments recorded the formation process of the Dabie orogen, providing crucial information on subduction and rapid exhumation. The study suggests a gradual transition from shortening to extension during the Mesozoic era, with the depth of exhumation increasing eastwards.
The US Army Corps of Engineers, USDA, and FEMA invested over $51 million in restoring the 2011 flood-damaged Birds Point-New Madrid floodway. Experts recommend revising the comprehensive plan to integrate levee engineering with ecological infrastructure to mitigate future flooding.
Researchers uncover analogous cratering patterns at the Ries Impact Crater and Mars, while also analyzing camelopard-like camouflage in trilobites. The study of Hydrate Ridge and the Sahara Desert reveals insights into volcanic unrest and paleoweather conditions.
A recent study reveals that the deepest oceanic trench holds a surprisingly high concentration of bacteria in its sediment, up to 10 times more than surrounding abyssal plains. This discovery highlights the critical role microorganisms play in regulating the global carbon cycle and climate regulation.
Researchers at the University of Washington are studying the sediment's fate after the removal of the Elwha Dam, which has released an estimated 34 million cubic yards of silt and sand into the Strait of Juan de Fuca. The sediments' ultimate fate is crucial for understanding their impact on the ocean floor and marine life.
Researchers studied wind erosion and sediment traps in the Qaidam basin, rain erosion on Kauai, new insights from the Petrified Forest, a forearc sliver in Costa Rica, and bending and buckling mountain belts. Erosion rates on Kauai vary across a steep rainfall gradient, with modern rates no more than 2.3 times faster than past rates.
A University of Pennsylvania-led study quantifies sediment transported to wetlands by the 2011 Mississippi flood, which may help maintain the area's wetlands. The research found that the flood deposited more than half a year's worth of sediment in some areas, making it a key factor in maintaining wetland elevations.
This study investigates the sedimentary fingerprint of the 2011 Mississippi River flood across the Louisiana coast, identifying key indicators of sediment provenance. Chemostratigraphy also reveals a complete Late Permian to Early Triassic sequence in western Utah, shedding light on the Permian-Triassic mass extinction event.
Researchers analyzed lake sediment to reconstruct climate patterns in Nicaragua during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and Little Ice Age. The study found that factors currently producing drier climates resulted in wetter conditions a few hundred years ago.
Agricultural Research Service study finds that removing corn cob residues from fields does not harm soil quality, supporting the development of new bioenergy sources. Soils retain potassium from cobs, making them a potential raw material for cellulosic ethanol production.
A new analysis of vegetation change over 12 million years reveals that grasslands dominated the landscape, challenging the idea of bipedalism as a response to forest encroachment. The study provides insights into the environment and plant life in Africa's Rift Valley during human evolution.
Researchers found triclosan and its derivatives in lake sediments, with higher concentrations in small lakes with wastewater input. The study's results raise concerns about the environmental impact of triclosan, a common antibacterial agent used in soaps and other products.