Articles tagged with Sediment
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A new study finds high levels of coal ash contaminants in sediments from Sutton Lake, suggesting multiple unmonitored spills have contaminated the eastern North Carolina lake and potentially other lakes near coal ash ponds. The research highlights the risk of large-scale unmonitored spills occurring at coal ash storage sites nationwide.
An international team led by Laura Epp is analyzing ancient DNA from sediment cores, current ecological data, and anthropological studies to understand the interplay between climate change, grazing, and tundra vegetation. The project aims to generate scenarios for future ecosystem changes and develop solutions for local communities.
Researchers discovered ancient stone tools in Ethiopia, older than previously known evidence, suggesting that humans invented stone tools multiple times throughout history. The tools, dated to around 2.6 million years ago, show a significant shift in tool-making skills and accuracy, highlighting the complex origins of human innovation.
Seaweed is found to trap significant amounts of carbon dioxide, with approximately 8.75 grams per square meter of sediment each year. This process contributes to the ocean's 'blue carbon' storage, which helps mitigate climate change.
A new study found that over half a million corals were killed within 550 yards of the dredged channel, and that dredging impacts may have spread across more than 15 miles of Florida's reef tract. The researchers used satellite data to predict impacts on reefs below.
New research has confirmed that salts trapped in many diamonds come from ancient seabeds buried deep beneath the Earth's crust. Marine sediment reacts under extreme pressures and temperatures to produce a balance of salts found in diamond.
Researchers found that modern plankton communities are systematically different from pre-industrial times, reflecting global warming. The study suggests that species communities have shifted their distribution in response to temperature change.
Dr. Clare E. Reimmers selected as Fellow of The Oceanography Society for advancing sedimentary redox chemistry and microbiology using oxygen, pH, and pCO2 microelectrodes. Her work has significantly impacted our understanding of global carbon cycles, benthic fluxes, and seafloor energy harvesting approaches.
A new study of UK lake sediment records has found that recent floods in Northern England were the largest in 600 years, highlighting the impact of climate changes. The research uses lake sediment records and river flow data to establish long-term flood frequency models, aiming to improve flood risk management in the UK.
A new species of edrioasteroid echinoderm, Totiglobus spencensis, has been discovered, providing insight into the evolution of echinoderms from living stuck to marine sediment grains to attached to hard surfaces. This discovery sheds light on a critical time in the evolution of organisms and marine ecosystems.
Researchers found elevated levels of lead in sediment cores from Utica, Tunisia, linked to tailings from lead-silver mining, which began around the middle of the 4th century BC. This discovery suggests that Carthage's North African territory provided a source of economic resilience during the Punic wars.
Scientists have traced a prehistoric eruption to the lesser-known volcano Campi Flegrei in Naples, which dated back 29,000 years. The research, published in Geology, used computer models and sediment cores to identify the ash layer's origin.
Researchers verified that the 29,000-year-old Masseria del Monte Tuff eruption at Campi Flegrei caldera was responsible for widespread volcanic ash layers across the Mediterranean. The study suggests that this large-magnitude event occurred between known caldera-forming events, reducing the recurrence interval of such eruptions.
Research suggests that eclogitic diamonds originate from oceanic crust, not marine sediments, providing new insights into diamond formation and the deep carbon cycle. The study found that the oceanic crust contains a large reservoir of carbon, which is then recycled into diamonds in Earth's mantle.
Seafloor mapping reveals active fault zones with potential to trigger tsunamis in the central Salish Sea, affecting islands and coastal areas of the US. Researchers warn of increased tsunami risk due to recent fault activity and unstable Cascadia Subduction Zone.
Researchers have found that logging practices can cause significant bedrock incision, eroding geology at a rate of up to 100 times the natural rate. The study, conducted on the Teanaway River in Washington state, shows that human activity has transformed the riverbank, creating new terraces and altering the landscape.
Researchers from UNIGE discovered that bacteria can thrive in the Dead Sea's sediments, surviving extreme conditions by feeding on ancient corpses. This finding has significant implications for searching for life on other planets and highlights the importance of understanding how microorganisms adapt to hostile environments.
Dr. Kelly Dorgan received a CAREER grant to study ecosystem engineering and bioturbation rates in marine sediments. She aims to improve nutrient regeneration and predict bioturbation patterns, benefiting ocean health.
Research in a Washington river basin reveals that early 20th-century timber harvesting, particularly splash-damming, led to increased bedrock erosion and reduced floodplain areas. This study suggests that brief human activities can have lasting impacts on the landscape.
A new global initiative led by the University of Birmingham aims to better understand how plastics are transported and transformed in rivers, accumulating in river sediments. The project's first results show a complex picture with a huge diversity in types and sources of plastic in selected river estuaries.
Researchers found that a warming winter climate has led to a 41% increase in woody vegetation on protected areas, altering the rate of marsh to upland conversion and accelerating island erosion. The study provides new insights into the ecological and geomorphic processes occurring on Virginia's barrier islands.
Researchers have uncovered an ancient four-legged whale named Peregocetus pacificus, dated to 42.6 million years ago, with a mix of terrestrial and aquatic adaptations. The discovery supports the hypothesis that early cetaceans migrated from Africa to South America across the South Atlantic.
Researchers analyzed 13 UV filters, including oxybenzone and octinoxate, in seawater, sediment, and coral tissues near Hawaiian coral reefs. The study found low concentrations of oxybenzone, but no octinoxate, and revealed surfactant degradation products in seawater that may impact corals.
Researchers developed a new method to investigate tectonic C cycling in the complex Sunda margin, finding that only a fraction of sedimentary carbon returns to the Earth, contributing to atmospheric CO2. This discovery has significant implications for understanding the solid Earth's role in regulating global climate.
A new study published in Geology reveals that the largest delta plain in Earth's history formed along Pangea's northern coast during the late Triassic period. The delta plain covers an area equivalent to nearly 1% of the modern world, outscaling modern counterparts by an order of magnitude.
Researchers have discovered that Dickinsonia fossils do not reveal all the features of the earliest known animals. The study suggests that simple physical properties of sediments can explain the preservation of these soft-bodied creatures.
Researchers discovered a novel strategy used by microorganisms to survive in the hypersaline environment of the Dead Sea subsurface. They found that remains from extreme halophilic archaea were recycled by other microbial populations, allowing them to build carbon stocks and mitigate extreme salinity.
Researchers have discovered over 1,700 bubble plumes emitting methane along Washington's coast, linked to faults generated by tectonic plate motion. These gas emissions provide clues about major offshore earthquakes and contribute to the region's productive fishing grounds.
Researchers compared two water testing methods to ensure safe irrigation water for leafy greens, finding excellent results when samples were clean. However, discrepancies arose when environmental factors like sediments and salts were introduced, highlighting the need for a user-friendly guide to ensure consistent accuracy.
A new study reveals that the Atlantic Ocean's conveyor belt is slowing down, with some scientists fearing it could lead to dramatic temperature drops in Europe and exacerbate hurricanes. The research suggests that past changes in ocean circulation patterns may have preceded major climate shifts by several centuries.
Researchers have discovered evidence of a major cosmic impact event in southern Chile, dating back to around 12,800 years ago. The impact is believed to have caused rapid climatic changes, biomass burning, and the extinction of megafauna, with similar effects observed in North America and Western Europe.
Researchers found that mangrove fiddler crab burrows change the surrounding sediment, attracting bacteria with similar functions across three locations. This effect, known as bioturbation, influences environmental processes such as carbon and nutrient fluxes in mangrove ecosystems.
Scientists have discovered a 25-million-year-old palm fossil in central Tibet, pushing back the formation of the Tibetan Plateau by millions of years. The discovery suggests that the region was once much flatter than previously thought, with lakes and subtropical vegetation, before becoming a plateau around 2-3 million years ago.
A new drilling expedition has uncovered a dramatic and complex record of past changes in climate and sea level in the Gulf of Corinth. The research sheds light on how global climate fluctuations influence sedimentation rates, particularly for the earliest sediments deposited as new ocean basins form.
A study finds that dioxin-contaminated soils and sediments in Vietnam hotspots continue to pollute the country's air, water, and food supply. Millions of Vietnamese live near these sites, putting their health at risk.
A study has revealed a rare assemblage of sharks and rays from nearshore environments of Eocene Madagascar, including one new species, Carcharhinus underwoodi. The fauna shares similarities with ecosystems across North Africa but is uniquely lacking in sandsharks.
A new study suggests climate change played a role in the decline of Cahokia, a prehistoric city near St. Louis. Researchers analyzed fecal records and lake sediment cores to find correlations between population size and environmental conditions.
Researchers used over 1,000 records and a global ecosystem model to reconstruct peatland dynamics. They found peatlands expanded during warm periods and were buried during glacial expansion, providing potential long-term carbon storage.
Researchers have long debated the causes of Angkor's demise, but new evidence suggests that land use declined gradually over 100 years before the supposed collapse. The study shows that forest disturbance and soil erosion decreased, and the moat was eventually covered in floating vegetation, indicating a lack of maintenance.
A new study from the University of Eastern Finland explores the effects of ice cover on river channels and sediment transport. The research found that ice cover influences flow structures and increases sediment deposition in 'whirlpools' with low flow velocity. This discovery highlights the importance of considering seasonal changes in...
Researchers have identified a potential economic opportunity for Greenland by exploiting its abundant river sediment, which has a market value equivalent to half of the country's GDP. Sand export could provide a new revenue stream, but it would require careful assessment of environmental impact and collaboration with local authorities.
An international team has quantified the entire trench-wide volume of marine sediments remobilized by the magnitude 9 Tohoku-oki earthquake in 2011, transporting over 1 Tg of carbon to ocean depths. The study highlights the importance of deep-sea trenches in the global carbon cycle.
A study published in Nature Communications found that the Great Dying, a massive extinction event 252 million years ago, likely targeted plant life before animal species. The research team discovered high concentrations of nickel in Australian sediment, which may have been released from Siberian volcanoes and poisoned plant life.
A study by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution scientists found that deep-sea microbes are unable to fully utilize organic carbon due to its scarcity and physical isolation. The research suggests that the unique environment of deep sediments may limit life on Earth and provide insights into the possibility of extraterrestrial microbia...
A study by ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies found fish respond faster to simulated predator attacks in turbid water, indicating increased anxiety. This effect may stunt growth and damage health due to reduced visibility affecting energy allocation.
Researchers found that sediment levels declined over the study period, while phosphorus levels increased after an initial decline. Nitrogen levels also decreased, indicating potential benefits to local freshwater ecosystems and the Gulf of Mexico.
Researchers found the Sahara desert's climate swung between lush and arid conditions every 20,000 years, synchronized with monsoon activity. The study used sediment cores to analyze dust deposits and rare isotopes of thorium, revealing a 20,000-year beat that contradicts previous ice age cycle explanations.
Researchers from Tomsk Polytechnic University propose a new origin for the Bakchar deposit, suggesting that hydrothermal fluids and brine migration through marine sediments could be the source of its massive iron reserves. The study challenges the long-held theory that iron came from eroded mountainous areas.
A team of researchers found that the closure of the Bering Strait due to glaciation caused stratification in the North Pacific, removing CO2 from the atmosphere and leading to global cooling. This discovery provides new insights into the driving factors behind the Mid-Pleistocene Transition.
A recent study found that pulses of organic carbon reaching the deep sea are not accurately represented in global climate models. The research, conducted at Station M off California's coast, showed a significant increase in pulse events between 2011 and 2017, with 40% of total carbon arriving during these episodes.
Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have discovered nearly two dozen new types of microbes that use hydrocarbons as energy sources. These microbes may be helping to limit greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere and could potentially clean up oil spills.
Scientists discovered that the Atlantic Ocean's connection to the global thermohaline circulation occurred at a climatic tipping point around 59 million years ago. This enabled a more efficient distribution of heat over the planet, marking the end of a long-term cooling phase and the beginning of a new greenhouse period.
A 3,980-year-old volcanic eruption on Deception Island had a Volcanic Explosive Index of 6 and ejected 30-60 cubic kilometers of ash. The caldera collapse triggered a seismic event and had significant climatic impacts in the southern region.
Researchers found that overwintering Microcystis cells in sediments can seed the next year's bloom, explaining the rapid increase in Lake Erie bloom size and spatial extent. The study advances scientists' understanding of the basic biology driving the annual summer blooms.
Researchers discover Levallois cores in Asia dating back 80,000 to 170,000 years, challenging the notion of East Asian technological lag. The independent emergence of this complex toolmaking technique supports the idea that ancient civilizations in the region were capable of innovation.
A study has found that rising atmospheric CO2 levels could disrupt the sedimentary balance of beach-dune systems, leading to erosion and increased flooding risks. The research suggests that by 2100, sediment accumulation at the base of Mediterranean dunes could fall by 31%, putting beaches like San Giovanni in Sardinia at risk.
A new study analyzing one million years of precipitation history has found that the South Asian Monsoon is more complex than previously thought. The research team discovered that warming in the southern hemisphere and moisture transport across the equator play a crucial role in the monsoon's wind and precipitation patterns.
Scientists have reconstructed the monsoon's precipitation history over the past 1 million years using sediment cores from the eastern Indian Ocean. The results show that the monsoon was weaker during peak ice ages and strongest during interglacial warm periods, with fluctuations in the Earth's axis inclination playing a subordinate role.
A new study suggests that a warmer world may equal a wetter Arctic, driven by two climatic processes: melting sea ice and increasing global humidity. Researchers analyzed lakebed mud dating back thousands of years to uncover clues about the region's past climate.
Researchers discovered a new projectile point style at the Debra L. Friedkin site in Texas, dated between 13,500 and 15,500 years ago, earlier than typical Clovis-style technologies. The finding may indicate two separate human migrations into North America, challenging current understanding of peopling history.