Articles tagged with Landforms
Researchers found that the Andes of west-central Argentina formed in four distinct and rapid pulses of activity, each lasting about 5 to 8 million years. This growth rate is faster and more punctuated than previously thought, outpacing the steady timeline expected from subduction.
A study by UC Santa Barbara researchers found that California has lost more than 60% of its coastal dune systems, primarily due to human activity. The assessment highlights the importance of preserving these ecosystems for biodiversity and coastal resilience.
Mangrove forests worldwide are no longer in net decline and are now growing overall, driven by natural regeneration and expansion. The research highlights a more hopeful trajectory for these ecosystems, which play a critical role in protecting coastlines and storing climate-warming carbon.
A global study of marine litter has identified food and beverage plastics as the leading contributors to ocean pollution, with plastic packaging, caps, and bottles dominating shoreline debris worldwide. The research highlights the urgent need for reduced plastic production and more efficient waste management practices.
Researchers at the University of Arizona used drones equipped with ground-penetrating radar to map the thickness of rocky debris covering glaciers on Earth. The technology could help future astronauts locate accessible water locked in buried ice on Mars.
Researchers used LiDAR surveys to analyze medieval mountain castles' topography, distinguishing between human-made and natural landscapes. The study found that castle sites exhibit greater variability in slope compared to unmodified natural ridges, with high slope variability linked to landslide traces within the castle boundaries.
A new study reveals that subsidence is a major driver of coastal flooding along Java Island, with rates of up to 15 centimeters per year. Groundwater withdrawal and agricultural water use are identified as key culprits, highlighting the need for active monitoring and mitigation.
Research shows glacial lakes in Alaska expanding 50% faster than previously recorded, posing significant hazards and altering ecosystems. The study identifies areas where lakes may form and grow, helping with infrastructure planning and predicting changes to ecosystems, hazards, and recreation.
Seabirds have a significant impact on plant growth and dune formation on uninhabited islands, with guano providing essential nutrients. The research highlights the importance of protecting seabird habitats to maintain ecosystem balance.
The University of Washington's STRIVE team will examine the atmosphere where weather forms, while the EDGE team will study the three-dimensional structure of the Earth's surface. These satellite missions aim to provide new insights into temperature, trace gases, and air pollution.
Researchers at the University of Plymouth have discovered a method to increase muon lifetime using intense laser pulses. By applying quantum interference principles, they aim to develop new scientific facilities that utilize muons instead of electrons.
Researchers are utilizing the SWOT satellite to study how rivers and streams shape the Earth's surface, transforming scale in river studies. By covering all rivers worldwide, SWOT enables tracking of dam failures and understanding their long-term effects on ecosystems.
The discovery of aluminum-rich kaolinite clay suggests that areas of Mars may have once supported humid climates and heavy rainfall comparable to tropical environments on Earth. The finding provides significant insight into the planet's past environmental stages and how it came to its current barren state.
A new study has analyzed a rare flooding event in the Maldives in July 2022 and found it could become a far more common occurrence in the future. By 2050, predicted rises in sea levels, coupled with increased extreme weather events, may result in such flooding happening every two to three years.
A team of researchers from Shanghai and Guangzhou, China, has discovered the Jinlin crater, a 900-meter diameter impact structure preserved within a thick granite weathering crust. The discovery provides new insights into the scale of small extraterrestrial object impacts on Earth during the Holocene epoch.
A groundbreaking single-day study on Crete's soil microbiome has provided new insights into the environmental factors influencing microbial diversity. The researchers identified several key drivers, including soil moisture and nutrient availability, which can inform strategies for preserving biodiversity.
A new framework developed by researchers aims to better predict and understand cascading land surface hazards, which can increase the risk of subsequent events. The study's findings could help improve disaster response and build societal resilience after natural hazards.
Researchers precisely mapped how magma storage changes as Hawaiian volcanoes age, revealing new insights into the volcanic pluming system. The study found that magma flow diminishes and shifts deeper underground as volcanoes move away from a heat-rich hotspot.
A team of researchers has developed a new theory to explain how mini sand dunes form on Earth's surface, including beaches and deserts. They found that sand moves higher and is transported more by the wind when it lands on softer surfaces.
Researchers used seismic data to discover glacial landforms in the North Sea, indicating an ice sheet expansion about 1 million years ago, linked to global cooling. The findings provide new insights into how past ice sheets responded to climate changes.
A new study estimates a 1-meter sea level rise by 2100 will affect over 14 million people and $1 trillion worth of property along the Southeast Atlantic coast. The study emphasizes the need for holistic coastal resilience strategies to address multiple climate-related hazards.
A groundbreaking study led by Virginia Tech provides the first direct geochemical evidence of a massive, rapid melting period on Earth after the last global ice age. The researchers analyzed lithium isotopes in carbonate rocks formed during this time and found strong evidence for freshwater meltwater interacting with the ocean.
A recent study has identified over 300 distinct types of bacteria in Roman Baths water, including those with antibiotic-producing capabilities. These microorganisms show promise as a potential source of novel natural products to combat antibiotic resistance.
Researchers used a dynamic model to chart the changing landscape and estimate human migration routes across Sahul, with results consistent with previous findings. The study suggests a radiating wave of migration following rivers and coastlines, correlating with known migration corridors.
The Lunar Environment Monitoring System, developed by UMD researchers, will track seismic activity on the moon's surface during the upcoming Artemis III mission. The system's data will help prepare NASA for a long-term presence on other planetary bodies.
Researchers have discovered large undersea faults on the Pacific Ocean floor that are pulling the Pacific Plate apart. The newly found faults, some thousands of meters deep and hundreds of kilometers long, are weakening the plate due to immense forces within it.
University of Queensland researchers have developed a new technique using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma quadruple mass spectrometry to analyze the chemical composition of magma. This high-resolution method provides clearer data on the eruption style and lava flow, enabling better forecasting of volcanic eruptions.
Scientists discover hydrothermal deposits at a 5.7 km depth in the Japan Trench, indicating low-temperature hydrothermal activity and elevated CO2 and methane levels. The findings highlight the need for further studies on petit-spot volcanoes and their potential impact on global biogeochemical cycles.
Researchers at Colorado State University have made a groundbreaking discovery in understanding how mountains form, revealing that deep Earth processes are the primary drivers of mountain building in subduction zones. By combining novel data sets and techniques with traditional geomorphology measurements, the team generated a long-term ...
A long-term study at the University of Eastern Finland reveals a significant reduction in palsa area by over 75% from 1959 to 2021. Climate change has only a limited impact on active layer thickness, contradicting expectations.
Researchers argue that polders are an important part of China's water heritage, reflecting the country's long history of water management. Over 2,500 years, polders have evolved in response to changing societal needs, adapting to agricultural modernisation and urban encroachment.
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 Mekong delta, Southeast Asia's most productive agricultural region and home to 17 million people, is at risk of disappearing by the end of the century due to subsidence. Sediment loss from upstream dams and poor water management exacerbates the issue, threatening food security and livelihoods.
A revised position for primary strand of the Pleistocene-Holocene San Andreas Fault in Southern California suggests a previously overlooked strand poses a significant earthquake threat. The Mission Creek strand accounts for nearly its entire slip rate, indicating it may be the primary Pacific-North American plate boundary fault at this...
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...
NASA-NOAA's Suomi NPP satellite detected Tropical Depression 14E in the Eastern Pacific Ocean on August 14. The depression is moving west at 14 mph and is expected to become a tropical storm over the next few days, with gradual strengthening forecast.
Rockfalls from iconic landmarks like Half Dome and El Capitan pose a significant risk to park visitors. A new study uses rapid 3D analysis to pinpoint rockfall locations, dimensions, and volumes, enabling more accurate assessments and quicker decision-making for park managers.
Researchers project a significant decline in Indian monsoon low-pressure system activity, with a 45% decrease expected by the late 21st century. This change is associated with a poleward shift in LPS formation, leading to increased extreme precipitation in northern India.
Drumlin hills, shaped like upturned boats, are formed when sediment is streamlined 'islands' that are often bisected to form megaridges. The research suggests that drumlins and megaridges are part of a single family of landforms formed by erosion, with the data indicating they occur on hard rock.
A rare tropical depression has formed exactly between Baja California and Hawaii, with NASA detecting its formation using NOAA's GOES-West satellite. The system is moving westward at 14 mph and is expected to strengthen into a hurricane by Sunday, October 11.
The Global Precipitation Measurement (GPM) core satellite measured rainfall rates of up to 50 mm/h near the center of Tropical Depression 08E. The depression was forming over the Eastern Pacific Ocean when GPM flew overhead on July 27, 2015.
Tropical Depression 05W is a newly formed storm in the northwest Pacific Ocean with good circulation and strong convection around its center. The depression is expected to strengthen into a typhoon by April 7 as it moves through southern Micronesia towards the Philippines.
The new guidebook covers geologic terrain from eastern Pennsylvania to northeastern West Virginia, highlighting diverse landscapes and tectonic evolution. It also offers opportunities for readers to explore the complex geology of the southeastern and northeastern United States.
Scientists have discovered a previously unknown, massive impact basin named Rembrandt on Mercury's surface. The 700-kilometer-wide basin is younger than most other known impact basins and features unique tectonic landforms that formed after volcanic flows filled it.