It wasn’t a dinosaur killer, because it happened just before they appeared. But the idea is the same*. An asteroid about 4 kilometers wide – nearly half the diameter of the Chixulub impactor – slammed into Earth at 70,000 kilometers per hour. The fantastic kinetic energy of the asteroid’s motion …
Read More »Scientists use satellites to observe the Earth
Interior structure of the Earth. Getty By combining data on gravity, chemistry and how seismic waves are reflected and scattered deep within the Earth, an international group of scientists affiliated with the European Space Agency (ESA) have created a model of Earth’s lithosphere , showing how cold and hot rock …
Read More »High definition subsurface imaging with cosmic ray muons
Voice of editors is a blog from the AGU Publications Department. Many structures, processes, and movements of geophysical materials are hidden in plain sight, so imaging them can be difficult for scientists. A new technique, muography, allows scientists to visualize the internal composition of solid geological structures at high resolution. …
Read More »The attraction of the Sun and the Moon could move the tectonic plates
What causes lava to spurt from volcanoes in plumes of liquid fire or cause the ground to shake as if the world were ending? Tectonic plates. What causes plate tectonics? Not so fast. Until now, the answer was thought to be unrest in the Earth’s mantle. Under intense heat and …
Read More »New research links continents to key transitions in Earth’s oceans, atmosphere and climate
Mountain peaks, glaciers and prayer flags near the Kunzum La Pass, a high mountain pass connecting the Lahaul and Spiti valleys in the Indian Himalayas. Credit: Timothy Paulsen, UW Oshkosh A new study by University of Wisconsin Oshkosh geologist Timothy Paulsen and Michigan Tech geologist Chad Deering advances understanding of …
Read More »A geoscience expert to study why continents split where magma is lacking
D. Sarah Stamps. Credit: Mike Lee The Earth’s surface keeps moving and changing shape, disintegrating and forming new land masses and oceans. In the billions of years of planet Earth’s history, there have been 10 supercontinents, the most famous and recent being Pangea which shattered around 175 million years ago. …
Read More »Study reveals more hostile conditions on Earth as life evolves
Graph showing how UV radiation on Earth has changed over the past 2.4 billion years. Credit: Please credit: Gregory Cooke / Royal Society Open Science For long parts of the past 2.4 billion years, Earth may have been more inhospitable to life than scientists previously thought, according to new computer …
Read More »When two plates slide on top of each other
Through Robert Hazen, Ph.D., George Mason University Tectonic plates are large chunks of the lithosphere – about 50 or 100 kilometers thick, but thousands of kilometers in diameter – and lithospheric plates are displaced when they straddle the asthenosphere, which is mobile and moving. Transformation boundaries are a kind of …
Read More »Land conservation is essential to protect the planet
Land conservation is extremely important for the well-being of the Earth and all species that inhabit it, including humanity. The entire biosphere, or all life on earth, depends on the connections and functions of the world’s ecosystems. As the health of ecosystems declines, the health of communities, states, nations, and …
Read More »Anxiety as earthquakes persist in Abuja, Saki and others | The Guardian Nigeria News
• Researchers predict 40% probability of a 7.1 magnitude earthquake in Nigeria by 2028, seek to better understand active regional tectonics Episodes of earthquakes in and around Abuja, Niger, Kaduna, Kwara, Saki in Oyo and Ile Ife in Osun have left telltale signs of a reappearance. The Guardian reliably gathered …
Read More »What is geomicrobiology?
Geomicrobiology is the study of the role of microbes in the geological and geochemical processes that shaped the earth and continue to function today. Microbes play a vital role in the recycling, generation, sequestration and elimination of a wide variety of substances and chemicals in the environment Going through biogeochemical …
Read More »Unprecedented mineral found in diamond mined from the depths of the Earth’s mantle
In a major discovery, mineralogists identified an unprecedented mineral in a diamond unearthed from a mine in Botswana, Africa. Small black specks seen in diamond excavated from deep in the lithosphere, about 410 miles (660 km) below the earth’s surface, shed light on the planet’s unexplored secrets that remain hidden …
Read More »The Hawaii earthquake is probably related to the bending of tectonic plates
On October 10, 2021, a magnitude 6.2 earthquake near the south coast of the Big Island rocked residents and visitors to the state of Hawaii. Through Liliane ML Burkhard, Lauren A. Ward, Helen A. Janiszewski, Ph.D., and Bridget R. Smith-Konter, Ph.D., University of Hawaii at Mānoa, and Jonathan R. Weiss, …
Read More »Define the boundary between the Earth’s atmosphere and space
Welcome to Thomas Insights – every day we post the latest news and analysis to keep our readers up to date with what’s happening in the industry. Sign up here to receive the best stories of the day straight to your inbox. Recently, the space seems to have become much …
Read More »Hot coal and photosynthesis – one answer – the Island
I wish GADS had stuck to its hesitation, without displaying its ignorance of basic chemistry and global gas cycles to defend its precious fossil fuels. Let me clarify: Carbon (C), the fourth most abundant element in the Universe, after hydrogen (H), helium (He) and oxygen (O), is the cornerstone of …
Read More »Tracy Frank studies Earth’s climate through ancient rocks, with an eye to the future
This semester, Tracy Frank, geologist and geochemist, became the second department head of the Department of Geosciences since its founding two years ago. Previously, the department was a research institute bringing together researchers from across the University. After traveling to various climates such as Antarctica and Australia, and working as …
Read More »Melting polar ice caps move Earth from within, triggering movement
As the leaders of the free world gather in Glasgow, Scotland this month, they will have a great challenge to ensure the survival of the planet as global warming and climate change trigger extreme events across the world. One of these events is observed at the top and bottom of …
Read More »How far has it come? Study seeks to settle debate over oxygen in Earth’s early atmosphere
Artist’s representation of what the Earth might have looked like in Archean times, 4 to 2.5 billion years ago. Credit: Peter Sawyer / Smithsonian Institution Scientists have long debated the amount of molecular oxygen in Earth’s early atmosphere. About 2.4 billion years ago, there was an increase in oxygen that …
Read More »A visual and scientific history of water from
image: Water cover seen Following Credit: MIT PRESS Water is so pervasive in our lives that it’s easy to take it for granted. The average American uses ninety gallons of water a day; almost all the liquids we come across are primarily water – milk, for example, contains 87 percent …
Read More »March? This is old news. Welcome to the decade of Venus
When it comes to exploring the solar system, the last few decades have undeniably been focused on visiting Mars. From sending rovers to its surface to making plans for possible crewed missions, the Red Planet holds an important place in our understanding of planetary science. But what about our other …
Read More »Earth is still evolving, this is what it might look like in the future
The Earth has evolved over millions of years with tectonic plates changing the face of the planet from time to time. Shattering the Pangea supercontinent, these tectonic plates organized the Earth’s surface into seven continents and five oceans. Scientists say these tectonic plates are not yet complete and the Earth …
Read More »Volcanic eruptions may have created the first breaths of oxygen in the atmosphere
A new study that analyzed Australian rocks 2.5 billion years old suggests that volcanic eruptions may have spurred population surges of marine microorganisms. This creates the first breaths of oxygen in the atmosphere. This study could potentially change existing theories about Earth’s early atmosphere. Earth’s atmosphere became oxygenated about 2.4 …
Read More »Deepest diamonds on Earth are made up of ancient organisms, study finds
The deepest and most wanted diamonds on Earth are made up of ancient living organisms, according to a new study. Ultra-rare “ultra-deep continental diamonds” have isotope levels of carbon that suggest they are formed from organic matter, Australian researchers reveal. These ultra-deep diamonds, which adorn the crown jewels, form more …
Read More »Some rare diamonds form from the remains of once-living creatures, new study finds
Despite humanity’s intense fascination with glittering chunks of carbon, it seems there is still a lot to learn about how diamonds form deep within our planet. New research has discovered that two different types of rare diamonds share a common origin story – the recycling of organisms once living more …
Read More »U scientists on the IPCC climate report 2021
Last week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released its sixth report on the current state of the climate. One of the main findings states that “it is unequivocal that human influence has warmed the atmosphere, ocean and land. Widespread and rapid changes in the atmosphere, ocean, cryosphere and …
Read More »Deep diamonds have a surprising organic composition
While most diamonds form under continents, at depths between 150 and 300 kilometers, a document published in Scientific reports has shown that two rarer types of diamonds – those found in oceanic rocks and those that form more than 300 kilometers below the continental crust – have a common and …
Read More »Long named Alexander ’65 professor of Earth and planetary sciences
Maureen Long Maureen Long, an expert in deep Earth structure and dynamics, has been appointed Bruce D. Alexander ’65 Professor of Earth and Planetary Sciences, effective immediately. She is a member of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences. Long is an observational …
Read More »What is a pyrocumulus? Forest fires form “clouds of fire” which represent a danger below
Smoke and heat from a massive wildfire in southeastern Oregon creates giant “clouds of fire” above the blaze – dangerous columns of smoke and ash that can reach up to 10 km in the sky and are visible from over 100 km. Authorities have placed these clouds at the top …
Read More »Venus’s cracked surface behaves like sea ice
The Magellan spacecraft captured this radar view of Venus, showing the largest dark red tectonic block in the center, which is roughly the size of Alaska. The lighter colors around the block are warps and ridges. Image via NASA-JPL / Paul Byrne / NCSU. Cracked surface of Venus Venus is …
Read More »Declining insect populations are yet another invitation to disaster – The Connecticut Examiner
At the beginning of the 20e century, when asked if anything about “God” could be concluded by studying natural history, the great scientific mathematician JBS Haldane replied “he has an inordinate fondness for beetles.” At present, over 380,000 species of beetles listed in the order Coleoptera make them the largest …
Read More »Ask the expert: Are Michigan’s landforms at risk of eroding? | MSU Today
“Ask the Expert” articles provide information and ideas from MSU scientists, researchers and academics on national and global issues, complex research and topics of general interest according to their areas of expertise. and academic study. They can present historical information, background, research results or offer advice. In May, the Arch …
Read More »Mooney Goes Wild Monday June 28, 2021
Derek Mooney and his guests explore the natural world in all its forms. Malar scratches Derek, Richard and Niall discuss why hawks and other animals seem to wear “eye makeup”. The distinctive markings known as the malar stripes are believed to enhance the hunting ability of predators such as hawks …
Read More »Tectonic movements over Venus suggest hell planet may still be geologically alive | The Weather Channel – Articles de The Weather Channel
This image is a composite of data from NASA’s Magellan spacecraft and Pioneer Venus Orbiter. (NASA / JPL-Caltech) Venus, the “lost habitable” world of our solar system, is now considered a dead planet surrounded by a highly toxic environment. But in 2020, Venus hit the headlines after the detection of …
Read More »“Ice floe” tectonics reveal the geological secrets of Venus – sciencedaily
A new analysis of the surface of Venus shows signs of tectonic movement in the form of crustal blocks that have jostled against each other like shattered pieces of ice floe. The movement of these blocks could indicate that Venus is still geologically active, and give scientists insight into both …
Read More »“Ice floe” tectonics reveal the geological secrets of Venus
A new analysis of the surface of Venus shows signs of tectonic movement in the form of crustal blocks that have jostled against each other like shattered pieces of ice floe. The movement of these blocks could indicate that Venus is still geologically active, and give scientists insight into both …
Read More »Atmospheric research: the CAIRT satellite concept selected as a candidate for “Earth Explorer 11”
The GLORIA infrared spectrometer, successfully used on numerous aerial measurement campaigns, is a prototype of the CAIRT satellite instrument. Text (Photo: Laila Tkotz) Greenhouse gases and pollutants as well as natural causes such as volcanic eruptions impact the Earth’s atmosphere. Studying these processes in detail is the goal of the …
Read More »Protect the oceans, says the UN to the nations
THE UNITED NATIONS: UN Secretary-General António Guterres called on Tuesday (Wednesday in Manila) for efforts to protect the oceans. The recently released Second Global Oceans Assessment confirmed that many of the benefits the global ocean provides to humanity are being undermined by human actions, he said in a post for …
Read More »Pieces of oceanic crust are stuck in the earth’s mantle
In Geology 101, the interior of the Earth is divided into neat layers, like a sugar-coated puzzle. But it turns out that parts of the planet’s middle layer might look more like peanuts in a sea of caramel. Seismic data reveals that there may be chunks of oceanic crust stuck …
Read More »A moderate earthquake shakes the North Atlantic; No threat of tsunami
An earthquake hit the North Atlantic. Image: USGS USGS reports that a moderate earthquake struck under the North Atlantic Ocean; fortunately, there is no threat of a tsunami at this time of this earthquake along the east coast of the United States or in Europe. The 4.9 earthquake struck along …
Read More »Three moderate earthquakes hit the north of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; No threat of tsunami
Memorial Day started with 3 moderate earthquakes along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Image: USGS Three moderate earthquakes rocked the northern Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the central Atlantic Ocean early this morning. The first was a 5.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a 4.8 5 minutes later. The last one, a 4.7, hit 35 …
Read More »Magnitude 2.6 earthquake rocked parts of Southern California
According to the US Geological Survey, a magnitude 2.6 earthquake centered approximately east of Anaheim shook Orange County and other parts of southern California on Thursday May 27. Cali earthquake (Photo: Getty Images) At around 5:07 p.m., the earthquake struck. According to the USGS, the epicenter was about two and …
Read More »Joe’s Weather Blog: Flushing the Atmosphere with Storms (THU-5/27) | FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV
A stormy and mostly mild start to the morning in the area. Storms moved through the region with heavy rains locally… and moderate winds. Really no severe weather in storms which is more or less what I expected. Storms and rain will continue until mid-morning before things calm down and …
Read More »Dry metastable olivine and slab deformation in a wet sub-conduction slab
High Pressure Science and Technology Advanced Research Center As the plates carry water inside the Earth, the phase transitions of dry olivine, the main mineral in the plates, are believed to be responsible for deep-focusing earthquakes and deformation of the plates. This study resolves the contradiction of the presence of …
Read More »What is plate tectonics? | Tectonic plates
From the deepest ocean trench to the highest mountain, plate tectonics explains the characteristics and movement of the Earth’s surface in the present and the past. Developed from the 1950s to the 1970s, the theory of plate tectonics is the modern update of continental drift, an idea first proposed by …
Read More »Strong 5.0 Earthquake Rocks North of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
The 5.0 earthquake struck along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge a short time ago. Image: USGS A strong 5.0 earthquake rocked the northern ridge of the mid-Atlantic this evening; fortunately, it was not strong enough to create a tsunami in the Atlantic Ocean. According to the USGS, the earthquake struck at 9:01 …
Read More »Melting glaciers have shifted the Earth’s axis
Melting glaciers have shifted the Earth’s axis In the 1990s, the Earth’s axis underwent a major change. It is normal for the Earth’s axis to move a few centimeters each year. But, in the 1990s, the direction of the polar drift suddenly changed and the pace of the drift accelerated. …
Read More »Biblical find: “Marine fossils” found at the top of Mount Everest “could be evidence of a flood” | Weird | New
Noah’s Ark: Ship Remains FOUND on Mount Ararat The account of the Flood is found in chapters 6 through 9 of the book of Genesis and the story tells of God’s decision to return the Earth to its pre-creation state of aquatic chaos. It is said that Noah and his …
Read More »Simple atmospheric dynamics herald a dangerously hot future for the tropics
Extreme heat is one of the most worrying and potentially deadly effects of climate change, especially for rapidly growing and urbanizing populations living in the tropics. Yet climate models tend to be unclear when projecting rising temperatures on a regional scale and often overlook the extent to which heat poses …
Read More »Planet Earth – WorldAtlas
The Earth is a celestial object and one of the components of the solar system. It is the third planet from the Sun, and the only celestial object capable of supporting life. Earth is the 6th largest object in the solar system, with an average radius of 6,371 kilometers, and …
Read More »How a German engineer pioneered aerial photography
German engineer Alfred Maul received his patent entitled “Rocket Camera for Taking Pictures” on April 19, 1904. Although Maul did not gain much from these ideas, he was surely at the forefront of photography. Aerial. Join ASGanesh as he tells you more about Maul and his attempts to click pictures …
Read More »5.1 Quake Rattles Atlantic; No threat of tsunami
The strong earthquake was located near the equator in the Atlantic Ocean. Image: USGS A magnitude 5.1 earthquake struck a few moments ago under the central Atlantic Ocean; fortunately, there is no threat of a tsunami. The strong earthquake took place at an epicenter about 6 miles deep, located at …
Read More »They discover a mighty “river of stones” under the Caribbean Sea
Ursula Pamela Garcia Juan José Felina 2 minutes ago 4 minutes Geologists have discovered that tectonic plates move through a warmer, softer substrate called the hydrosphere. Credit: UH. Geologists have long believed that tectonic plates move because they are pulled down due to their weight, and that a warmer, softer …
Read More »The four spheres of the earth
The earth can be divided into one of the four main subsystems, namely: earth, water, air and all living things. These categories are called spheres and are the lithosphere, hydrosphere, atmosphere and biosphere, respectively. The first three of these spheres are abiotic, meaning that they are not living things, while …
Read More »They discover a powerful “river of stones” under the Caribbean Sea
Ursula Pamela Garcia 1 hour ago 4 minutes Geologists have found that plate tectonics move through a warmer, softer substrate called the hydrosphere. Credit: UH. Geologists have long believed that tectonic plates move because they are pulled down due to their weight and that a softer, warmer substrate is called …
Read More »Gravity Explorer mission still unearths secrets hidden on our planet
The new model produced in ESA’s 3D Earth study shows for the first time how different the sub-lithospheric mantle is under different oceans, and provides insight into how the morphology and rates of ridge propagation Mid-ocean can be related to the deep chemical and thermal structure. Credit: ESA / Planetary …
Read More »Aging satellite reveals Earth’s inner structure
The European Space Agency’s GOCE mission ended more than seven years ago, but scientists are still discovering substantial discoveries from gravity data from the retired satellite – allowing us to dive deep into the interior of the Earth and learn what makes him tick. Scientists have combined GOCE data with …
Read More »What subduction teaches about smart design
Photo credit: USGS via Unsplash. My doctoral research focused on the tectonic history of early plates on Earth. Plate tectonics involves the movement of plates on the earth’s surface. It is believed to be driven by subduction, where one plate plunges into the mantle under another plate. Typically, this involves …
Read More »Mark Torres wins the Clarke Prize from the Geochemical Society
PICTURE: Mark Torres with water samples taken from the Icelandic river Efri Haukadalsá in 2016. see After Credit: Photo by Woodward Fisher HOUSTON – (February 12, 2021) – Rice University’s Mark Torres has won the Geochemical Society’s highest honor for early career scientists, the FW Clarke Award, becoming the fourth …
Read More »New video shows the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates over the past billions of years
An international team of geoscientists created the first continuous full-plate model with evolving plate boundaries stretching from a billion years ago to the present day. Plate tectonics is a unifying theory of modern geology, explicitly linking evolution and the processes that link the Earth’s mantle, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere. Tectonic …
Read More »What is the hydrosphere and where is it?
Our Earth is truly a “Water World”. What is the hydrosphere? According to the definition as used in physical geography, the hydrosphere is the collective mass of water found on, above, and below the Earth’s surface. It includes both the world’s marine and freshwater resources and encompasses oceans, rivers, lakes, …
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