Geobulletin alpha

New study complicates theory that ancient impact pierced Moon’s crust 

A new study finds the crater’s crust mainly consists of a common lunar crustal mineral not detected in earlier analyses. The new results suggest the basin floor may not have exposed lunar mantle material as previously reported. “We are not seeing the mantle materials at the (Chang’E 4) landing site as expected,” said Hao Zhang, a planetary scientist at the China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, China, and a co-author of the new study.  The post New study complicates theory that [...]

Researchers find new ways for coral reef ecosystems to grow 

Particulate organic matter from the open ocean has a bigger-than-expected role in the growth and health of coral reefs, say researchers studying declining coral reefs in Hawaii. The post Researchers find new ways for coral reef ecosystems to grow appeared first on GeoSpace.

Streaks in Aurora Found to Map Features in Earth’s Radiation Environment 

A special kind of streaked aurora has been found to track disturbances in near-Earth space from the ground. Known as structured diffuse aurora, it was recently discovered, with the help of NASA spacecraft and instruments, that these faint lights in the night sky can map the edges of the Van Allen radiation belts — hazardous concentric bands of charged particles encircling Earth. The post Streaks in Aurora Found to Map Features in Earth’s Radiation Environment appeared first on GeoSpace.

Scientists forecasted late May tornado outbreak nearly four weeks before it ripped through U.S. 

“This is the first documented successful long-range forecast for an extended period of tornado activity in the U.S.,” said lead author Victor Gensini, a professor of meteorology at Northern Illinois University. The post Scientists forecasted late May tornado outbreak nearly four weeks before it ripped through U.S. appeared first on GeoSpace.

Climate change is altering winter precipitation across the Northern Hemisphere 

A team of scientists has successfully teased out the influence of human-caused climate change on wintertime precipitation over much of the last century, showing that the warming climate is significantly altering wintertime rainfall and snowfall across the Northern Hemisphere. The post Climate change is altering winter precipitation across the Northern Hemisphere appeared first on GeoSpace.

More intense non-tropical storms causing increased rainfall in Southeast U.S. 

A new study in AGU’s journal Geophysical Research Letters examined the region’s precipitation records from 1895 to 2018. The new research found precipitation in the Southeast during the fall increased by almost 40 percent in the past century due to an increase in average daily rainfall rather than the overall number of storms. The post More intense non-tropical storms causing increased rainfall in Southeast U.S. appeared first on GeoSpace.

Moonquakes tumble boulders, build lunar scarps 

The Apollo Moon buggies weren't the only things rolling over the Moon's surface in the early 1970s. New research has found that a strong moonquake in 1975 probably sent boulders tumbling down crater walls on our nearest neighbor.  The post Moonquakes tumble boulders, build lunar scarps appeared first on GeoSpace.

New study traces Io’s volcanic tides 

Hundreds of volcanoes pockmark the surface of Io, the third largest of Jupiter’s 78 known moons, and the only body in our solar system other than Earth where widespread volcanism can be observed. A new study finds Io’s most powerful, persistent volcano, Loki Patera, brightens on a similar timescale to slight perturbations in Io’s orbit caused by Jupiter’s other moons, which repeat on an approximately 500-Earth-day cycle. The post New study traces Io’s volcanic tides appeared first on [...]

Geoengineering versus a volcano 

Major volcanic eruptions spew ash particles into the atmosphere, which reflect some of the Sun’s radiation back into space and cool the planet. But could this effect be intentionally recreated to fight climate change? A new paper in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters investigates. The post Geoengineering versus a volcano appeared first on GeoSpace.

Ancient Plankton Help Researchers Predict Near-Future Climate 

Temperature data inferred from plankton fossils from the Pliocene, an era with CO2 levels similar to today's, allowed a research team to rectify discrepancies between climate models and other proxy temperature measurements. The post Ancient Plankton Help Researchers Predict Near-Future Climate appeared first on GeoSpace.

Melting ice may change shape of Arctic river deltas 

Thawing ice cover and easily erodible permafrost may destabilize Arctic river deltas, according to new research. A new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters finds sea ice and permafrost both act to stabilize channels on Arctic river deltas. The post Melting ice may change shape of Arctic river deltas appeared first on GeoSpace.

Study Finds Increased Moisture Facilitated Decline in African Fires in Africa 

The amount of area burned across Africa declined by 18.5 percent between 2002 and 2016, according to a new study. The post Study Finds Increased Moisture Facilitated Decline in African Fires in Africa appeared first on GeoSpace.

Climate change is transforming northernmost Arctic landscapes 

Isachsen, a permafrost monitoring site that sits at a latitude of 78 degrees north on the Arctic Canadian island of Ellef Ringnes, seemed like the last place that would feel the effects of climate change. The post Climate change is transforming northernmost Arctic landscapes appeared first on GeoSpace.

Ice-squeezed aquifers might create marsquakes 

As the Mars InSight lander begins listening to the interior of Mars, some scientists are already proposing that some marsquakes could be signals of groundwater beneath the frozen surface of the Red Planet. The idea, proposed by Michael Manga, a planetary scientist at the University of California at Berkeley, and his colleagues, is that Mars could be experiencing quakes a lot like those being felt in Oklahoma and Texas due to wastewater injections from fracking.  The post Ice-squeezed [...]

Northern lights’ social networking reveals true scale of magnetic storms 

Magnetic disturbances caused by phenomena like the northern lights can be tracked by a ‘social network’ of ground-based instruments, according to a new study from the University of Warwick. The post Northern lights’ social networking reveals true scale of magnetic storms appeared first on GeoSpace.

Climate change may shift timing of summer thunderstorms 

Climate change could affect the regularity of summer afternoon thunderstorms in some parts of the world, according to new research. A new study in the AGU journal Geophysical Research Letters modeled weather patterns in western Germany, northern France and parts of Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg, under climate change. The post Climate change may shift timing of summer thunderstorms appeared first on GeoSpace.

Patagonia ice sheets thicker than previously thought, study finds 

After conducting a comprehensive, seven-year survey of Patagonia, glaciologists have concluded that the ice sheets in this vast region of South America are considerably more massive than expected. The post Patagonia ice sheets thicker than previously thought, study finds appeared first on GeoSpace.

Aftershocks of 1959 earthquake rocked Yellowstone in 2017-18 

Aftershocks from large earthquakes can take their time coming -- almost six decades in the case of Yellowstone's deadly Hebgen Lake earthquake of 1959. The post Aftershocks of 1959 earthquake rocked Yellowstone in 2017-18 appeared first on GeoSpace.

Domino Droughts 

New research finds one drought can amplify or cause another. Decreased moisture recycling and transport impacts how droughts form and move across continents. The post Domino Droughts appeared first on GeoSpace.

Study: U.S. methane emissions flat since 2006 despite increased oil and gas activity 

Natural gas production in the United States has increased 46 percent since 2006, but there has been no significant increase of total US methane emissions and only a modest increase from oil and gas activity, according to a new NOAA study. The post Study: U.S. methane emissions flat since 2006 despite increased oil and gas activity appeared first on GeoSpace.