Tag: Tectonics
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East African Rift study unveils why breaking up is hard for some continents
Overview: A new look at how continents fracture The East African Rift is more than a dramatic valley and a window into Africa’s geologic future. It has become a natural laboratory for scientists seeking to understand a long-standing question: why do some parts of Earth’s crust resist tearing apart, while others yield and separate? A…
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East African Rift Study Explains Why Continents Break
Introduction: A New Layer to an Old Puzzle In a groundbreaking collaboration, Tulane University researchers joined forces with an international team of scientists to revisit the forces that govern how continents split. Their findings challenge long-held assumptions about continental breakup by showing that certain patches of Earth’s crust stay unusually strong while adjacent regions yield…
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Deep Earthquake Aftermath: Why Deeper Crust Changes Persist Long After Shaking
New Insights into Post-Seismic Deformation When an earthquake rattles the ground, it often leaves a visible legacy of cracked roads and toppled buildings. But beneath the surface, the story continues. Geologists are increasingly focused on post-seismic deformation—the way the Earth’s crust gradually adjusts to the sudden redistribution of stress after a quake. Recent work from…
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How Furnace-Heat Stabilized Earth’s Continents: New Evidence Reveals a Heat-Powered Crust
Introduction: A Hidden Driver of Earth’s Stability For billions of years, Earth’s continents have stood as the resilient stage on which mountains, ecosystems, and civilizations unfold. A recent study by researchers from Penn State and Columbia University shines new light on why these landmasses have remained remarkably stable for so long. The key driver, according…
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Britain 3D MT Model Reveals Hidden Subsurface Geophysics
New 3D Electrical Map Sheds Light on Britain’s Deep Structure A milestone in terrestrial geophysics arrives with Montiel-Álvarez and colleagues’ first 3D electrical resistivity model of Britain. Built from long-period magnetotelluric (MT) data collected across the island, the model—named BERM-2024—provides a high-resolution view of how electrically conductive and resistive rocks are arranged beneath Britain’s surface.…
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Decoding Ancient Earthquakes with Quartz Clocks: The Sand Dikes Breakthrough
Unveiling the Past: Why Ancient Earthquakes Matter Paleoseismology—the study of prehistoric earthquakes—offers crucial insights where historical records are sparse or absent. By examining traces left in the ground, scientists can reconstruct when large earthquakes struck, how powerful they were, and how often such events might recur. This knowledge is essential for updating building codes, guiding…
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Extreme Red Sea Desiccation 6.2 Million Years Ago Revealed
Ancient Drying of the Red Sea: A Prehistoric Desert Reborn New research reveals an astonishing chapter in Earth’s history: about 6.2 million years ago, the Red Sea basin dried completely, turning a once liquid valley into a vast, salty desert. This extreme environmental event ended with a rapid reflood from the Indian Ocean, leaving a…
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Australia’s Northward Drift: Implications of Collision with Asia
The Slow Yet Powerful Northward Drift of Australia Australia, often seen as a stable landmass, is actually on the move. The continent drifts northward at approximately 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) each year. While this rate may seem insignificant initially, the long-term effects are far-reaching. Professor Zheng-Xiang Li, a geologist from Curtin University, emphasizes this dynamic…