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☆ ‘Magic islands’ mystery on Saturn’s moon Titan may be solved
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —The disappearing “magic islands” on Saturn’s largest moon Titan have intrigued scientists since NASA’s Cassini mission spotted them during flybys a decade ago. Titan, larger than both our moon and the planet Mercury, is the only moon in our solar system with a thick atmosphere. The sea is 50% larger than Lake Superior and is made up of liquid methane, ethane and nitrogen. An artist's illustration shows a lake at the north pole of Saturn's moon Titan, including raised rims spied by Cassini. Liquid methane slowly seeps into the frozen clumps, eventually causing them to disappear from view.

Persons: NASA’s, Cassini, Xinting Yu, ”, Yu, Stéphane Le Mouélic, Virginia Pasek, ” Yu, “ Organizations: CNN, NASA, Titan, JPL, Caltech, University of Texas, Research, Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory Locations: Ligeia Mare, Superior, San Antonio, Virginia

☆ Modern US earthquakes could be century-old aftershocks, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-04 | by ( Allison Chinchar | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Earthquakes vs. aftershocksThe modern seismic activity the researchers studied is likely a mixture of aftershocks from the big quakes from the 1800s and background seismicity, Chen said. “Are small earthquakes in the New Madrid seismic zone aftershocks of 1811-1812 or not?” Hough said in an email. “The new study considers the question from a different angle, considering how tightly clustered earthquakes are, and concluding that some of the events are ongoing aftershocks,” Hough said. Aftershocks might still be continuing, but once the normal seismic rate for the area returns, she said, you can no longer identify them as aftershocks. “For this reason, we seismologists sometimes disagree about which earthquakes are foreshocks or aftershocks,” Ebel said, “and I think those disagreements are inherently unresolvable.”

Persons: —, ”, Yuxuan Chen, geoscientist, Chen, “, Susan Hough, Hough, ” Hough, “ We’ve, . Fuller, Morgan Page, John Ebel, Ebel, John Karl Hillers, ” Ebel Organizations: CNN, Missouri -, of Geophysical Research, Wuhan University, Earthquakes, US Geological Survey, Survey, . Geological, USGS Earthquake Science, Boston College, . Geological Survey, San Locations: States, Missouri, Missouri - Kentucky, Charleston , South Carolina, Madrid, Memphis, Mississippi, Charleston, North America, China, New Madrid, Chickasaw, Reelfoot Lake , Tennessee, Boston, California, Eastern North America, Southern California, Northern California, San Andreas, Central

☆ Scientists surprised by source of largest quake detected on Mars
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-18 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

"We concluded that the largest marsquake seen by InSight was tectonic, not an impact. "Most of the marsquakes we've detected thus far have been associated with a region called Cerberus Fossae, located eastward of InSight. The energy it released surpassed the cumulative energy from all the other marsquakes InSight recorded. With future human missions to Mars in mind, a greater understanding of Martian seismic activity is pertinent. Charalambous said the location of the majority of the marsquakes detected by InSight remained uncertain, with a poor understanding of the mechanisms that triggered them.

Persons: Ben Fernando, Constantinos Charalambous, Fernando, Charalambous, Will Dunham, Daniel Wallis Organizations: NASA Hubble, NASA, Handout, Reuters, Rights, University of Oxford, Research, Imperial College London, United Arab, Thomson Locations: England, InSight's, U.S, United Arab Emirates

☆ Mysterious flashes of light on Venus aren't what scientists thought, according to a new study. And it could mean safer missions to the planet in the future.
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Sonam Sheth | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

For years, scientists have observed flashes of light on Venus and thought they were lightning. That's good news for future missions to Venus since lightning would pose a threat to spacecraft. One reason the researchers don't think it's lightning is because of Venus' radio silence. AdvertisementAdvertisementThat's good news for future missions to Venus; if the flashes were lightning, it could pose a threat to probes entering the planet's atmosphere, according to NASA. AdvertisementAdvertisementNASA plans to send the DAVINCI probe to study Venus' clouds and geology in 2031 and hopefully retrieve other data when its atmospheric descent probe makes contact with the surface.

Persons: Venus Organizations: Service, NASA, of Geophysical Research, Cassini, Parker Solar Probe, Arizona State University, Steward, Venus Locations: Wall, Silicon, Soviet

☆ Small moonquakes caused by Apollo lunar lander module, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jackie Wattles | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A spacecraft left behind by US astronauts on the lunar surface could be causing small tremors known as moonquakes, according to a new study. The lunar surface is an extreme environment, oscillating between minus 208 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 133 degrees Celsius) in the dark and 250 degrees Fahrenheit (121 degrees Celsius) in direct sun, according to a news release about the study. Marusiak was not directly involved in the study, though she did have contact with the authors as a fellow expert in lunar seismology. “Every lunar morning when the sun hits the lander, it starts popping off,” said study coauthor Allen Husker, a research professor of geophysics at Caltech, in a statement. It’s important to note a key difference between the moon and Earth: On the lunar surface, there are no shifting tectonic plates that might cause catastrophic events.

Persons: Francesco Civilini, Artemis, Dr, Angela Marusiak, Marusiak, moonquakes Marusiak, “, —, ”, Allen Husker, I’m, seismometers, ” Marusiak, ” Husker Organizations: CNN, of Geophysical Research, California Institute of Technology, NASA Goddard Space Flight, NASA, University of Arizona’s, Laboratory, Caltech, Indian Space Research Organization, ISRO Locations: California

☆ There is a ‘gravity hole’ in the Indian Ocean, and scientists now think they know why
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There is a “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — a spot where Earth’s gravitational pull is weaker, its mass is lower than normal, and the sea level dips by over 328 feet (100 meters). The “gravity hole” in the Indian Ocean — officially called the Indian Ocean geoid low — is the lowest point in that geoid and its biggest gravitational anomaly, forming a circular depression that starts just off India’s southern tip and covers about 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers). In six of the scenarios, a geoid low similar to the one in the Indian Ocean formed. The future of the geoid lowThe geoid low formed around 20 million years ago, according to the team’s calculation. Past research only simulated the descent of cold material across the mantle, rather than including hot rising mantle plumes as well.

Persons: ”, Attreyee Ghosh, Ghosh, Felix Andries Vening Meinesz, hasn’t, ” Ghosh, ” Huw Davies, ” Davies, Alessandro Forte, Forte Organizations: CNN, Indian Institute of Science, Research, Earth Sciences, of Earth, Environmental Sciences, Cardiff University, University of Florida Locations: Bengaluru, India, Dutch, Asia, Gainesville, Réunion, Africa, Eurasia

☆ Humans have pumped so much groundwater from the Earth that it's actually caused the planet's axis to shift, a new study found
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Carla Delgado | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The reason is that we're moving all that water mass from under the continents to the oceans. How groundwater depletion affects Earth's rotational poleThe Earth's rotational pole normally changes and wanders by about several meters each year. To put it simply, groundwater depletion contributes to sea level rise because water is being transferred from the continents to the oceans. The recent study found that groundwater depletion caused a 6.24-millimeter rise in global sea level from 1993 to 2010. This is significant because each millimeter rise in sea level is said to make the shoreline retreat an average of 1.5 meters.

Persons: Weon Seo Organizations: Service, Northern, Research, Department of Earth Science, Seoul National University Locations: Northern Hemisphere

☆ There's an enormous gravity hole in the middle of the Indian Ocean. Scientists say they've finally worked out what's causing it.
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Marianne Guenot | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

There's a gravity hole in the Indian Ocean, where ocean levels are about 300 feet lower than surrounding areas. The gravity hole may have been caused by an ancient ocean bed that sank millions of years ago. But a new study suggests researchers should have been looking around, not under, the gravity hole to solve the mystery of how it formed. The blue dot over the Indian Ocean is a gravity 'hole' that has scientists baffled. But scientists have struggled to explain the gravity hole in the Indian Ocean, known as the Indian Ocean geoid low.

Persons: Attreyee Ghosh, Debanjan Pal, Steinberger, Himangshu Paul Organizations: Service, ESA, Research, of Geosciences, NASA, Goddard Space, Indian Institute of Science, National Geophysical Research Institute, New Locations: Bangalore, Africa, Australia, India, Eastern Africa

☆ Bad news for nervous flyers: Turbulence is getting worse as the planet warms
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

In addition, moderate turbulence jumped from 70.0 to 96.1 hours, while light turbulence hit 546.8 hours, up from 466.5. "[This] doesn't necessarily mean planes are encountering turbulence, clear air turbulence, 55% more often because, of course, planes try and avoid it and they've been getting very good at avoiding it," he said. "Although the radar on the flight deck can't see … clear air turbulence, there's a related technology called LIDAR that stands for light detection and ranging," Williams said. "By using that different wavelength of light, we can see invisible clear air turbulence ahead," he said. "Unfortunately it's very expensive and also comes in a big heavy box, which you don't want really to go on a plane to add weight onto the aircraft," Williams said.

Persons: Joe Giddens, Paul Williams, they've, Williams, Mark Prosser, Prosser, LIDAR, it's Organizations: Research, World Meteorological Organization, University of Reading, Atlantic, CAT, Aircraft, Istock, Getty, CNBC Locations: Northamptonshire, England, USA

☆ Humans pump so much groundwater that Earth’s axis has shifted, study finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Mindy Weisberger | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Humans’ unquenchable thirst for groundwater has sucked so much liquid from subsurface reserves that it’s affecting Earth’s tilt, according to a new study. That shift is even observable on Earth’s surface, as it contributes to global sea level rise, researchers reported in the study published June 15 in the journal Geophysical Research Letters. Seo and his colleagues had questions about long-term changes to the axis — specifically, how groundwater contributed to that phenomenon. Revealing groundwater extraction’s impactShifts in Earth’s axis are measured indirectly through radio telescope observations of immobile objects in space — quasars — using them as fixed points of reference. The redistribution of groundwater tilted Earth’s rotational axis east by more than 31 inches (78.7 centimeters) in just under two decades, according to the models.

Persons: ”, Ki, Weon Seo, Surendra Adhikari, Adhikari, Seo, ” Adhikari, “, ” Seo Organizations: CNN, Research, Seoul National University, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, NASA Locations: South Korea, North America, India

☆ Scientists identify polar cyclone swirling on mysterious Uranus
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/2] NASA scientists uses microwave observations to spot the first polar cyclone on Uranus, seen here as a light-colored dot to the right of center in each image of the planet, in this handout image released on May 25, 2023. But new observations from a telescope located in New Mexico are providing a fuller understanding of its atmosphere, including the detection of a polar cyclone whose center measures a quarter of Earth's diameter, swirling near its north pole. Scientists were able to gaze more deeply into the atmosphere of Uranus - a planet classified as an ice giant, like its planetary neighbor Neptune - than ever before. The research confirmed that polar cyclones are present on every body in our solar system with a substantial atmosphere - all the planets but Mercury and even Saturn's moon Titan. "The way they form is different from planet to planet," Akins added.

☆ Billionaire Richard Branson defends space travel, argues it can benefit planet
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( Anmar Frangoul | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Richard Branson on board Virgin Galactic's VSS Unity in July 2021. The billionaire believes the environmental costs of space travel are set to "come down even further." British billionaire Richard Branson believes space travel can be beneficial for the planet, arguing that trips like the one he undertook in 2021 open doors and cut red tape. During his interview with the BBC, Branson described space travel as being "incredibly important" for the Earth and made the case for it to continue. "Communication between people is being transformed because of space travel and satellites up there," he said.

☆ We're halfway to a tipping point that would trigger 6 feet of sea level rise from melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-29 | by ( Catherine Clifford | In Catclifford | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

An aerial view of meltwater lakes formed at the Russell Glacier front, part of the Greenland ice sheet in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland, on August 16, 2022. New research published this week in the journal Geophysical Research Letters found that carbon emissions are halfway to a tipping point after which 6 feet of sea level rise from the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet would be unstoppable. The further the Earth overshoots the first tipping point of 1,000 gigatons of carbon emissions, the faster the Greenland Ice Sheet will melt. If total emissions of carbon stay below the 1,000 gigatons of carbon emissions threshold, then the melting Greenland Ice Sheet would "only" contribute tens of centimeters to total sea level rise, he added. Avoiding carbon emissions is in any case much cheaper than the energy required to capture this carbon again," Höning told CNBC.

☆ How the Turkey earthquake caused thousands of aftershocks
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +11 min

10,000 tremors How Turkey has been rattled by aftershocks since the Feb. 6 earthquakeThousands of earthquakes struck southern Turkey in the weeks after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 6, killing more than 50,000 people in Turkey and northwest Syria. Chart shows about ten thousand earthquakes that have been recorded in southern Turkey since a 7.8 magnitude earthquake occurred on February 6. The Turkey quake also triggered a magnitude 7.5 earthquake that caused a separate rupture in the Earth’s surface, which in turn caused thousands of aftershocks. Domino effect Seismologists define aftershocks as temblors triggered by a large earthquake, close in time and location. Chart shows aftershocks that occurred in 24 hours after the 6.4 magnitude earthquake in southern Turkey within 30 kilometers around the city of Antakya.

☆ Why aluminum plants in the U.S. are far more polluting than some of their counterparts abroad
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Phil Mckenna | Inside Climate News | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +15 min

A plant worker uses a crane to lift a cask of molten aluminum a Century Aluminum Company plant in Hawesville, Ky. in 2017. Of the five remaining facilities, only the Century Aluminum Sebree plant in Robards, which employs 625 workers, and a smaller Alcoa plant in Massena, New York, run at full capacity. Phillip McKenna/NBC NewsSteinsen, of Century Aluminum, said the company has no plans to shut down its Sebree facility in Robards. In 2015, when the U.S. aluminum production was in steep decline, the EPA ended its industry partnership. In 2019, 7,510 metric tons of PFCs were emitted from global aluminum production, according to a study published last year in the Journal of Geophysical Research — Atmospheres.

☆ Aluminum plants in the U.S. are releasing tons of a highly potent greenhouse gas, unlike their counterparts abroad
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-06 | by ( Phil Mckenna | Inside Climate News | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

In written testimony submitted to the U.S. International Trade Commission in 2017, Century Aluminum executives said aluminum producers were being "decimated" by "unfair practices of Chinese aluminum producers." "The continued viability of the aluminum industry outside of China, and especially in the United States, is dependent upon a prompt and effective solution to China's overcapacity and overproduction." Steinsen, of Century Aluminum, said the company has no plans to shut down its Sebree facility in Robards. A spokesperson for the agency said, "EPA continues to track facility specific emissions from the aluminum industry through the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program." In 2019, 7,510 metric tons of PFCs were emitted from global aluminum production, according to a study published last year in the Journal of Geophysical Research — Atmospheres.

☆ Трети антарктических ледников предсказали нестабильность при потеплении климата на 4 °С
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-09 | by ( Mld Media Srl | Степанов Георгий | ) noi.md time to read: +2 min

Климатологи выяснили, что треть антарктических морских ледников могут стать нестабильными, если к концу XXI века средние температуры на Земле вырастут на 4 °С. Если морские льды исчезнут, то рост уровня моря резко ускорится", – рассказала Элла Гилберт, климатолог из Редингского университета (Великобритания) и один из авторов исследования. Первыми и главными его жертвами, как предполагают климатологи, станут Заполярье и горные ледники. Гилберт и ее коллеги выяснили, что в ближайшие годы этот процесс может затронуть более трети прибрежных и морских ледников Антарктики. Расчеты показали, что в последнем случае около 34% прибрежных ледовых щитов Антарктики станут нестабильными.

Persons: Элла Гилберт, Гилберт Organizations: Research, Редингский университет Locations: Земля, Мировой океан, Великобритания, Заполярье, Антарктика, Арктика, Ларсен, Антарктический полуостров, Эстония, Московская область, Шеклтона, Уилкинса

☆ NASA a detectat primele radiații X dinspre Uranus
▼ + stars: | 2021-04-06 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Sursa foto: NASANASA a detectat primele radiații X dinspre UranusPrimele radiații X emise de Uranus au fost înregistrate datorită Observatorului de raze X Chandra al NASA. A șaptea planetă din Sistemul Solar este considerată, alături de Neptun, unul dintre cei doi giganți de gheață. Există indicii că unele dintre razele X observate nu sunt pur și simplu împrăștiate de Soare, ci sunt produse de planetă. Inelele lui Saturn emit raze X, deci ar putea să se întâmple același lucru și cu cele ale lui Uranus. Astrofizicienii vor trebui să desfășoare mai multe observații pentru a înțelege de unde provin exact razele X de la Uranus.

Persons: Uranus, NASA, Neptun, Uranus . Organizations: NASA NASA, Geophysical Research, Physics, Saturn

☆ Какие катастрофические последствия принесет изменение климата
▼ + stars: | 2021-03-17 | by ( Mld Media Srl | ) noi.md time to read: +1 min

Жители Южной Азии уже периодически испытывают аномальную жару при нынешнем уровне потепления. И все же смертельный тепловой стресс станет обычным явлением в Южной Азии. Согласно данным, почти четверть населения мира проживает в Южной Азии. «Будущее Южной Азии выглядит мрачным, но худшего можно избежать, сдерживая глобальное потепление до минимума, — подчеркнул Моэтасим Ашфак, ученый-климатолог из Окриджской национальной лаборатории и автор нового исследования. Странам Южной Азии остается мало времени на адаптацию, объясняют ученые.

Persons: Моэтасим Ашфак Organizations: Research, Американский геофизический союз, Окриджская национальная лаборатория, Межправительственная группа экспертов Locations: Южная Азия, Страны Южная Азия

☆ Un semnal radio bizar a fost descoperit venind din direcția uneia dintre lunile planetei Jupiter
▼ + stars: | 2021-01-21 | by ( ) www.jurnal.md time to read: +2 min

Un semnal radio bizar a fost descoperit venind din direcția uneia dintre lunile planetei JupiterCercetătorii au făcut o descoperire bizară, care i-a uimit. Este pentru prima dată când este captat un semnal de acest tip, provenind din direcția satelitului planetei Jupiter. Acum s-a aflat că Juno a descoperit un semnal FM care provine de la unul dintre sateliții naturali ai gigantului gazos. Cum a fost receptat acest semnal FM în apropierea planetei JupiterSonda spațială, care a fost lansată în 2011, se afla în regiunea polară a lui Jupiter, deplasându-se cu o viteză de 180.000 km/oră, atunci când a identificat sursa radio. A receptat emisia radio timp de doar cinci secunde, dar a fost suficient pentru a confirma locul de proveniență.

Persons: Jupiter, Juno, Jupiter ., E.T ., Patrick Wiggins, Ganymede ., Galileo, Ganymede Organizations: NASA, Juno, Ganymede, Fox News . Locations: Utah, SUA

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