All posts tagged: earth science

Iran’s Folded Rocks Reveal Ancient Tectonic Power at Asia-Europe Boundary

Iran’s Folded Rocks Reveal Ancient Tectonic Power at Asia-Europe Boundary

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The deformed rocks of Iran are formed due to strong mountain ridges and valleys in the Greater Caucasus mountain range, southwest of the Caspian Sea. Between 10 million and 50 million years ago, its growth was marked by sedimentary layers crushed during the first impact between the Arabian and Eurasian tectonic plates. The vividly coloured rocks produced by the sedimentary layers gathered over millennia range in tone from terracotta to greenish to bluish. Using satellite pictures, NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Earth Observatory have shown how the landscape tended to cluster over time. One image depicts the different strata layers, vegetation, and the Zanjan-Tabriz freeway linking Tehran and Poznan. Interestingly, another image is of the Qezel Ozan River, which provides agricultural water in the region. The region is still converging, and fresh research suggests that a slab of oceanic crust is being shredded beneath Iraq and Iran. Iran’s Folded Rocks Expose Arabia-Eurasia Tectonic Collision According to reported NASA experts, a tectonic clash between the continents — known as Eurasia and Arabia — crunched these vividly hued strata of …

Farallon Slab Beneath Midwest Pulls Crust Downward, Causing Widespread Thinning

Farallon Slab Beneath Midwest Pulls Crust Downward, Causing Widespread Thinning

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An underground structure beneath central United States has been observed dragging surface materials deep into the Earth. This movement has been linked to an old piece of crust lodged far below the Midwest. Researchers have said this action is pulling rocks from across the continent towards a funnel-shaped region. It is believed this process is causing parts of the crust to thin as material is drawn downward. This phenomenon has been found to affect areas beyond the immediate region. Underground slab tied to crust loss beneath Midwest According to the study published in Nature Geoscience, the phenomenon has been tied to the remains of a long-subducted tectonic plate known as the Farallon slab. This slab, which sits around 660 kilometres below the surface, was identified as the driving force behind what scientists refer to as cratonic thinning. Cratons are known to be the stable core regions of continental crust and upper mantle that usually do not undergo change. The seismic mapping project was led by Junlin Hua during his postdoctoral work at The University of …

NISAR Satellite by NASA and ISRO to Monitor Earth Like Never Before

NISAR Satellite by NASA and ISRO to Monitor Earth Like Never Before

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A collaboration between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has resulted in the NISAR (NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar) satellite, which is set to launch in a few months. This mission, designed to track and monitor Earth’s dynamic surface, will use synthetic aperture radar technology to measure changes in land and ice formations. Capable of delivering precise data down to centimetre-level accuracy, NISAR will contribute significantly to understanding natural disasters, ice-sheet movements, and global vegetation shifts. Unique Dual-Band Technology According to an official press release by NASA, NISAR is equipped with two radar systems: the L-band with a wavelength of 25 centimetres and the S-band with a 10-centimetre wavelength. This dual-band configuration enables detailed observations of various features, from small surface elements to larger structures. These advanced radars will collect data frequently, covering nearly all land and ice surfaces to provide a comprehensive view of Earth’s transformations. Technology and Data Applications As per reports, synthetic aperture radar technology, first utilised by NASA in the 1970s, has been refined for this mission. The data from …

Himalayas Mountain Range Formation Could Have Destroyed 30 Percent of Continental Crust, Says Study

Himalayas Mountain Range Formation Could Have Destroyed 30 Percent of Continental Crust, Says Study

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In a study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, researchers have quantified the significant loss of continental crust to the mantle during the formation of major mountain ranges, including the Himalaya-Tibetan Plateau. Dr. Ziyi Zhu, a Research Fellow at Monash University, along with colleagues, conducted an analysis of crustal dynamics, revealing that up to 30% of the crust may have been destroyed in collision zones, with implications for Earth’s geological evolution. The findings were compared with other mountain systems such as the European Alps and the Zagros Mountains. Massive Crustal Loss During Collisions According to the study, the team developed a mass and volume balance model to measure the amount of continental crust that underwent subduction or delamination during collisions. By assessing the crust’s thickening, lateral extrusion, and erosion, an imbalance was identified, suggesting that a substantial portion of the crust had sunk into the mantle. Dr. Zhu told Phys.org that this process could be likened to compressing a soft material, where displaced portions disappear beneath the surface rather than being conserved at ground …

NASA Partners with Microsoft For Earth Copilot AI to Simplify Access to Complex Earth Data

NASA Partners with Microsoft For Earth Copilot AI to Simplify Access to Complex Earth Data

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A new artificial intelligence (AI) tool, Earth Copilot, has been introduced by NASA in collaboration with Microsoft to make Earth-related scientific data more accessible. Designed to summarise NASA’s extensive geospatial information, the AI-powered chatbot aims to simplify complex datasets and answer user queries with ease. By addressing questions like the environmental impact of events or changes in air quality, the tool seeks to bridge the gap between NASA’s vast database and users who may lack technical expertise. Democratising Earth Science Data The initiative is part of NASA’s effort to expand access to its data. According to Tyler Bryson, Corporate Vice President for Health and Public Sector Industries at Microsoft, many users struggle to utilise NASA’s database due to its technical nature. Extracting insights often requires specialised knowledge of geospatial analysis and data formats. By integrating AI into NASA’s data repository, Earth Copilot reduces the time needed to derive insights from scientific information, making the data more accessible in seconds. Testing and Integration Currently, Earth Copilot is in a testing phase, with NASA scientists and researchers …