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Solid Earth sciences encompass the study of the crust, mantle and core of the Earth and other rocky planetary bodies. Earth sciences include petrology, mineralogy, seismology, core studies, mantle dynamics, tectonics, volcanology, metamorphism, sedimentology, geomagnetism, palaeomagnetism, hydrogeology, and geomorphology. Sedimentary rocks are also used to study palaeontology and palaeoclimate.
Artificial daylight lacks commercial interest, and a geologist’s thirst for knowledge kickstarts the bid for the Channel Tunnel, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.
High-resolution numerical simulations show that subduction of the Indian plate peeled off the mantle lithosphere from the Tibetan Plateau. This process successfully explains first-order observations of the stepwise growth of the plateau, the migration of magmatism in the region and its seismic properties.
The fate of water carried by subducted slabs to the deep Earth remains unclear. Experiments suggest that water is unlikely to escape the slabs when they reach the core–mantle boundary despite high pressures and temperatures.
A compositional change in lavas from the Futuna trough at 2.5 Ma suggest a change in mantle source, attributed to slab rollback and the opening of the back-arc basin.
The fO2 of arc primary magma is latitude dependent with less oxidized magma at low latitudes, which may be related to distribution of ocean primary production resulting in more organic carbon and sulfide in the subducted sediments at low latitudes.
Magnetic and electron microscopy observations of marine core sediments from Virginia USA reveal giant and conventional magnetofossils immediately above and below Oceanic Anoxic Event 2, which may indicate a connection with dramatic changes in marine conditions.
Analysis of multi-decadal groundwater level data shows 68% of wells in southwestern Europe are stable, 20% rising, and only 12% declining, and suggests improved management and increased precipitation aid recovery, while agricultural and urban pressures drive decline.
The switch to a low-carbon economy is heavily reliant on mining, geothermal energy and geological storage. Subsurface geoscientists are critically needed to responsibly source, manage and refine these operations while minimizing environmental and social impacts.
Artificial daylight lacks commercial interest, and a geologist’s thirst for knowledge kickstarts the bid for the Channel Tunnel, in our weekly dip into Nature’s archive.
High-resolution numerical simulations show that subduction of the Indian plate peeled off the mantle lithosphere from the Tibetan Plateau. This process successfully explains first-order observations of the stepwise growth of the plateau, the migration of magmatism in the region and its seismic properties.