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Geoscience

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Sonar Data Reveals Why Tonga’s 2022 Volcano Collapse Triggered Record Tsunami
science14 days ago

Sonar Data Reveals Why Tonga’s 2022 Volcano Collapse Triggered Record Tsunami

New research published in Nature Geoscience explains why the 2022 Hunga-Tonga eruption produced the largest tsunami ever recorded from an underwater volcano. By comparing rare pre- and post-eruption sonar maps, scientists determined that the volcano’s caldera collapsed as a single, massive block, displacing nearly 9 cubic kilometers of material. This rapid, piston-like subsidence displaced enough ocean water to generate waves up to 40 meters high, challenging previous assumptions that only large volcanic structures could cause such extreme hazards.

via Gizmodo|
#caldera-collapse#geoscience#science
Tiny Caldera, Huge Hazards: Rapid Submarine Collapse at Hunga Tonga, 2022
geoscience26 days ago

Tiny Caldera, Huge Hazards: Rapid Submarine Collapse at Hunga Tonga, 2022

Time-series bathymetry shows the 2022 Hunga Tonga eruption caused a rapid, piston-like collapse of a ~4.8 km wide submarine caldera, deepening from ~150 m to ~850 m and displacing ~8.9 km³ (6.85 km³ from caldera collapse; the rest from erosion). Intercalated landslides and inward terraces indicate syn-eruptive, ring-fault–driven subsidence with minor wall collapse. About 7–8 km³ of Dense Rock Equivalent magma drove the collapse (roughly 30 MPa underpressure), suggesting a relatively small reservoir could trigger a large collapse. The eruption generated a record submarine tsunami (~40 m near source). Post-eruption surveys show limited geomorphic change after months, but ongoing shallow magmatic fluids imply continued magmatic activity. Globally, small submarine calderas can produce extreme tsunami hazards, underscoring the need for high-resolution repeat seafloor mapping, improved hazard assessments, and seafloor infrastructure protection.

via Nature|
#bathymetry#caldera-collapse#geoscience
In situ observation captures a rapid seafloor-spreading burst at the Southeast Indian Ridge
geoscience3 months ago

In situ observation captures a rapid seafloor-spreading burst at the Southeast Indian Ridge

An autonomous seismogeodetic array on SEIR’s segment I1 captured a rapid seafloor spreading event beginning 26 April 2024, driven by a migrating swarm of extensional earthquakes that propelled a southeast- to northwest-propagating dyke from a deflating axial magma reservoir. This produced about 4 meters of subsidence and over 1 meter of horizontal extension in the axial valley, followed by the eruption of roughly 160 million cubic meters of lava on the seafloor over ~16 days, while triggering seismic and aseismic slip on valley-bounding normal faults and the adjacent transform fault. The multi-sensor data (hydrophones, acoustic ranging, bottom-pressure recorder, and swath bathymetry) suggest large-scale aseismic magmatic slip could be the primary mechanism driving MOR fault displacement, addressing long-standing questions about short-timescale MOR dynamics. 2D elastic-dislocation modeling of sill, dyke, and fault geometries supported the observed displacements.

via Nature|
#dyke-intrusion#geoscience#magma-reservoir
Hidden Antarctic Fan Megabasin Reshapes Ice Flow
science4 months ago

Hidden Antarctic Fan Megabasin Reshapes Ice Flow

An international team mapped a continent-wide, two-mile-deep network of basins under East Antarctica—now called the East Antarctic Fan-shaped Basin Province—linking Wilkes and Aurora basins with Lake Vostok. Using gravity measurements, magnetic data, and subglacial topography, they describe a fan-shaped megabasin formed by ancient crustal spreading before Gondwana’s breakup, which influences how ice moves over the bed and could affect projections of Antarctica’s response to climate change.

via Nautilus | Science|
#antarctica#geoscience#lake-vostok
Earth gravity bends light to boost remote sensing
science5 months ago

Earth gravity bends light to boost remote sensing

Australian physicist Enbang Li has built a compact, three‑foot device that uses gravity to bend light via spiraled fiber-optic coils, detecting tiny picosecond time delays to sense gravitational changes. The approach could enable high‑precision gravity sensing for mapping underground features, monitoring magma, and improving sensing on moving platforms like planes and submarines. While still in early lab stages, the work suggests photons can interact with Earth’s gravitational field in new ways and may prompt fresh thinking about light’s behavior, with findings published in Scientific Reports.

via Interesting Engineering|
#fiber-optic#geoscience#gravity
Antarctica’s Blood Falls Finally Explained: Pressure-Driven Brine and Iron From Ancient Microbes
science7 months ago

Antarctica’s Blood Falls Finally Explained: Pressure-Driven Brine and Iron From Ancient Microbes

New research published in Antarctic Science explains Blood Falls: the red water is iron oxide formed by ancient subterranean bacteria, while the liquid is a hypersaline brine kept unfrozen at -20°C; eruptions occur when pressure builds in subglacial channels beneath Taylor Glacier, forcing brine out in bursts and briefly slowing the glacier, with warming's future effects still unknown.

via WIRED|
#antarctica#brine#geoscience
Scientists Uncover the Hot Secret Stabilizing Earth's Continents and Life
science11 months ago

Scientists Uncover the Hot Secret Stabilizing Earth's Continents and Life

New research reveals that Earth's stable continents were formed by extremely high temperatures deep within the crust, driven by radioactive decay of elements like uranium and thorium, which facilitated the cooling and solidification of the crust. These processes, akin to forging metal, shaped Earth's landmasses and created a stable foundation for life, offering insights into planetary habitability and guiding the search for life on other planets.

via Indian Defence Review|
#earths-continents#geoscience#planetary-habitability
Scientists Warn of Major Landmass Shift Due to Powerful Force
science11 months ago

Scientists Warn of Major Landmass Shift Due to Powerful Force

Greenland has been shifting northwest by about two centimeters annually over the past 20 years due to ice melt caused by climate change, affecting its size and shape, with implications for geoscience and navigation; this movement underscores the accelerating impact of global warming on the Arctic, prompting increased awareness and conservation efforts worldwide.

via Yahoo|
#climatechange#geoscience#greenland
Moving Hotspot Forms World's Longest Underwater Mountain Chain
science1 year ago

Moving Hotspot Forms World's Longest Underwater Mountain Chain

A new study reveals that the Ninetyeast Ridge, a massive underwater mountain range in the Indian Ocean, was formed by a moving hotspot, challenging previous beliefs that hotspots remain stationary. Researchers found that the Kerguelen hotspot moved several hundred kilometers within the mantle, creating the ridge as the Indian Plate drifted northward. This discovery, supported by basalt sample analysis, provides new insights into the dynamics of mantle plumes and tectonic plate movements, refining models of Earth's geological history.

via ScienceAlert|
#geoscience#hotspots#indian-ocean
Volcanic Caves on Earth Offer Clues to Life on Mars
science1 year ago

Volcanic Caves on Earth Offer Clues to Life on Mars

An international team of researchers has conducted the first detailed study of minerals and microorganisms in lava tubes on Lanzarote, revealing insights into Earth's ancient ecosystems and potential implications for finding life on Mars. The study, led by Professor Bogdan P. Onac, found that the volcanic rock in these tubes preserves biosignatures, suggesting microbial activity. This research highlights the potential of lava tubes as refuges for microbial life, which could guide future Mars missions in identifying biosignatures.

via BBC Discover Wildlife|
#geoscience#lanzarote#lava-tubes