Earth Sciences News

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"Unveiling Paratethys: Earth's Enormous Ancient Lake"

The Paratethys, a megalake that existed around 11 million years ago, has been recognized by the Guinness World Records as the largest lake ever on Earth. Spanning an area of 2.8 million square kilometers and containing 1.77 million cubic kilometers of water, the Paratethys surpassed the size and volume of all current freshwater and saltwater lakes combined. Research led by Dr. Dan Palcu from Utrecht University used magnetostratigraphy to determine the lake's dimensions and revealed its tumultuous history marked by hydrological crises and desiccation periods. Understanding the Paratethys provides insights into climate fluctuations and offers hope for addressing current and future environmental crises.

2 years ago•Source: Phys.org

Unveiling the Birth of the US East Coast: Insights from Pangea's Breakup

earth-sciences

2.085 min•2 years ago

Unveiling the Birth of the US East Coast: Insights from Pangea's Breakup

A recent study published in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth explores the formation of the East Coast of the United States during the breakup of the supercontinent Pangea. The study analyzes the structure of rocks and the presence of magma-derived rocks along the East Coast, shedding light on how the continent was pulled apart during Pangea's fragmentation. The research provides insights into the formation of passive margins, which are stable regions with minimal faulting or magmatism, and their vulnerability to geohazards such as earthquakes and erosion.

via Phys.org