All articles tagged with #ocean sediments
Earth may respond to human CO2 emissions by rapidly burying carbon in the seafloor through a newly discovered 'supercharged' thermostat linked to the phosphorus cycle, potentially causing the next ice age to occur on time instead of being delayed, although this mechanism does not mitigate current global warming effects.
Scientists found evidence of a comet explosion 12,800 years ago in ocean sediments near Greenland, supporting the hypothesis that this event triggered the Younger Dryas cooling period, a rapid and significant climate change that affected global ecosystems and human populations.
Scientists have discovered evidence of a nearby kilonova event that occurred approximately 3.5 million years ago. The presence of isotopes Fe-60 and Pu-244 in ocean sediments suggests the occurrence of a cataclysmic event, such as the merger of two neutron stars or a neutron star with a black hole. The specific ratio of these isotopes, along with simulations, indicates that the kilonova was located about 500-600 light years away from Earth. While this event did not pose a threat to life on Earth, it serves as a reminder of the potential dangers present in the universe.
Scientists have discovered evidence of a kilonova, a cataclysmic event involving the merger of neutron stars or a neutron star and a black hole, that occurred 3.5 million years ago in our galactic backyard, about 500-600 light years away. The discovery was made through the analysis of isotopes, specifically Fe-60 and Pu-244, found in ocean sediments. The presence of Pu-244, which is only created in certain types of supernovae, suggests that a kilonova was the most likely source. The research also indicates that the kilonova had a specific debris ejection pattern and a certain tilt during the merger event. While the event did not pose a threat to life on Earth, it serves as a reminder of the dangers present in the universe.
New research suggests that reservoir construction is reducing carbon storage in ocean sediments. The study analyzed sediment cores from the South Yellow Sea and East China Sea and found that carbon stocks declined between 1855 and 1950 due to flooding, increased post-1950 due to sediment transport, and reduced since 1990 due to lower sediment transport caused by reservoirs and dams built upstream. The global average carbon stocks in marine sediments were calculated to be 66.6 tons per hectare, while the South Yellow Sea saw a reduction of 32% to 45.2 tons per hectare. This interference in the carbon cycle highlights the need for considering the negative impact on carbon stocks when siting dams and reservoirs.