All articles tagged with #sahara desert
Originally Published 1 month ago — by Live Science
An astronaut photograph from 2023 captures a trio of ancient black mesas in the Sahara, surrounded by unique sand dunes formed by wind patterns, remnants of a Paleozoic-era geological system possibly similar to the 'Eye of the Sahara'.
Originally Published 1 month ago — by The Daily Galaxy
The 'Eye of the Sahara,' or Richat Structure, is a 50-kilometer-wide geological formation in Mauritania, visible from space and formed by ancient geological uplift and erosion. Recent satellite imagery from ESA reveals its layered sedimentary rocks, signs of erosion, and some desert life, providing valuable insights into Earth's geological history and ecosystem, showcasing ESA's role in Earth observation.
Originally Published 2 months ago — by Live Science
An astronaut photo from the ISS captures the skull-like appearance of the Trou au Natron caldera in Chad's Sahara, shaped by volcanic activity and natural mineral deposits, revealing a striking geological formation from space.
Originally Published 3 months ago — by Live Science
A satellite image captures the striking contrast between a field of 'star dunes' in Algeria and rocky terrain in Libya within the Sahara Desert, highlighting geological and ecological interactions shaped over millions of years, with the border between the two countries running through the scene.
Originally Published 4 months ago — by evidencenetwork.ca
NASA scientists using space imagery discovered a white salt deposit on a volcanic peak in the Sahara, revealing evidence of an ancient lake and the region's past green, water-rich climate, highlighting the Sahara's dramatic environmental changes over millennia.
Originally Published 6 months ago — by CNN
Scientists have found two meteorites in the Sahara that may originate from Mercury, potentially providing the first physical samples from the planet, though their exact origin remains uncertain due to age discrepancies and compositional differences. These findings could significantly enhance understanding of Mercury and the early solar system, especially with upcoming missions like BepiColombo.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Livescience.com
The Aorounga structure in the Sahara Desert, Chad, is an 8-mile-wide impact crater formed by a "city-killer" asteroid around 345 million years ago. Captured in a 2013 photo by an astronaut aboard the ISS, the crater's eye-like appearance is due to its two rings, with migrating sand dunes surrounding it. These dunes, known as barchan dunes, move significantly over time, as tracked by satellite images. The crater may be part of a "crater chain," with smaller craters nearby suggesting fragments of the original meteor impacted the area.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by VOA Learning English
Researchers have used radar and other technologies to study a large star dune in eastern Morocco, uncovering details about its formation and development. The study, led by British researchers, used radar to examine the dune's structure and luminescence dating to estimate its age. The star dune is estimated to be about 13,000 years old and is moving at a rate of about 50 centimeters a year. Star dunes make up just 10 percent of all dunes in Earth's deserts and have also been observed on Mars and Saturn's moon Titan.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Livescience.com
A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals that the enormous star dune in Morocco's Erg Chebbi dune field formed in less than 1,000 years, defying expectations of its age. Using ground-penetrating radar and sand samples, researchers found that the dune is only 900 years old, with a history shaped by climate shifts in the Sahara. This discovery challenges the difficulty of identifying ancient star dunes and sheds light on the dynamic nature of desert landscapes.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by CNN
Scientists studying a star dune in the Sahara Desert have uncovered surprising insights into its age, growth, and movement. Using radar scans and sand grain analysis, they found that the dune's base formed around 13,000 years ago, with most of its growth occurring over the past 1,000 years. The research also addressed the mystery of the scarcity of ancient evidence of star dunes, suggesting that eroded parts of their preserved structures may have been previously identified as remnants of other dune types.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Reuters
Scientists have conducted the first comprehensive study of a star dune, revealing the internal structure and formation process of these pyramid-shaped sand formations. The study focused on the Lala Lallia star dune in eastern Morocco, showing that it took about 900 years for the dune to form, accumulating roughly 6,400 metric tons of sand annually. Star dunes, which make up just under 10% of Earth's desert dunes, are the tallest and are formed in areas with complex wind regimes. The researchers' findings provide insight into identifying ancient star dunes in the geological record and highlight the awe-inspiring landscapes they create.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Phys.org
Physicists propose a new method to confirm the existence of the Chinguetti meteorite by suggesting a magnetometer-based survey of specific areas in the Sahara desert where it could potentially be located. The researchers re-evaluated existing evidence and identified two likely areas where the meteorite might be buried under sand dunes, emphasizing that previous searches may have been conducted in the wrong area. This approach offers a promising opportunity to finally solve the mystery surrounding the elusive Chinguetti meteorite.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by NDTV
NASA's Johnson Space Center captured stunning footage of the Sahara Desert from space, showing sandstorms and cumulonimbus clouds covering the desert, giving it an "alien-looking planet" appearance. Internet users were mesmerized by the view, with one user commenting on the unique perspective it offers of Earth's diverse landscapes. The Sahara Desert, located in Northern Africa, is the largest hot desert in the world, known for its harsh climate and diverse landscapes.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by Daily Mail
Mykolas Juodele embarked on a remarkable journey by freight-train hopping in the Sahara Desert on the Mauritania Railway, which transports iron ore across the desert. The 437-mile track links Nouadhibou city's port with the mines of Zouerat, and the journey takes between 16 and 20 hours one way. Passengers, including local shepherds and workers, endure the challenging ride, making the best of it by cooking, sleeping, and socializing. Mykolas was impressed by the resilience of his fellow passengers and left with a changed perception of Mauritania, finding the country and its people to be hospitable and accommodating despite its negative reputation.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by nasa.gov
The Kufrah district in southern Libya, located in the Sahara Desert, holds a vast fossil aquifer and remnants of dried rivers beneath its arid surface. The region's farmland in Al Jawf is irrigated using water from the Nubian Sandstone Aquifer, which dates back thousands of years when the area had a more temperate climate. The Great Man-Made River, one of the world's largest irrigation projects, supplies 70 percent of Libya's water by transporting fossil water from the aquifer to major cities along the Mediterranean coast.