News tagged with pacific plate

New understanding of Earth's lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary beneath the Pacific Ocean

Scientists have long speculated about why there is a large change in the strength of rocks that lie at the boundary between two layers immediately under Earth's crust: the lithosphere and underlying asthenosphere. ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 22, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Scientists track motions of shifting plates using GPS sensors

The Pacific Northwest is a restless place. The ground is being shoved by tectonic plates. Snow-capped volcanoes inflate and deflate in concert with the creep of molten rock. Coastlines bulge as tension builds on an offshore ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Jun 07, 2011 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0

Scientists already making discoveries in wake of Japan's temblor

Friday's 8.9-magnitude temblor off the east coast of Japan ranks as one of the 10-largest earthquakes ever recorded. Though scientists have just begun to pore over the data, they have already made some surprising discoveries ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Mar 12, 2011 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (9) | comments 8

Shaking the Earth: How Water Helps Tectonic Plates Slide in New Zealand

(PhysOrg.com) -- New Zealand is the site of one of the world’s youngest subduction zones, where the Pacific Plate of Earth’s crust dives beneath the Australian Plate. Now, a University of Utah study shows ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Aug 05, 2009 | popularity 4.1 / 5 (7) | comments 1

Massive quake moves NZealand closer to Australia

A massive 7.8 magnitude earthquake last week has moved the south of New Zealand closer to Australia, scientists said Wednesday.

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Jul 22, 2009 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (11) | comments 4

Simulations, ancient magnetism suggest mantle plumes may bend deep beneath Earth's crust

Computer simulations, paleomagnetism and plate motion histories described in today's issue of Science reveal how hotspots, centers of erupting magma that sit atop columns of hot mantle that were once though ...

Space & Earth / Earth Sciences

created Apr 02, 2009 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (12) | comments 0