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Open Access
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News & Views |
Silicate weathering feedback hindered by clay formation
The chemical weathering of silicate rocks plays a central role in stabilizing our climate through CO2 drawdown. Li isotopic evidence from a prolonged Eocene warming event suggests clay formation may disrupt this feedback on intermediate timescales.
- Michael J. Henehan
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Article
| Open AccessEnhanced clay formation key in sustaining the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum
The long duration of the Middle Eocene Climatic Optimum, compared with other transient Eocene warming events, can be explained by an increase in clays forming from the weathering of silicate minerals, according to lithium isotope records of marine carbonates.
- Alexander J. Krause
- , Appy Sluijs
- & Philip A. E. Pogge von Strandmann
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Article
| Open AccessHimalayan valley-floor widths controlled by tectonically driven exhumation
Himalayan valley-floor widths are controlled by long-term tectonically driven exhumation, rather than by water discharge, according to an analysis of valley-floor width and exhumation rate observations.
- Fiona J. Clubb
- , Simon M. Mudd
- & Hugh D. Sinclair
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Article |
Buoyancy of slabs and plumes enhanced by curved post-garnet phase boundary
Experimental determination of how the post-garnet phase transition pressure varies with temperature suggests a downward-convex phase boundary with potential implications for mantle dynamics.
- Takayuki Ishii
- , Daniel J. Frost
- & Tomoo Katsura
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Article |
Soil carbon in tropical savannas mostly derived from grasses
Grasses contribute more than half of the soil organic carbon across tropical savannas, according to a case study in South Africa combined with a synthesis of data from tropical savannas globally.
- Yong Zhou
- , Barbara Bomfim
- & A. Carla Staver
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Article
| Open AccessLate Pleistocene 100-kyr glacial cycles paced by precession forcing of summer insolation
Orbital precession played a more important role than obliquity during Late Pleistocene swings in ice-sheet extent, according to an analysis of benthic oxygen isotope records with precise age constraints.
- Bethany Hobart
- , Lorraine E. Lisiecki
- & Charles E. Lawrence
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All Minerals Considered |
Garnet the gift that keeps on giving
More than just a gemstone, Jon Pownall and Kathryn Cutts explore the history and future directions of garnet as a recorder of pressure, temperature, and time.
- Jonathan M. Pownall
- & Kathryn A. Cutts
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Editorial |
All aboard the transfer train
One journal’s reject may be another journal’s gem. Our editors aim to direct rejected manuscripts towards a more suitable destination journal in our transfer network.
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Article |
Carbonate record of temporal change in oxygen fugacity and gaseous species in asteroid Ryugu
The asteroid Ryugu experienced aqueous alteration under changing temperature and redox conditions, according to an isotopic analysis of secondary calcite and dolomite grains in samples from Ryugu obtained by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft.
- Wataru Fujiya
- , Noriyuki Kawasaki
- & Hisayoshi Yurimoto
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Article |
Grassland responses to elevated CO2 determined by plant–microbe competition for phosphorus
The competition between grassland vegetation and microbes for phosphorus controls how plant productivity responds to elevated CO2, according to free-air CO2 enrichment experiments on phosphorus-limited grasslands.
- J. Ben Keane
- , Iain P. Hartley
- & Gareth K. Phoenix
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Comment |
Communicating the link between climate change and extreme rain events
Extreme rainfall events are often linked to climate change based on simple thermodynamic arguments, but complex dynamic processes also play a role. Scientists have a responsibility to ensure they provide accurate information to the media and public.
- Andrew D. King
- , Kimberley J. Reid
- & Kate R. Saunders
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Article
| Open AccessGroundwater springs formed during glacial retreat are a large source of methane in the high Arctic
Groundwater springs formed during the retreat of a melting glacier are likely hotspots of methane emissions in the high Arctic according to measurements of methane concentrations in springs recently formed in central Svalbard.
- Gabrielle E. Kleber
- , Andrew J. Hodson
- & Alexandra V. Turchyn
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Article
| Open AccessWidespread shallow mesoscale circulations observed in the trades
Atmospheric observations show the presence of shallow mesoscale circulations in the North Atlantic trades and demonstrate their widespread influence on atmospheric moisture and, consequently, clouds.
- Geet George
- , Bjorn Stevens
- & Ann Kristin Naumann
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Perspective |
Oxygen dynamics in marine productive ecosystems at ecologically relevant scales
The impact of dissolved oxygen fluctuations on marine ecosystems requires consideration of appropriate temporal and spatial scales.
- Folco Giomi
- , Alberto Barausse
- & Marco Fusi
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Brief Communication
| Open AccessGlacier retreat alters downstream fjord ecosystem structure and function in Greenland
Glacier retreat in Greenland not only changes the primary productivity of downstream fjord ecosystems but also the ecosystem structure and functioning, according to seasonal sampling of two downstream fjords.
- Lorenz Meire
- , Maria Lund Paulsen
- & John Mortensen
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Article
| Open AccessMagnetotail plasma eruptions driven by magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities
Both magnetic reconnection and kinetic instabilities are required to produce magnetotail plasma eruptions, according to high-resolution global simulations of Earth’s magnetosphere.
- Minna Palmroth
- , Tuija I. Pulkkinen
- & Rumi Nakamura
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Article |
Ocean heat uptake and interbasin redistribution driven by anthropogenic aerosols and greenhouse gases
Anthropogenic greenhouse gases and aerosols have counteracting effects on heat uptake and interbasin transport in the ocean, according to an ensemble of climate model simulations.
- Shouwei Li
- , Wei Liu
- & Laifang Li
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Article
| Open AccessResponse of stratospheric water vapour to warming constrained by satellite observations
Uncertainty in stratospheric water vapour projections is reduced using an observational constraint based on historical co-variations between atmospheric temperature and water vapour.
- Peer Nowack
- , Paulo Ceppi
- & Manoj Joshi
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Article
| Open AccessRadiocarbon evidence for the stability of polar ocean overturning during the Holocene
Overturning circulation that mixes surface and deep water was invariant over the Holocene, suggesting a limited role in rising CO2 during this time, according to deep-sea coral radiocarbon records.
- Tianyu Chen
- , Laura F. Robinson
- & Timothy D. J. Knowles
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Article
| Open AccessIncreased tropical South Pacific western boundary current transport over the past century
The low-latitude western boundary current in the South Pacific Ocean strengthened as climate warmed over the past 100 years, according to a coral nitrogen isotope record from the Solomon Sea.
- Wen-Hui Chen
- , Haojia Ren
- & Xingchen Tony Wang
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Article |
Record of pre-industrial atmospheric sulfate in continental interiors
Atmospheric sulfate aerosols—which could cool the atmosphere—were formed in less acidic cloud water in continental interiors in pre-industrial time than today, according to a triple oxygen isotope analysis of sulfate in weathering carbonates.
- Yongbo Peng
- , Shohei Hattori
- & Huiming Bao
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Research Briefing |
Icequakes used to measure friction and slip at a glacier bed
Icequake observations were combined with an analytical friction model to measure friction and slip at the bed of an Antarctic ice stream. Friction and slip are found to be highly variable in space and time, controlled by higher-than-expected normal stresses at the ice–bed interface.
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Widespread partial-depth hydrofractures in ice sheets driven by supraglacial streams
Surface fractures that intersect glacial streams can propagate deeply in ice sheets and can increase their dynamic instability as melting intensifies, according to a new observationally-constrained modelling study of the Greenland Ice Sheet.
- David M. Chandler
- & Alun Hubbard
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Article |
Post-subduction tectonics induced by extension from a lithospheric drip
Post-subduction downwelling of lithosphere—or drips—can lead to extension and crustal thinning, influencing the tectonic evolution of continental crust after subduction termination, according to thermo-mechanical simulations.
- S. Pilia
- , D. R. Davies
- & N. Rawlinson
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Article
| Open AccessHighly variable friction and slip observed at Antarctic ice stream bed
Passive seismic observations from the Rutford Ice Stream in Antarctica reveal a highly complex bed and substantial variability in friction and slip rates at the ice–bed interface.
- T. S. Hudson
- , S. K. Kufner
- & T. Murray
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Article |
Secular craton evolution due to cyclic deformation of underlying dense mantle lithosphere
Mantle lithosphere underlying the stable continental crust of cratons is dense and has experienced cyclic deformation since the Neoproterozoic, leading to the longevity of cratons, according to geological data and geodynamic modelling.
- Yaoyi Wang
- , Zebin Cao
- & Xiaotao Yang
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Brief Communication
| Open AccessMid-Proterozoic day length stalled by tidal resonance
Analysis of changes in the Earth’s rotation in the Precambrian suggests that day length stabilized at 19 h for 1 billion years due to tidal resonance, which may have been linked to a relatively quiescent period of tectonic activity and biological evolution.
- Ross N. Mitchell
- & Uwe Kirscher
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Editorial |
Reversing climate overshoot
Temporarily overshooting climate targets is a distinct possibility given our current emissions trajectory. It is crucial that we understand which of the associated impacts are reversible, and to what extent.
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All Minerals Considered |
Scorched minerals in sedimentary rocks
Inspired by the mineralogist Shulamit Gross’s studies of one of the world’s unique mineral factories, Michael Anenburg discusses the pyrometamorphic minerals formed by fire in the Dead Sea desert.
- Michael Anenburg
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Research Briefing |
Fossil greenhouse-gas emission from microbial use of rock-derived organic carbon
Rock organic carbon from glacial runoff, once assumed to be non-bioavailable, is identified as a substrate used by marine sedimentary microbes. This challenges the traditional view that rock organic carbon bypasses the active carbon cycle and indicates an additional source of fossil greenhouse-gas emissions on geological, or possibly even shorter, timescales.
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Article |
Slow slip along the Hikurangi margin linked to fluid-rich sediments trailing subducting seamounts
Sediment lenses trailing subducting seamounts could maintain long-lasting fluid pressures and support slow-slip behaviour at sediment-rich subduction zones, according to three-dimensional seismic surveys of the Hikurangi margin.
- Nathan L. Bangs
- , Julia K. Morgan
- & Bill Fry
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News & Views |
Mantle driven mountains
Deciphering the contribution of mantle convection to Earth’s surface elevation remains challenging, but it may have a dominant influence on mountain-building at subduction zones, according to a new study reconstructing the topographic evolution of Calabria.
- Gregory A. Ruetenik
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Article |
High natural nitric oxide emissions from lakes on Tibetan Plateau under rapid warming
High-resolution satellite observations reveal that large lakes on the Tibetan Plateau have total nitric oxide emissions comparable to anthropogenic emissions from individual megacities worldwide.
- Hao Kong
- , Jintai Lin
- & Wanyun Xu
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Article |
A primary magmatic source of nitrogen to Earth’s crust
The formation of continental crust may have trapped —and thus not degassed—substantial amounts of magmatic nitrogen over Earth’s history, according to geochemical analyses of igneous rocks from the Hekla volcanic system in Iceland.
- Toby J. Boocock
- , Sami Mikhail
- & Eva E. Stüeken
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Article
| Open AccessFossil organic carbon utilization in marine Arctic fjord sediments by subsurface micro-organisms
Ancient, rock-derived organic matter is consumed by micro-organisms in Arctic fjord sediments despite its presumed limited bioavailability, representing a potential source of greenhouse gas emissions, according to compound-specific radiocarbon analyses of lipids from living bacteria.
- Manuel Ruben
- , Jens Hefter
- & Gesine Mollenhauer
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Article |
Calabrian forearc uplift paced by slab–mantle interactions during subduction retreat
Interactions between subducting slabs and the 660-km mantle transition zone can influence mantle convection and forearc uplift, according to rock uplift histories of the Calabrian forearc spanning the past 30 million years.
- Sean F. Gallen
- , Nikki M. Seymour
- & Paul O’Sullivan
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Article |
Late Miocene onset of hyper-aridity in East Antarctica indicated by meteoric beryllium-10 in permafrost
The hyper-arid climate of modern East Antarctica only arose in the late Miocene, millions of years after the interval of rapid ice-sheet expansion, according to meteoric beryllium-10 concentrations within the permafrost.
- Marjolaine Verret
- , Cassandra Trinh-Le
- & Tim Naish
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Links between large igneous province volcanism and subducted iron formations
Correlation between large igneous province activity and iron formation ages suggests that subducted iron formations may have facilitated mantle plume upwelling in the Archaean and Proterozoic Earth.
- Duncan S. Keller
- , Santiago Tassara
- & Rajdeep Dasgupta
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Research Briefing |
Isotopic constraints on the contribution of lightning-produced nutrients to Earth’s early biosphere
Lightning can produce bioavailable nitrogen oxides, but it is unknown whether this was a substantial nutrient source for Earth’s earliest biosphere. Comparison of nitrogen isotope measurements from spark discharge experiments to those from the rock record suggests that lightning was likely not the main source of bioavailable nitrogen for the biosphere throughout most of Earth’s history.
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Isotopic constraints on lightning as a source of fixed nitrogen in Earth’s early biosphere
Spark discharge experiments suggest lightning was not the main source of bioavailable nitrogen for the established Archaean biosphere, but could have been significant for Earth’s earliest ecosystems.
- Patrick Barth
- , Eva E. Stüeken
- & Mark Claire
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Large-scale volcanic deposit fluidization by dilute pyroclastic density currents
Fine-grained pyroclastic deposits can be fluidized by decompression following the passage of dilute pyroclastic density currents, generating hazardous, highly mobile flows, according to analogue experiments and numerical simulations.
- Karim Kelfoun
- & Antonio Proaño
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Editorial |
Phosphorus cycle in focus
Ecosystems have long been shaped by phosphorus limitation. We need to better understand how natural and human-caused shifts in the phosphorus cycle disrupt the Earth system.
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All Minerals Considered |
Vivianite blues
From Dutch painters to ocean sediments, Caroline Slomp discusses the role vivianite plays in the distribution of phosphorus, an essential nutrient for life.
- Caroline P. Slomp
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Article |
Kimberlite magmatism fed by upwelling above mobile basal mantle structures
Volatile-rich kimberlite magmas may be transported to the surface by broad mantle upwellings located above mobile basal mantle structures, according to global models of mantle convection over the past 200 million years.
- Ömer F. Bodur
- & Nicolas Flament
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Article |
Recent state transition of the Arctic Ocean’s Beaufort Gyre
The Arctic Ocean’s Beaufort Gyre has transitioned to a state where the freshwater content has plateaued and the cold halocline layer has thinned, as a result of variation in the regional wind forcing.
- Peigen Lin
- , Robert S. Pickart
- & Takashi Kikuchi
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News & Views |
Oxygen-rich melt in deep magma oceans
High pressures may have enabled ferric iron-rich silicate melts to coexist with iron metal near the base of magma oceans early in the history of large rocky planets like Earth. This suggests a relatively oxygen-rich atmosphere during the late stages of core formation on these planets.
- Fabrice Gaillard
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Article |
Arctic mercury flux increased through the Last Glacial Termination with a warming climate
Mercury deposition onto the Greenland Ice Sheet increased from the Last Glacial Termination to early Holocene as the North Atlantic warmed and sea ice retreated, according to an ice-core mercury record and atmospheric chemistry modelling.
- Delia Segato
- , Alfonso Saiz-Lopez
- & Andrea Spolaor
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Hadean mantle oxidation inferred from melting of peridotite under lower-mantle conditions
The early Earth’s mantle rapidly oxidized during the Hadean because of iron disproportionation and core segregation, according to experiments melting peridotite under deep-mantle conditions.
- Hideharu Kuwahara
- , Ryoichi Nakada
- & Tetsuo Irifune
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Article |
Primordial helium extracted from the Earth’s core through magnesium oxide exsolution
Primordial helium in the deep mantle may be supplied continuously from Earth’s core, according to first-principles calculations and modelling of helium partitioning into exsolved magnesium oxide at core–mantle boundary conditions
- Jie Deng
- & Zhixue Du