Sunday, February 23News That Matters

Tag: Earth Sciences

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Earth’s Magnetic North Pole Drifts Rapidly Towards Russia: Scientists Raise Concerns

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Earth's magnetic North Pole is moving toward Russia at an accelerating pace, raising concerns about its impact on navigation systems, technological infrastructure, and even life on Earth. British scientists tracking the pole’s movements report it has shifted 2,250 kilometers from Canada to Siberia and is now traveling at a speed of 50-60 kilometers per year up from just 15 kilometers per year in the 1990s. The magnetic North Pole is critical for modern navigation, including planes, ships, and smartphones, which rely on the Earth's magnetic field for direction. Scientists warn that continued rapid movement could cause compasses to point east of true north by 2040, requiring recalibrations across industries. The British Geological Survey (BGS), which monitors the pole, emphasizes t...
Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Deep-Sea Discovery Underwater Volcano-Like Structure Found Near Alaska

Breaking News, Environment, Learning & Developments
In a groundbreaking discovery scientists aboard the Coast Guard Cutter Healy have identified a massive underwater volcano-like formation deep beneath the Arctic Ocean near Alaska. This remarkable structure, sitting more than 1,600 meters below the ocean's surface, was revealed during a seafloor mapping project aimed at improving navigation safety in the region. The team aboard the Healy, which included researchers from the National Science Foundation, University of New Hampshire, and NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), detected a potential gas plume rising from the formation. While details are still emerging, the discovery sheds light on the largely unexplored underwater terrain of the Arctic, offering new avenues for scientific exploration. Captain Meghan McGover...
Scientists Unveil New Findings on Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements

Scientists Unveil New Findings on Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment
Scientists at the Alikhanyan National Science Laboratory on Mount Aragats have uncovered new insights into a mysterious atmospheric phenomenon known as Thunderstorm Ground Enhancements (TGEs). Led by physicist Ashot Chilingarian, the research offers a deeper understanding of how thunderstorms affect the Earth's atmosphere and could shed light on larger cosmic processes. TGEs are intense bursts of electromagnetic activity that occur during thunderstorms, where electrons are accelerated to high speeds by strong electric fields. These accelerated electrons produce gamma rays, a type of high-energy radiation, as they collide with atomic nuclei in the atmosphere. The phenomenon has been largely overlooked in previous thunderstorm research, but scientists now believe it plays a significant ro...
Earth Braces for Impact as Sun Unleashes Consecutive Flare To Threatening Technological Infrastructure

Earth Braces for Impact as Sun Unleashes Consecutive Flare To Threatening Technological Infrastructure

Breaking News, Disasters, Space
In a dramatic display of solar activity, the Sun has unleashed a series of powerful flares, posing potential risks to Earth's technological infrastructure and space exploration efforts. The recent surge in solar eruptions, occurring on consecutive days, has heightened concerns among scientists and space agencies worldwide. The first flare, categorized as an X-class flare, the most intense classification, occurred on May 2, originating from sunspot region AR3663. This eruption, lasting approximately 25 minutes, resulted in shortwave radio blackouts across regions including Australia, Japan, and parts of China. Solar physicist Keith Strong described it as an "impulsive flare," indicative of its sudden and intense nature. Barely a day later, on May 3, another significant eruption was ob...
Green signal given to PRITHvi VIgyan scheme to fight Natural Disasters

Green signal given to PRITHvi VIgyan scheme to fight Natural Disasters

Breaking News, Climate Actions, Environment, Learning & Developments
The Union Cabinet Chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi has approved the overarching scheme “PRITHvi VIgyan (PRITHVI)” of Ministry of Earth Sciences, for implementation during the period from 2021-26 at an overall cost of Rs. 4,797 crore. The scheme encompasses five ongoing sub-schemes namely “Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)”, “Ocean Services, Modelling Application, Resources and Technology (O-SMART)”, “Polar Science and Cryosphere Research (PACER)”, “Seismology and Geosciences (SAGE)” and “Research, Education, Training and Outreach (REACHOUT)”. The major Objectives of the overarching Prithvi Scheme are: Augmentation and sustainance of long-term observations of the atmosphere, ocean, geosphere, cryosphere and solid e...