Geophysical Research Articles

A rapid compression large-volume press with a high pressure jump above 10GPa within milliseconds.

A high pressure jump through a rapid compression within milliseconds (ms) provides an important approach for searching novel matters and investigating their physical and chemical properties. Herein, we report a unique rapid-compression large volume press with a high pressure jump above 10GPa within 20ms by introducing a Walker-type module and hydraulic accumulators. The sample pressure can be rapidly increased from 1-5GPa to 12-16GPa by different modest compression rates varying from 10-2 to 633.5 GPa/s. The rapid pressure jump on the specimen has been successfully verified through the observed rapid phase transition of ZnTe from semiconductor to metal transitions, as evidenced by the variation in its electrical conductivity. The highest pressure jump of 10.2GPa within a rise time of 16.1ms is achieved, which is significantly higher than previous results (5.8GPa within 20ms) using a Bridgman-type anvils in such an apparatus. We found that rapid compression significantly enhances the phase transformation of C70 fullerene from a disordered graphite to an amorphous phase compared to static high-pressure experiments. The high pressure jump technique developed in this study will thus have great applications in materials science, physics, chemistry, and earth science.

Development of DNA Barcoding for the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity: 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science presented to Paul D. N. Hebert, Ph.D., FRSC, O.C.

Development of DNA Barcoding for the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity: 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science presented to Paul D. N. Hebert, Ph.D., FRSC, O.C.

Development of the Volcanic Disaster Risk Reduction Education Program Using the ICT Tool “YOU@RISK Volcanic Disaster Edition” —Practical Verification at a Junior High School in the Mt. Nasu Area—

This study developed a volcanic disaster risk reduction education program that aims to help junior high school students visually understand the risks of volcanic eruptions using map information and acquire independent assessments and actions to protect their own lives from eruption disasters. First, this program analyzed the present state, problems, and educational needs of volcanic disaster risk reduction education in Japan, and thereafter designed the learning content to fuse information and communication technology (ICT) education based on the Global and Innovation Gateway for All (GIGA) School Initiative promoted by Japan with disaster risk reduction education from a geographical viewpoint. We adopted the ADDIE model from instructional design theory to develop the program. An important feature of this program is the realization of geography learning using the “YOU@RISK Volcanic Disaster Edition,” a web-based GIS application developed by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED), as an ICT tool. Learners use YOU@RISK on their tablets and perform operations such as visualizing the risk range in the event of a volcanic eruption and searching for appropriate evacuation sites and routes, while acquiring the knowledge and skills necessary for geographical literacy and emergency response actions. The program is able to realize interactive learning, which is a step ahead of education that relies on conventional paper-based hazard maps. Among active volcanoes nationwide, Mt. Nasu was selected as target volcano for this study. In addition, a junior high school located in the area surrounding Mt. Nasu, Nasu Junior High School in Nasu Town, Tochigi Prefecture, was selected as the target school. The program was implemented by teachers using tablets provided for each student at the school. We evaluated the effectiveness of the program by measuring and analyzing the effects of learning through the practice. Consequently, the effectiveness of the volcanic disaster risk reduction education program using ICT was confirmed.

New Mie Scattering Diffuse Targets Development and Characterization

Abstract Earth science remote sensing observations require the detection and measurement of light originating from bright targets, such as clouds, and darker targets, such as an open ocean. This requirement drives the need to design, develop, and characterize improved calibration targets in support of current and future NASA instruments. New diffuse targets to be used as spectral albedo calibration standards were developed and characterized. The new targets based on fused silica or/and pressed and sintered Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) were developed to be Earth scene specific. The various reflectance levels are achieved by modifying the material parameters, thickness, and surface finish. The new targets were characterized in cleanroom environment. We acquired high accuracy reflectance and transmittance data using a precision optical scatterometer and spectrophotometer located in the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (GSFC) Diffuser Calibration Lab. The Total hemispherical reflectance (THR) and Bidirectional Reflectance Distribution Function (BRDF) were measured over the range of solar incident and scattered elevation and azimuthal angles typically realized on orbit by remote sensing instruments. We intend to space certify the new calibration targets after concluding on-orbit testing on the International Space Stations (ISS) scheduled for the second half of 2023.

Design and Implementation of a Ka-band Folding Rib Mesh Antenna for CubeSats

In the past decade, CubeSats have undergone a revolution, moving from university research projects to enabling industry opportunities and government missions. In 2014, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology (JPL/Caltech) initiated a research and technology development effort to advance CubeSat communication capabilities. One of the critical thrusts was the Ka-band parabolic deployable antenna (KaPDA). This antenna started with the ambitious goal of fitting a 42 dB, 0.5 m, 35 GHz antenna in a 1.5U canister. At that time, there had been minimal development in high-gain CubeSat antennas, critical for high-data-rate communications and remote sensing science. A Ka-band high-gain antenna would provide a 10,000 times increase in data communication rates over an X-band patch antenna and a 100 times increase over state-of-the-art S-band parabolic antennas. This paper discusses designing, building, integrating, and operating the flight antenna from a mechanical perspective, its final performance, and lessons learned. KaPDA enabled the RainCube mission, the first Earth Science CubeSat to have an active instrument. RainCube was launched in May 2018, making KaPDA the second deployable parabolic antenna to fly on a CubeSat and the first to operate in Ka-band, enabling follow-on opportunities for high-rate antenna communications and remote sensing science.

Collaboration between artificial intelligence and Earth science communities for mutual benefit

Collaboration between artificial intelligence and Earth science communities for mutual benefit

Overview: Results of Snow and Ice Disaster Mitigation Conducted by the National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience

More than half of Japan’s land area experiences significant snowfall during winter, and the damage caused by various snow and ice disasters remains a dire issue, which also leads to decreased living standards. Simultaneously, the nature of snow and ice disasters has been transformed due to climate change and the increasing occurrence of extreme weather conditions. The National Research Institute for Earth Science and Disaster Resilience (NIED) has been continuously conducting research to address these problems in relation to snow and ice disasters. This study presents the results of the project “Research on Combining Risk Monitoring and Forecasting Technologies for Mitigation of Increasingly Diverse Snow Disaster” conducted by the NIED over a seven-year period from April 2016 to March 2023. This project developed technology for conducting accurate observations of snowfall and snow cover conditions over wide areas as well as technology for areal prediction of snow and ice disasters through simulations. Based on collaboration with stakeholders, such as local governments, our study investigated how to optimize the use of our information products for snow and ice disaster mitigation. Through these insights, the NIED provides information for prompt and appropriate responses to snow and ice disasters, thus supporting safe and comfortable living in both snowy and non-snowy areas.

예비 교사들의 기후변화 교육 사례 연구 -EARTH HOUR 활동을 중심으로-

The purpose of study is to introduce a case in which education for climate action, the 13th goal of sustainable development, is established in universities through climate change classes opened in the Earth Science education department of the college of education. Climate change education, including earth hour activities, was conducted in the Inquiry of climate change education subject in the first-year major elective area. Fifty-three pre-service earth science teachers participated in a climate change class. In this study, lectures on 12 topics were conducted, and group activities such as Earth Calendar, Earth Hour, Joobging Project, and Campus Environmental Maps were conducted in parallel. Pre-service teachers recognize climate change in connection with our daily lives, but focused on artificial factors rather than natural factors. They responded positively to the climate change class and evaluated the items of interest, excitement, and satisfaction highly. In addition, the applicability of earth hour activities was confirmed as an example of climate change education programs. It provided pre-service teachers with the experience of participating in international environmental campaigns as global citizens. Climate change curriculum is needed not only in high schools but also in universities, especially in the college of education. Research on developing and implementing climate change education programs centered on universities must be sustainable.

Accelerating Museum AI Research and Application at the UK Natural History Museum: The NHM AI Lab Programme

The United Kingdom's Natural History Museum (NHM) AI Lab Programme represents a pioneering initiative aimed at harnessing the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to bridge the gap between the museum's extensive collection and cutting-edge AI technologies. Despite its immense potential, the application of AI in museum research remains nascent (e.g., He et al. 2024), with some individual research groups pursuing independent projects without cohesive collaboration with AI experts who know or have experience in similar endeavours. Moreover, differing standards in utilising AI among researchers add complexity to the field. The NHM AI Lab Programme addresses these challenges by co-creating AI pilot projects that bring together the NHM's collection, academic researchers, and AI experts. The NHM AI Lab Programme serves as a nexus for interdisciplinary collaboration, offering expertise in AI, machine learning, data science, and software engineering to support NHM researchers. Through one-to-one consultations and collaborative research projects, the NHM AI Lab Programme facilitates the integration of innovative AI-driven technologies into streamlining digitisation workflows and enhancing Earth and Life Science research at the NHM. In less than a year since its inception, our Programme has achieved several milestones, hosting around 20 diverse projects. These include research projects such as the application of AI for the automatic detection and identification of nannofossils in chalk, the classification of ancient shark and dinosaur teeth, the prediction of mammal disease outbreaks, and the extraction of data from historical bird egg records. Additional projects focus on the automation of mineral analysis and the detection of secondary impact craters on planetary surfaces using AI. Some led to journal publications (e.g., He et al. 2024), while others streamlined NHM researchers' workflows, enhancing their processes of research and digitisation. Moreover, several initiatives have paved the way for new funding streams and collaborative ventures, as well as promising commercial prospects. Certain projects have pioneered the creation or transformation of datasets to meet AI-ready standards, such as data quality, consistency, accessibility, usability, and data governance protocols, helping to embed AI practices into NHM research. This AI Lab Programme can act as a model for other institutions addressing a similar challenge of bridging the gap between AI and their research and collections. This presentation provides insights into the establishment and operation of the NHM AI Lab Programme, shares experiences, highlights successful collaborations, discusses challenges encountered, and outlines future directions.

Optimization of Ultrasonication for Chlorella sp. Growth: Impacts on Biomass Productivity and Nutrient Utilization

Aims: This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasonic treatment of different durations on Chlorella sp. culture to analyze biomass concentration, biomass productivity and chlorophyll and macronutrients, such as nitrate and phosphate, which were added to the Chlorella sp. culture. Study Design: This investigation sought to optimize the duration of exposure of live microalgal culture to ultrasonic treatment to estimate economically significant biomass and pigments. Microalgal biomass has potential applications in biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals, and is highly sought after by industry. Consequently, it is imperative to optimize this process for large-scale production. Chlorophyll pigment is not only crucial in the photosynthesis process but also serves as a high-value component in the food, cosmetic, and health industries. Furthermore, utilizing the optimized duration of ultrasonication treatment, residual nitrate and phosphate in the medium were analyzed, providing key insights into the nutrient consumption of Chlorella sp. under ultrasonication stress. Place and Duration of Study: The present investigation was conducted over 36 days to estimate the effect of ultrasonication on biomass, chlorophyll, nitrate and phosphorus concentration in Chlorella culture at the laboratory of Synthetic Ecology and Environment Biotechnology, Department of Environmental Science, School of Earth Sciences, Central University of Rajasthan, Bandarsindri, Ajmer. Methodology: In this study, the effects of ultrasonication on biomass and chlorophyll content were evaluated by treating Chlorella sp. cultures for 5, 10, and 15 min in addition to an untreated control group. Based on these results, an optimized ultrasonication duration of 5 min was selected for further analysis. During this phase, the nitrate and phosphorus contents in the culture medium were measured to investigate the influence of ultrasonication on these nutrient levels. All treatments were conducted in triplicate to ensure reproducibility of the results, with the mean and standard deviation calculated as measures of statistical reliability. The use of mean and standard deviation in triplicate tests ensure that the results are consistent and reproducible, hence providing a measure of statistical dependability. Results: The biomass concentration and biomass productivity concentration increased from 29.9 ± 0.00240 mg/L (control) to 66.8 ± 0.01485 mg/L, 1.275 ± 0.5033 (control) to 3.71 ± 0.4163 mg/L/day respectively. The highest total chlorophyll concentration was observed in the exponential phase (9 days of culture) which was 3.7772 ± 0.0500. There was a decrease in the concentrations of nitrate and phosphate throughout the culture period, with a total nitrate consumption of 38.5% and total phosphate consumption of 24%. Conclusion: Chlorophyll and biomass concentrations were maximized after 5 min of ultrasonic treatment, but declined with longer exposure. Nutrient analysis revealed a significant decrease in nitrate and phosphate concentrations over time, consistent with nutrient uptake by the growing cells and the subsequent accumulation of metabolites.

Evolution of Single Photon Lidar: From Satellite Laser Ranging to Airborne Experiments to ICESat-2

In September 2018, NASA launched the ICESat-2 satellite into a 500 km high Earth orbit. It carried a truly unique lidar system, i.e., the Advanced Topographic Laser Altimeter System or ATLAS. The ATLAS lidar is capable of detecting single photons reflected from a wide variety of terrain (land, ice, tree leaves, and underlying terrain) and even performing bathymetric measurements due to its green wavelength. The system uses a single 5-watt, Q-switched laser producing a 10 kHz train of sub-nanosecond pulses, each containing 500 microjoules of energy. The beam is then split into three “strong” and three “weak” beamlets, with the “strong” beamlets containing four times the power of the “weak” beamlets in order to satisfy a wide range of Earth science goals. Thus, ATLAS is capable of making up to 60,000 surface measurements per second compared to the 40 measurements per second made by its predecessor multiphoton instrument, the Geoscience Laser Altimeter System (GLAS) on ICESat-1, which was terminated after several years of operation in 2009. Low deadtime timing electronics are combined with highly effective noise filtering algorithms to extract the spatially correlated surface photons from the solar and/or electronic background noise. The present paper describes how the ATLAS system evolved from a series of unique and seemingly unconnected personal experiences of the author in the fields of satellite laser ranging, optical antennas and space communications, Q-switched laser theory, and airborne single photon lidars.

Sustainable and inclusive; transforming residential undergraduate fieldtrips in an age of the climate crisis

ABSTRACT The Higher Education sector has a critical role to play in shaping our global response to “wicked problems” and nowhere is this more evident than in university research, teaching, and public engagement on sustainability that seeks to tackle the increasingly perilous environmental situation. However, despite this critical civic mission, the Global North HE sector faces growing scrutiny and critique over the mechanisms, cultural norms and practices in which staff, students, research partners, and others operate. This paper explores one facet of this scrutiny by focusing on the recent internationalisation of residential undergraduate fieldtrips within geography, earth, and environmental science programmes. Using a UK Department as a case study, it will document the significant carbon emissions and necessary offsetting costs associated with residential undergraduate fieldtrips, particularly those overseas. It will finish by discussing the Department’s revision to its fieldtrip design through the creation of a value-based fieldtrip framework grounded in the twin agendas of sustainability and Equity, Diversity and Inclusivity (EDI). This “sustainable and inclusive” fieldtrip framework becomes an important way for the Department to reduce the environmental impacts of this teaching activity and strengthen its accessibility and social justice work, thereby ensuring that the Global North HE sector leads by example.

Digital technologies of the future — modern solutions in Earth sciences

The article discusses technologies that can radically change the development of many areas at once: artificial intelligence, quantum technologies, big data, wireless communication technologies, distributed registry systems. The authors consider a number of promising technologies of the near future that currently have prospects for application in Earth sciences.

When language becomes an obstacle: the challenges of teaching immunology in french for moroccan students

The teaching of sciences, and more specifically immunology, in a foreign language presents numerous challenges, particularly in terms of understanding and assimilating knowledge. In this context, teaching sciences in the native language would be more conducive to learning, as students have been familiarized with these linguistic structures from a young age. Nevertheless, since 2014, Morocco has decided to teach scientific subjects (mathematics, physics, and life and earth sciences) in French starting from middle school to help students in scientific fields, initially educated in Arabic, to better pursue their higher education in French. This approach creates a double barrier for students whose mother tongue is Amazigh or Arabic, they must both master complex scientific concepts and express them in a foreign language. This article aims to examine these challenges through two studies targeting a sample of 185 (n1+n2+n3) teachers, one quantitative based on a questionnaire, and the other qualitative using the focus group technique. Both studies focus on the opinions of life and earth sciences teachers regarding the teaching of immunology in French the high school, a discipline with particularly complex concepts, and whether teaching scientific subjects in French is hindered by difficulties, and finally to propose possible alternatives to improve the effectiveness of this teaching. The results obtained show a negative appreciation from the teachers in our sample regarding the teaching of immunology in French, as it poses problems for students' understanding of this discipline. In fact, the results suggest that the majority of students lack interest and motivation in immunology courses taught in French, with low engagement in classroom discussions.

Seismic activity on the territory of Slovakia in 2022

The National Network of Seismic Stations of Slovakia (NNSS) consists of eight short period and six broadband permanent seismic stations and a data centre located at the Earth Science Institute of the Slovak Academy of Sciences (ESI SAS). The NNSS recorded and detected 11996 seismic events from all epicentral distances in 2022. Totally 76 earthquakes originated in the territory of Slovakia in 2022. This paper provides basic information on the configuration of the NNSS, routine data processing, seismic activity on the territory of Slovakia in 2022 as well as macroseismic observations collected in 2022.

External sessions of the USSR Academy of Sciences’ section of Earth sciences, held in the USSR regions in 1964–1968

On the 10th of April, 1961, the Presidium of the USSR Academy of Sciences passed a resolution aimed to improve effectiveness of research at the Academy’s institutions and to identify promising research areas. In accordance with this resolution, the Academy’s structure changed with 15 new sections added. The new structure of the Academy was reflected in its new charter approved in July 1963. Academician A. P. Vinogradov became the Academic Secretary of one of the Academy’s sections named the Section of Earth Sciences. In the new conditions, the Academic Secretary’s responsibility increased and the scope of his duties widened significantly, which demanded the implementation of new organizational forms of work such as the external (regionally held) sessions convened in various regions of the USSR since 1964. This article is devoted to the analysis of the history of these sessions. There were four external sessions held in the Soviet Central Asia and Kazakhstan (1964), in the Russian Far East (1965), in the Caucasus (1966), and in the Urals (1968). The objectives of these sessions were regionally convened discussions of current problems in the development of modern science, coordination of measures aimed to address these problems within the framework of the section, proving help to regional scientific institutions with the organization of studies including those involving the use of new research methods, and establishing close contacts between the scientists from different regions and the academies of sciences of different USSR republics.

Earth’s Eighth Continent

Our October issue digs deep into the rich Earth science in and around Aotearoa New Zealand.

Aesthetic Considerations in the Development of Plate Tectonics

Aesthetic considerations played a substantial and positive role in the development and acceptance of plate tectonics, the modern theory of the earth's major geological features and the unifying framework of the earth sciences. Here I give an overview of how aesthetics influenced plate tectonics and take a detailed look at a handful of examples from this history where elegance and simplicity tipped the balance in favour of a given hypothesis. I discuss some implications of this case study for extant accounts of aesthetics in science and argue that the positive role aesthetics played can be explained by recent accounts that posit an indirect and contingent link between knowledge and psychological mechanisms underlying aesthetic appreciation.

Ophiolites: Geological Heritage with Multifaceted Cultural Values

Cultural geomorphology is a very recent discipline that studies the geomorphological component of a territory which embodies both a cultural feature of the landscape and its interactions with cultural heritage: this cultural approach concerns the dialogue and cultural integration between humanistic and scientific disciplines and can be extended to all the fields of Earth Sciences. Ophiolite rock masses strongly characterize the landscape: their greenish-black, sometimes red-brown colour; the steep profile of the slopes, which results from their greater resistance to erosion than the surrounding softer sedimentary rocks; the scarce or even absent vegetation cover. The value of ophiolites is not only related to scientific and aesthetic interests, but is also due to historical–geographical, cultural and socio-economic issues. In this research, we present the elements of cultural and landscape value related to the ophiolites of the Northern Apennines, and how these geological and geomorphological features have led to specific relationships with humankind and human geography. Indeed, ophiolites represent characteristic elements of popular culture with immediate reference to toponymy, local legends and religion. Ophiolites are also an element of great strategic importance, as they are crucial for human settlement, with specific reference to defence, and for mining and quarrying activities. The landscape of ophiolites is of great geological, geomorphological, hydrogeological and pedological interest, resulting in a high concentration of geosites, hence on the one hand the opportunity for enhancement and potential geotourism, and on the other hand the need for their protection and geoconservation.

Integrating the plate tectonic and rock genesis systems for secondary school students

This paper describes how plate tectonics and rock genesis, two topics that are typically addressed separately in secondary Earth science classes, can be taught together as an integrated system. We define the TecRocks Reasoning Framework, developed to support student reasoning about rock formation situated in the context of plate tectonics. We also explain how we leveraged the framework in the designs of a new curriculum, interactive computer simulation, and assessment instrument. We show how the instrument was used to evaluate the curriculum, which included the computer simulation. We analyzed pretest and post-test data of 319 students taught by 10 teachers in diverse middle and high schools in the United States. Our analysis allowed us to discern different levels of reasoning in student explanations. On average, students made a significant pretest to post-test gain (p < .001) with a large effect size (Cohen’s d = 1.03) after using the curriculum. All student groups made significant gains regardless of their gender, English language status, race, or school level. However, the amount of gain significantly differed by school level, p < .001. The middle school students as a group made a larger pretest to post-test gain (d = 1.42) than the high school students (d = 0.66).