The discovery, gleaned from observations of volcanoes on four continents, could help constrain models of volcanic eruptions.

Katherine Kornei
Katherine Kornei is a freelance science journalist covering Earth and space science. Her bylines frequently appear in Eos, Science, and The New York Times. Katherine holds a Ph.D. in astronomy from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Saturn’s Powerful Winds Explain Changes in the Length of Its Day
Atmospheric winds moving at more than 7,000 kilometers per hour distort Saturn’s magnetic field, revealing why spacecraft have measured changes in the length of a day on the ringed world.
Martian Meteorites Reveal Evidence of a Large Impact
By analyzing rare Martian meteorites, researchers have uncovered a crystalline structure created by a large asteroid or comet impact that potentially affected the Red Planet’s habitability.
Machine Learning Pinpoints Meteorite-Rich Areas in Antarctica
A new algorithm suggests that only a small fraction of meteorites present on the White Continent’s surface have been recovered to date.
A Giant Impact Triggered Earthquakes for Thousands of Years
When an asteroid struck South Africa during the Precambrian, earthquakes rocked the region for millennia as Earth’s crust reequilibrated, new research reveals.
Rising Seas Boost Tsunami Impacts on Distant Shorelines
Modeling suggests that rising sea levels will render Southern California ports increasingly vulnerable to waves from distant-source tsunamis.
Soil Texture Affects How Carbon Is Stored Underground
Using measurements from more than 9,300 soil samples collected worldwide, researchers have shown that carbon storage in soils is affected by both air temperature and soil texture.
Invasive Plants and Climate Change Will Alter Desert Landscapes
In experiments conducted in Biosphere 2, invasive buffelgrass weathers higher temperatures and drought conditions better than its native brethren.
Earthquakes Ripple Through 3D Printed Models of Los Angeles
Using stainless steel models, researchers find that high-frequency seismic waves—the most damaging to buildings—are attenuated in the Los Angeles sedimentary basin.
A Global Map of Human Sewage in Coastal Ecosystems
Prodigious quantities of nitrogen from human waste flow into coastal waters, a study of nearly 135,000 watersheds reveals.