The current solar cycle is intense, forcing space-oriented companies to face inclement space weather. Credit: NASA Goddard
Featured research
Space companies face heightened solar maximum
Space companies face inclement weather as the current solar cycle has produced the highest rates of monthly sunspots in over two decades, with 163 and 159 in June and July, respectively. [Space Weather research]
Hydrogen insulates gas giants’ ultra-hot cores
Hydrogen, a primary component in gas giant planets, may be the reason why these distant worlds are able to maintain scorching internal temperatures despite their ice-cold surfaces. Researchers find that in its hot, liquid form, hydrogen has low thermal conductivity, making it a great insulator. [Geophysical Research Letters research]
Researchers pinpoint source of Turkey-Syria Earthquake tsunami
On 6 February 2023, two large earthquakes struck southeast Turkey and the northern border of Syria, generating a series of aftershocks and a mysterious tsunami in the Mediterranean Sea. Researchers now say the tsunami originated from landslides and liquefaction around Turkey’s Iskenderun Bay. [Geophysical Research Letters research]
Europe is getting drier and hotter
In 2022, western Europe experienced its hottest summer on record, resulting in more than 61,000 deaths. Low winds and an influx of hot, dry air are partially to blame, and similar weather patterns will be more likely with climate change, researchers say. [Geophysical Research Letters research]
Ocean’s largest Oxygen Deficient Zone is getting stronger
The world’s largest ocean Oxygen Deficient Zone, located in the Eastern Tropical North Pacific, has strengthened by 30% in the last 50 years. There, rapidly depleting oxygen supplies could drastically alter the carbon cycle and threaten marine organisms. [Global Biogeochemical Cycles research]
Exploring the mantle through microseisms
A new method for examining the tiny vibrations of Earth caused by ocean swells could help reveal details of deep-Earth structure. [Geophysical Research Letters research] [Eos Research Spotlight]
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