Wet antecedent soil moisture increased streamflow magnitudes by 2–4.5 times during atmospheric river storms across 122 U.S. West Coast watersheds between 1980 and 2023, according to a new analysis. The study, published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology on June 4, 2025, establishes a nonlinear threshold effect in soil moisture, above which flood response to atmospheric rivers increases sharply.
Scientists have detected rhythmic pulses of hot mantle material rising from deep beneath East Africa’s Afar rift system — a region where the continent is gradually breaking apart along three tectonic rift arms. Based on over 130 volcanic rock samples, the study shows that the mantle upwelling is compositionally varied and shaped by differences in crustal thickness and spreading rates across the Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, and Main Ethiopian rifts.
Veniaminof volcano in Alaska frequently erupts with little to no detectable precursory ground movement or seismic activity. A new study analyzing the 2018 eruption with thermomechanical models demonstrates that eruptions can occur with minimal warning when deep, low-flux magma systems are surrounded by thermally softened rock.
A recent study published in Nature Geoscience shows the presence of mantle-derived noble gases in the Palouse Basin Aquifer, which is part of the Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer system in eastern Washington and Idaho. Despite the region’s lack of active volcanism, helium and argon isotope measurements revealed a deep mantle source. The results suggest that noble gases can migrate through stable continental crust even in the absence of active volcanic or tectonic processes.
A persistent, ultra-low frequency seismic vibration was detected worldwide in September 2023 and traced to Dickson Fjord, East Greenland, after two large landslides triggered tsunamis and a long-lasting seiche. For the first time, researchers directly observed this standing wave using NASA’s SWOT satellite mission, providing new insights into the connection between global seismic signals and surface water motion in remote coastal environments.
New research suggests we may be overlooking a population of asteroids quietly orbiting alongside Venus. Though rarely observed, these co-orbitals could drift into Earth-crossing paths and pose a real impact threat. New simulations highlight the gaps in current detection efforts and make a strong case for space-based surveys near Venus.
A study of Campi Flegrei’s crust has uncovered a damaged rock layer underground that may be driving the volcano’s long-running unrest. The zone, weakened by older magma intrusions, now appears to trap gas rising from deeper sources. This buildup of underground pressure could explain both the steady ground uplift and the swarms of small quakes recorded since 2005.
A new study identifies a recurring 11-year oscillation in global mean sea level linked to the solar cycle. The analysis shows that solar activity influences rainfall distribution and terrestrial water storage, leading to measurable shifts in sea level that align with peaks and troughs in the Sun’s natural cycle.
Scientists are using subtle changes in gravity to reveal the hidden interiors of the Moon and asteroid Vesta. By tracking spacecraft movements, they’ve created detailed maps that uncover thermal differences on the Moon and a uniform structure inside Vesta. This method opens new doors for exploring distant worlds without landing on them.
A new study of the Yilan Crater in northeastern China offers a rare glimpse into the aftermath of a powerful ancient impact. By listening to subtle ground vibrations with passive seismic tools, researchers uncovered a bowl-shaped structure hidden beneath the surface, evidence of a meteorite strike that took place around 49 000 years ago. Their analysis suggests the object hit with such force that the Yilan event ranks among the most powerful known impacts on Earth in the past 80 000 years, likely leaving lasting effects across the surrounding region.
