The researchers believe this layer may cover the entire planet.
The discovery was made by analyzing the lingering movement that GPS sensors on islands in the Pacific Ocean near Fiji detected after a strong
Sunyoung Park, a geophysicist with the University of Chicago and the study's lead author, demonstrates that there might be a unique way to measure the mantle's properties. That is, studying the aftermath of intense earthquakes. When the scientists carefully analyzed the data from GPS sensors on several nearby islands, they found the Earth continued to move even after the earthquake had passed. Even years later, Tonga is still moving slowly, at a rate of roughly 1 centimeter each year.
While the phenomenon had previously been noted for shallow earthquakes, scientists believed the effect would be too tiny to be noticed for deep earthquakes. Therefore, Park's observation is the first to solidly detect the deformation following deep earthquakes.Crucially, this observation was used by Park and her associates to determine the mantle's viscosity., about 50 miles thick, at the bottom of the upper mantle layer that is less viscous than the rest of the mantle.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
How to help Turkey, Syria: Relief efforts ongoing after more earthquakes rock regionMonday’s heavy shaking exacerbates a humanitarian crisis that has forced more than 1 million people to seek refuge in temporary shelters amid the winter cold. Here's how to help.
Read more »
Thousands of children at risk after earthquakes in Syria and TurkeyThousands of children have no access to clean drinking water and a place to stay after a series of earthquakes.
Read more »
Utahns working to support Turkey after devastating earthquakes“We are all in this long, extended nightmare but we are going to overcome this' - Another 6.4 magnitude earthquake shook Turkey yesterday, sending Turkish people and their loved ones into a continued state of fear. EmilyTencerTV
Read more »
Earthquakes last longer and feel stronger in parts of Interior Alaska, research findsEarthquakes in the Nenana Basin in Interior Alaska last longer and feel much stronger than quakes of comparable magnitude in other places. It’s all about the reverberation, UAF researchers find.
Read more »
Earthquakes last longer and feel stronger in parts of Interior Alaska, research findsThey found that the seismic waves get amplified as they bounce back and forth off the sides and bottom of the sedimentary basin in the Minto Flats region. So people in the flats perceive the earthquakes as bigger than they actually are.
Read more »
After Earthquakes, Turkey Rushes to Get Health System Working AgainTemporary clinics and hospitals are being set up to replace the dozens of healthcare facilities that were either destroyed or damaged by the quakes.
Read more »