MSGID: 1:317/3 6402c965   
   PID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
   TID: hpt/lnx 1.9.0-cur 2019-01-08   
    Most detailed geological model reveals Earth's past 100 million years   
    Sophisticated digital tool can help us understand the past and predict   
   the evolution of the Earth's surface    
      
     Date:   
         March 3, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Sydney   
     Summary:   
         Previous models of Earth's recent (100 million years) geomorphology   
         have been patchy at best. For the first time a detailed continuous   
         model of the Earth's landscape evolution is presented, with   
         potential for understanding long-term climate and biological   
         development.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Climate, tectonics and time combine to create powerful forces that craft   
   the face of our planet. Add the gradual sculpting of the Earth's surface   
   by rivers and what to us seems solid as rock is constantly changing.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   However, our understanding of this dynamic process has at best been   
   patchy.   
      
   Scientists today have published new research revealing a detailed and   
   dynamic model of the Earth's surface over the past 100 million years.   
      
   Working with scientists in France, University of Sydney geoscientists   
   have published this new model in the journal Science.   
      
   For the first time, it provides a high-resolution understanding of how   
   today's geophysical landscapes were created and how millions of tonnes   
   of sediment have flowed to the oceans.   
      
   Lead author Dr Tristan Salles from the University of Sydney School   
   of Geosciences, said: "To predict the future, we must understand   
   the past. But our geological models have only provided a fragmented   
   understanding of how our planet's recent physical features formed.   
      
   "If you look for a continuous model of the interplay between river basins,   
   global-scale erosion and sediment deposition at high resolution for the   
   past 100 million years, it just doesn't exist.   
      
   "So, this is a big advance. It's not only a tool to help us investigate   
   the past but will help scientists understand and predict the future,   
   as well."  Using a framework incorporating geodynamics, tectonic and   
   climatic forces with surface processes, the scientific team has presented   
   a new dynamic model of the past 100 million years at high resolution   
   (down to 10 kilometres), broken into frames of a million years.   
      
   Second author Dr Laurent Husson from Institut des Sciences de la Terre   
   in Grenoble, France, said: "This unprecedented high-resolution model of   
   Earth's recent past will equip geoscientists with a more complete and   
   dynamic understanding of the Earth's surface.   
      
   "Critically, it captures the dynamics of sediment transfer from the land   
   to oceans in a way we have not previously been able to."  Dr Salles said   
   that understanding the flow of terrestrial sediment to marine environments   
   is vital to comprehend present-day ocean chemistry.   
      
   "Given that ocean chemistry is changing rapidly due to human-induced   
   climate change, having a more complete picture can assist our   
   understanding of marine environments," he said.   
      
   The model will allow scientists to test different theories as to how   
   the Earth's surface will respond to changing climate and tectonic forces.   
      
   Further, the research provides an improved model to understand how the   
   transportation of Earth sediment regulates the planet's carbon cycle   
   over millions of years.   
      
   "Our findings will provide a dynamic and detailed background for   
   scientists in other fields to prepare and test hypotheses, such as in   
   biochemical cycles or in biological evolution."  Authors Dr Salles,   
   Dr Claire Mallard and PhD student Beatriz Hadler Boggiani are members   
   of the EarthColab Group and Associate Professor Patrice Rey and Dr Sabin   
   Zahirovic are part of the EarthByte Group. Both groups are in the School   
   of Geosciences at the University of Sydney.   
      
   The research was undertaken in collaboration with French geoscientists   
   from CNRS, France, Universite' Lyon and ENS Paris.   
      
   Video 1: https://youtu.be/MhXkMSyLXsA Video 2:   
   https://youtu.be/N3FHTtmOuD4   
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Earth_Science # Environmental_Awareness # Climate   
                   # Geology   
             o Fossils_&_Ruins   
                   # Early_Climate # Fossils # Origin_of_Life #   
                   Charles_Darwin   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Global_climate_model o Timeline_of_evolution o   
             Structure_of_the_Earth o Ice_age o Climate_model   
             o Recent_single-origin_hypothesis o Supervolcano o   
             Temperature_record_of_the_past_1000_years   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Sydney. Note: Content   
   may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Tristan Salles, Laurent Husson, Patrice Rey, Claire Mallard, Sabin   
         Zahirovic, Beatriz Hadler Boggiani, Nicolas Coltice, Mae"lis   
         Arnould.   
      
         Hundred million years of landscape dynamics from catchment to global   
         scale. Science, 2023; 379 (6635): 918 DOI: 10.1126/science.add2541   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/03/230303105337.htm   
      
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