Earth’s newly discovered layer could help scientists predict earthquakes

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A newly confirmed layer of the Earth could give scientists a better understanding of plate tectonics and could help them better predict earthquakes, according to research published by the University of Texas.

The work, published in the scientific journal Nature Geosciences, was led by Junlin Hua, a post-doctoral student at UT Austin. Hua began his research while attending Brown University.

“Earthquakes (are) directly the cause of plate tectonics,” Hua said. Plate tectonics is the movement of the plates that make up the Earth’s crust. “It’s just kind of like a boat, like traveling on water.”

The plates float on the asthenosphere, a layer of the Earth’s upper mantle. It is about 100 miles beneath our feet and is the source of magma.

“The tectonic plate is like a plastic plate, and you put that on a syrup, and you try to kind of move that plastic plate. So that will certainly drag like those really sticky syrup, like in some way.”


Earthquake death toll tops 25,000 in Turkey, Syria; some survivors still being found

Hua said that that this movement creates deformities in the surface of the asthenosphere. “And those (deformities) actually affect how we expect the plates to move with respect to each other.”

A new layer beneath the Earth

As plates move, they grind against one another. When this happens, we get earthquakes. So understanding this movement and the factors that influence it is vital to understanding earthquakes.

“What we are trying to know is whether or not we’re adding something else into those syrup. How will that change this motion?”

A diagram of the asthenosphere, which aids plate tectonics, where researchers at the UT Austin Jackson School of Geosciences say they detected a global layer of partial melt (shown in speckled red). Credit: Junlin Hua, Jackson School of Geosciences

Using 700 seismic stations from around the world, Hua found this new ingredient in the shape of a new layer. The layer? Partially melted rock. Not pure syrup. Not pure rock. Somewhere in the middle.

Scientists have theorized these pockets existed before, but Hua was able to prove they exist and map them. He discovered that the pockets could be found in 40%-50% of the asthenosphere.

Does the melted rock layer influence plate tectonics?

“Here we are, like solving like one part of plate tectonics,” Hua said.

The question scientists have is whether this partially melted rock is impacting how the “syrup” deforms. If it does, it could change the way the plates move.


University of Texas led team drills into area producing ‘the largest earthquakes on the planet’

Hua studied seismic readings and found that the rock does not influence the deformation. “what’s really determining how these things are deformed is still the solid thing instead of those melting rock.”

With this data, scientists will be able to build more accurate computer models for predicting plate movement.

According to the United States Geological Survey, there are more than twenty thousand earthquakes each year. We can not currently predict when they’ll happen.

 

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A newly confirmed layer of the Earth could give scientists a better understanding of plate tectonics and could help them better predict earthquakes, according to research published by the University of Texas.

The work, published in the scientific journal Nature Geosciences, was led by Junlin Hua, a post-doctoral student at UT Austin. Hua began his research while attending Brown University.

“Earthquakes (are) directly the cause of plate tectonics,” Hua said. Plate tectonics is the movement of the plates that make up the Earth’s crust. “It’s just kind of like a boat, like traveling on water.”

The plates float on the asthenosphere, a layer of the Earth’s upper mantle. It is about 100 miles beneath our feet and is the source of magma.

“The tectonic plate is like a plastic plate, and you put that on a syrup, and you try to kind of move that plastic plate. So that will certainly drag like those really sticky syrup, like in some way.”


Earthquake death toll tops 25,000 in Turkey, Syria; some survivors still being found

Hua said that that this movement creates deformities in the surface of the asthenosphere. “And those (deformities) actually affect how we expect the plates to move with respect to each other.”

A new layer beneath the Earth

As plates move, they grind against one another. When this happens, we get earthquakes. So understanding this movement and the factors that influence it is vital to understanding earthquakes.

“What we are trying to know is whether or not we’re adding something else into those syrup. How will that change this motion?”

A diagram of the asthenosphere, which aids plate tectonics, where researchers at the UT Austin Jackson School of Geosciences say they detected a global layer of partial melt (shown in speckled red). Credit: Junlin Hua, Jackson School of Geosciences

Using 700 seismic stations from around the world, Hua found this new ingredient in the shape of a new layer. The layer? Partially melted rock. Not pure syrup. Not pure rock. Somewhere in the middle.

Scientists have theorized these pockets existed before, but Hua was able to prove they exist and map them. He discovered that the pockets could be found in 40%-50% of the asthenosphere.

Does the melted rock layer influence plate tectonics?

“Here we are, like solving like one part of plate tectonics,” Hua said.

The question scientists have is whether this partially melted rock is impacting how the “syrup” deforms. If it does, it could change the way the plates move.


University of Texas led team drills into area producing ‘the largest earthquakes on the planet’

Hua studied seismic readings and found that the rock does not influence the deformation. “what’s really determining how these things are deformed is still the solid thing instead of those melting rock.”

With this data, scientists will be able to build more accurate computer models for predicting plate movement.

According to the United States Geological Survey, there are more than twenty thousand earthquakes each year. We can not currently predict when they’ll happen.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


Best electric snow blower

/ 3 hours ago

An electric snow blower uses an auger to grind apart dense snow and send it away from the path or driveway you’re clearing.


Best Yukon Charlie’s snowshoes

/ 3 hours ago

Yukon Charlie’s snowshoes allow wearers to glide along flat, rolling or mountainous trails, depending on the design.


Best winter boots for women

/ 3 hours ago

If you want to make it through the cold weather this winter, you’ll need a solid pair of winter boots.


View All BestReviews


Top Stories


H-E-B tortillas take center stage in Super Bowl ad


4 new routes coming to AUS, including 2 international


UT students launch company to offset CO2 emissions


City of Kyle seeks feedback on 2030 Comprehensive …


Black National Anthem performed at Super Bowl for …


Top Stories


More Stories


H-E-B tortillas take center stage in Super Bowl ad


4 new routes coming to AUS, including 2 international


UT students launch company to offset CO2 emissions


City of Kyle seeks feedback on 2030 Comprehensive …


Former NORAD official: Adversaries might be testing …


Black National Anthem performed at Super Bowl for …


Trump bashes Rihanna’s Super Bowl halftime performance


Childcare director charged after kids given melatonin


More Stories

Austin-Travis County


H-E-B tortillas take center stage in Super Bowl ad

/ 26 seconds ago


4 new routes coming to AUS, including 2 international

/ 1 hour ago


UT students launch company to offset CO2 emissions

/ 2 hours ago


AISD to provide update on teacher affordable housing

/ 4 hours ago


ATX church to hold prayer vigil for earthquake victims

/ 4 hours ago


‘Partially melted’ rock could help predict earthquakes

/ 4 hours ago


Police: Person shot overnight in east Austin drive-by

/ 5 hours ago


Why Wire One Austin is still pushing for gondolas

/ 5 hours ago


City pushes to fill thousands of job vacancies

/ 4 hours ago


Man to serve 36 years in prison for 2019 murder

/ 21 hours ago


APD officer running to remember his time on the force

/ 21 hours ago


Pennsylvania murder suspect convicted, sentenced …

/ 22 hours ago


Eanes ISD voters to decide on $131M bond election …

/ 23 hours ago


Goodwill launches ‘dump your ex’s stuff’ campaign

/ 2 hours ago


CapMetro driver home from hospital after bus shooting

/ 13 hours ago


1 person involved in small plane crash in Lakeway

/ 14 hours ago


Austin coffee shop named among the best in the country

/ 1 day ago


70s and 80s ahead of a late week freeze potential

/ 5 hours ago


Old UT furniture, items find new life at reuse store

/ 13 hours ago


City Manager responds as council moves to oust him

/ 2 hours ago

KXAN Austin Video

<article class="article-list__article article-list__article–is-stacked article-list__article–has-thumb article-list__article–is-media-type" data-article-id="8385574" data-index="0" data-collection="article-list5" data-anvato-params=" …

4 hours ago

Push to legalize online sports betting in Texas

13 hours ago

CapMetro bus driver shot, recovering at home

13 hours ago

Man arrested after 13-hour standoff in Cedar Park

14 hours ago

Small plane crashes on Lakeway golf course

14 hours ago

Texas bill would ban schools from restraining students …

14 hours ago

‘Dump You Ex’s Stuff’ Goodwill donation campaign

14 hours ago

Family of missing man hold vigil near Ladybird Lake …

2 days ago

Keeping roots in East Austin: Meet the couple behind …

2 days ago

State of Texas: DPS director expects ‘Just the two’ …

2 days ago


More Videos


BestReviews


Best electric snow blower

/ 3 hours ago


Best Yukon Charlie’s snowshoes

/ 3 hours ago


Best winter boots for women

/ 3 hours ago


Listen your way through Burt Bacharach’s discography …

/ 3 hours ago


Best personalized Valentine’s gifts for him

/ 5 hours ago


Best Valentine’s Day decor

/ 4 hours ago


More reviews


More from KXAN Austin


Cat with gang tattoo discovered in Cereso prison


Are Social Security & Medicare at risk of being cut?


AISD to provide update on teacher affordable housing


ATX church to hold prayer vigil for earthquake victims


All-female pilot team makes Super Bowl flyover history


Police: Person shot overnight in east Austin drive-by


Why Wire One Austin is still pushing for gondolas


City pushes to fill thousands of job vacancies


More from KXAN Austin


BestReviews Valentine’s Day Deals


Best personalized Valentine’s gifts for him


Best Valentine’s Day decor


Best Valentine’s Day present for a new relationship


Show off your Chiefs Super Bowl LVII fandom with …





`;

// –>


Tracking the Coronavirus


COVID-19 tracker: Cases in the KXAN viewing area

/ 5 days ago


Data tracker: COVID cases, vaccine rates across Texas

/ 5 days ago


Coronavirus Cases Tracker

Austin Weather

Current

65°

Sunny

Tonight

57°

Rain

Precip: 60&percnt;

Tomorrow

78°

Rain Ends, Sun Returns

Precip: 20&percnt;

Trending Stories


4 new routes coming to AUS, including 2 international


Austin coffee shop named among the best in the country


City pushes to fill thousands of job vacancies


Why Wire One Austin is still pushing for gondolas


Old UT furniture, items find new life at reuse store

Don’t Miss


RESULTS: This is the best KXAN viewer pic of January


Can I burn my tree stumps, fallen branches post-storm?


TxDMV rejects vegan license plate for ‘vulgar’ phrase


Cities offer free tree, brush disposals post-storm


KXAN launches new news podcasts



Latest weather conditions from the KXAN First Warning Weather team