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Scientists find seismic imaging is blind to water

Scientists find seismic imaging is blind to water

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When an earthquake strikes, nearby seismometers pick up its vibrations in the form of seismic waves. In addition to revealing the epicenter of a quake, seismic waves can give scientists a way to map the interior structures of the Earth, much like a CT scan images the body.

By measuring the velocity at which seismic waves travel at various depths, scientists can determine the types of…

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Study finds climate determines shapes of river basins

Study finds climate determines shapes of river basins

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There are more than 1 million river basins carved into the topography of the United States, each collecting rainwater to feed the rivers that cut through them. Some basins are as small as individual streams, while others span nearly half the continent, encompassing, for instance, the whole of the Mississippi river network.

River basins also vary in shape, which, as MIT scientists now…

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Beach sand ripples can be fingerprints for ancient weather conditions

Beach sand ripples can be fingerprints for ancient weather conditions

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When a coastal tide rolls out, it can reveal beautiful ripples in the temporarily exposed sand. These same undulating patterns can also be seen in ancient, petrified seabeds that have been exposed in various parts of the world and preserved for millions or even billions of years.

Geologists look to ancient sand ripples for clues to the environmental conditions in which they formed. For…

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