Years before the devastating Tohoku earthquake struck the coast of Japan in 2011, the Earth’s crust near the site of the quake was starting to stir. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin are using computer models to investigate if tiny tremors detected near the site of the quake could be connected to the […]
Indian Ocean May Be More Disruptive to Tropical Climate Than Previously Believed
The Indian Ocean played a far greater role in driving climate change during the most recent ice age than previously believed and may disrupt climate again in the future. That’s according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin, the findings of which could rewrite established Pacific-centric theories on tropical climate change. […]
New study reveals connection between climate, life and the movement of continents
A new study by The University of Texas at Austin has demonstrated a possible link between life on Earth and the movement of continents. The findings show that sediment, which is often comprised from pieces of dead organisms, could play a key role in determining the speed of continental drift. In addition to challenging existing […]
Cliff Frohlich Named First Senior Research Scientist Emeritus
Cliff Frohlich has had a remarkable career at the University of Texas Institute for Geophysics, spending 40 years studying earthquakes of all kinds, whether they start deep in the earth, at the bottom of the ocean or are caused by human activity. Frohlich’s stellar research has earned him the reputation of a pioneer, someone who […]
New Research Could Predict La Niña Drought Years in Advance
Two new studies from The University of Texas at Austin have significantly improved scientists’ ability to predict the strength and duration of droughts caused by La Niña – a recurrent cooling pattern in the tropical Pacific Ocean. Their findings, which predict that the current La Niña is likely to stretch into a second year, could […]