A new study reveals huge parts of the northern sea bottom upside down

In the world of layers, or rock layers, surface deposits are usually smaller than those that they settle on. However, the North Sea revealed giant sand piles that challenge this geological principle on one of the most preceded scientists before.

Researchers from Norway and the United Kingdom have identified hundreds of sand bodies under the North Sea, which seem to be drowned in the ocean shell, where they switched places with old layers, which float to the highest sand structures. The team claims that this “sink”, which has been appropriately called the largest well -known class coup and can significantly affect carbon storage projects.

“This discovery reveals a geological process that we have not seen before on this range. What we found is structures where thick sands were drowned in lighter deposits that float to the top of the sand, effectively fluctuated the traditional layers that we expect to see and create huge hills under the sea.” statement.

Large pieces of ancient sand

Through data from sources including direct rock samples and high -resolution 3D imaging techniques, Hoos and his colleagues investigated “hills and hills of sand included in accurate deposits, up to several hundreds of meters and (dozens) of long (kilometers), and written in the article Ticket It was published earlier this summer in Communications Earth and Environment.

The researchers suggest that the sink was formed due to earthquakes or changes in underground pressure during Late myosin (10.4 to 5 million years) to Bluemen (From 5 to 1.6 million years) era. These events can touch the sand, which makes them sink through fractures on the sea floor. This flow replaced deep rains – sick, but more porous than sediments with a large amount of small marine fossils. These rolls, or “floating” were then floating to the top of the sand hills, reflecting the original order of the layers.

“This research shows how fluids and sediments can move in the Earth’s crust in unexpected ways,” House explained in the statement. “Understanding how it can change this washbasin, which has greatly formed how we evaluate the underground tanks, seal them and deport fluids – all vital to capture and store carbon.”

The effects of climate change reduction

In order to slow down the climate change by man, many scientists argue that, in addition to reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases aimed at the planet such as carbon dioxide (CO2), we must also find ways to capture and store them before entering the atmosphere. One in this way Approach It can be involved in storing carbon dioxide in the ocean. In fact, the world’s first commercial carbon storage project in the world only complete The first delivery of carbon dioxide at the bottom of the sea in the north of the sea. Researchers argue from the recent study that their discovery in the pelvis carries effects on the safety of these projects, as well as predicting the trapped oil and gas sites.

“As with many scientific discoveries, there are many skeptical sounds, and also many who express their support for the new model.” “Time and more research will tell how widespread execution.”