BEIJING, July 21 (Xinhua) — Solar radiation may have an impact on Earth’s deep interior, according to a joint study by researchers from China and Romania.
The study, published in the journal Nature Communications, was conducted by researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the China University of Geosciences and the Institute of Geography and Geophysics (IGG) at the University of Bucharest.
According to the researchers, solar radiation varies with latitude, creating temperature gradients on the ocean surface that affect the distribution of marine life. These carbon-rich organisms are transported into the Earth’s interior by subducting oceanic plates. This process significantly affects the redox state of the arc magma.
The researchers analyzed data from thousands of magma samples collected by geologists worldwide, including magma samples deep within the Earth and ocean. They analyzed olivine minerals and small melt inclusions within the bulk rock data to determine the redox state of the arc magma.
The study found that magma in low-latitude regions is less oxidized than that in high-latitude regions. Additional evidence from sea floor studies suggests reduced carbon deposits at low latitudes. This carbon interacts with sulfur to form sulfide, which is then transported into the mantle, contributing to the observed redox pattern.
„This unexpected pattern shows that the Earth’s surface environment and climate affected by solar radiation have a profound effect on mantle processes,” said von Boe, co-author of the study and a researcher at the IGG.
Many metallic minerals such as copper, tin, and lithium are sensitive to redox conditions. Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of redox status in global subregions has significant implications for predicting the locations and availability of these critical resources.
„The observed pattern provides new directions for exploring resources and understanding the ecological effects of ecosystems at different latitudes,” said Hu Fangyang, corresponding author of the study and a researcher at the IGG. ■
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