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| Impact of Solar Radiation on Earth's Deep Interior and Resource Distribution Revealed in New Study |
Solar radiation may influence Earth's deep interior, according to a collaborative study by researchers from China and Romania. The study, published in Nature Communications, was conducted by the Institute of Geology and Geophysics (IGG) at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, China University of Geosciences, and the University of Bucharest.
Researchers found that solar radiation varies with latitude, creating temperature gradients on the sea surface that influence the distribution of marine life. These carbon-rich organisms are transported into Earth's interior through the subduction of oceanic plates, significantly affecting the redox state of arc magma. Analysis of thousands of magma samples, including those from deep within the earth and the sea, revealed that magma in lower latitude regions is less oxidized than in higher latitude areas.
Additional evidence from ocean floor studies showed more reduced carbon deposits in lower latitudes, which interact with sulfur to form sulfide and are then transported into the mantle. This process contributes to the observed redox pattern. "This unexpected pattern suggests that the Earth's surface environment and climate, influenced by solar radiation, have a profound effect on mantle processes," said Wan Bo, a co-author and researcher at IGG.
The study has significant implications for predicting the locations and availability of critical metal ores, such as copper, tin, and lithium, which are sensitive to redox conditions. Understanding the spatial and temporal distribution of redox state at global subduction zones can help in exploring resources and understanding the environmental effects of subduction systems at different latitudes. "The observed pattern offers new directions for exploring resources and understanding the environmental effects of subduction systems at different latitudes," said Hu Fangyang, the corresponding author and researcher at IGG.
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