“`html
Researchers scrutinized stalagmites inside the Postojna Cave within Slovenia.(Image credit: I love takeing photos and i think that is a really great opportunity for me to share them/Getty Images)
According to scientists, stalagmites all conform to a certain mathematical principle, as they have formulated equations displaying how the remarkable mineral structures evolve into various forms.
These novel mathematical delineations could aid scientists in gleaning more precise information pertaining to prior climatic states, the researchers mentioned in a piece slated for release during the week of October 13 in the journal PNAS.
You may like
-
Methane ice spires, rivaling skyscrapers in height, might encircle Pluto’s equator
-
Mystifying diamonds originating from a South African mine showcase ‘virtually impossible’ chemical makeup
-
A cryptic, highly effective ‘thermostat’ could prompt Earth to exaggerate its responses to shifts in climate
Stalagmites are capable of achieving heights extending to hundreds of feet from cave floors, adopting diverse configurations — varying from pointed, slender cones to expansive, level-topped hummocks. Their genesis occurs through the persistent dripping of mineral-laden water from a cave’s roof onto an approximate location for millennia, steadily accruing calcite into a rising structure emanating from the cave’s base.
Within this fresh investigation, Szymczak alongside his associates conceived a collection of mathematical expressions elucidating the genesis of these myriad forms. They ascertained that the eventual contour assumed by a stalagmite hinges upon the tempo at which water filters from the cavern’s ceiling onto it, coupled with the velocity at which calcite within that water remains. These elements can be synthesized into a singular figure termed the Damköhler number.
Swiftly flowing water originating from a cave’s apex tends to yield sharp, conical stalagmites, in contrast to the gradual descent onto a fixed point that begets stouter, column-esque stalagmites. Given an extended vertical fall or inconsistent droplet placement, expansive stalagmites exhibiting flat crests might materialize.
Subsequently, the scholars empirically confirmed their equations, juxtaposing anticipated stalagmite morphologies under varied circumstances against tangible specimens extracted from Slovenia’s Postojna Cave.
“Upon superimposing our analytical results onto authentic cavern samples, the degree of congruence proved astounding,” voiced study collaborator Matej Lipar, a physical geographer affiliated with the Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts, via the release. “This underscores that even within disordered natural settings, the intrinsic spatial arrangement persists.”
RELATED STORIES
—A 13-year drought severely impacted the Maya civilization on the Yucatán Peninsula 1,000 years ago, research indicates
—An enigmatic 300,000-year-old skull discovered in a Greek cavern defied classification as either human or Neanderthal, study reveals
—An ancient shark was identified deep within the world’s most extensive cave network
Authors of the study suggested that this geometry could be harnessed by scientists to derive heightened precision in the extraction of historical climate records from these formations. In analogy to tree rings, stalagmites accrue in strata, encapsulating data pertaining to precipitation and temperature progressions over time. Analyzing ratios of diverse varieties, or isotopes, of carbon present within each tier empowers scientists to access these climatic conditions. The stalagmite’s configuration exerts an influence on the pattern of stratum deposition, thereby impacting the interpretation of environmental circumstances by scientists.
“Stalagmites act as natural climate repositories; however, we now recognize that their inherent geometry instills a distinctive imprint on the isotopic composition,” articulated study co-author Anthony Ladd, a chemical engineer hailing from the University of Florida, via the release. “Appreciating this impact facilitates obtaining dependable information germane to prior climates.”
Skyler WareSocial Links NavigationLive Science Contributor
Skyler Ware serves as an independent science correspondent, specializing in domains such as chemistry, biology, paleontology, and Earth sciences. Previously, she participated in the 2023 AAAS Mass Media Science and Engineering Fellowship at Science News. Her journalistic contributions have also been featured in entities like Science News Explores, ZME Science, and Chembites, among others. Skyler possesses a Ph.D. qualification in chemistry from Caltech.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
LogoutRead more
Methane ice spires, rivaling skyscrapers in height, might encircle Pluto’s equator
Mystifying diamonds originating from a South African mine showcase ‘virtually impossible’ chemical makeup
A cryptic, highly effective ‘thermostat’ could prompt Earth to exaggerate its responses to shifts in climate
The geological framework supporting the Himalayas deviates from past understanding, scientists discover
Narusawa Ice Cave: The lava tube brimming with 10-foot-high ice pillars at the base of Mount Fuji
A 200-foot scorpion effigy mound situated in Mexico potentially aligns with solstices
Latest in Geology
Satellites registered a peculiar gravity signal emerging from Earth’s depths close to two decades prior, according to a fresh investigation
Plate tectonics might explain the existence of life on Earth — also serving as a key to find life in other parts of the cosmos
An ocean of Saharan ‘star dunes’ starkly contrasts with the unearthly landscape marking the border between two countries
Unusual glass found in Australia seemingly stems from a massive asteroid collision — yet researchers ‘are yet to pinpoint the crater’
Mystifying diamonds originating from a South African mine showcase ‘virtually impossible’ chemical makeup
Sourse: www.livescience.com
