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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Superplumes Inside Earth
NASA ^ | 4 May, 2024 | Image Credit & License: Sanne Cottaar via Wikimedia Commons

Posted on 05/04/2026 12:13:28 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Why are there huge, unusual masses inside the Earth? No one is sure. By noting how earthquakes rumble through our planet's interior, humanity has discovered two deep structures that appear to have unusual temperatures and/or chemical compositions. One hypothesis holds that the superplumes are sunken debris left over from the Earth-shattering collision that created Earth's Moon about 4.5 billion years ago. A competing hypothesis is that they are graveyards for old tectonic plates that slowly slid under each other over the past few billion years. No matter their origin, the superplumes are thought to affect Earthโ€™s surface volcanism, possibly creating, for example, island chains such as Hawaii. Also known as large low-shear-velocity provinces (LLSVPs), Earth's superplumes are visualized in the featured animation.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

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Todays image is a video at the source link

1 posted on 05/04/2026 12:13:28 PM PDT by MtnClimber
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To: 21stCenturion; 21twelve; 4everontheRight; A Navy Vet; A_perfect_lady; abb; AFB-XYZ; AFPhys; ...
Pinging the APOD list

๐Ÿช ๐ŸŒŸ ๐ŸŒŒ ๐Ÿ” Todays image is a video at the source link

2 posted on 05/04/2026 12:14:37 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

I’m pretty sure that the Earth is not of the same consistency all throughout its sphere. The primordial bombardment would have included asteroids of various make-up, stony, iron, and a mixture of them all................


3 posted on 05/04/2026 12:24:42 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine โ€“ August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: Red Badger

Is that why I can’t mine for gold in my back yard? But I have to watch out for alligators up 12 ft long? Who else has to do that? I think everyone should have to put up with alligators. I went to the University of Florida so I am biased.


4 posted on 05/04/2026 12:33:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery, wildlife and climbing, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: Red Badger

As well as cheese.


5 posted on 05/04/2026 12:35:22 PM PDT by Track9 (Liberal tears make me smile. Thank you DJT!)
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To: MtnClimber

In Florida, you just have to get used to the gators. They were here first..........


6 posted on 05/04/2026 12:42:46 PM PDT by Red Badger (Iryna Zarutska, May 22, 2002 Kyiv, Ukraine โ€“ August 22, 2025 Charlotte, North Carolina Say her name)
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To: MtnClimber

Bkmk


7 posted on 05/04/2026 1:20:59 PM PDT by sauropod
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To: Red Badger

Were the Gators here sooner than the Sooners? Anyway they beat them 13-2 yesterday.


8 posted on 05/04/2026 1:36:40 PM PDT by Verginius Rufus
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To: Red Badger
When both the Earthโ€™s spinning core and my heart realize today is Monday...


9 posted on 05/04/2026 2:06:08 PM PDT by Deaf and Discerning
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To: MtnClimber

If you are watching for gators I bet your geology is all wrong for gold strikes. Limestone karst?


10 posted on 05/04/2026 2:16:31 PM PDT by 31R1O (The people who can control themselves ought to be able to defend themselves from those who can't.)
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To: MtnClimber

I suppose Hell and Purgatory have different densities.


11 posted on 05/04/2026 2:59:17 PM PDT by blackpacific
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