Gigantic discovery: thick transition zones in the earth's mantle in front of Antillen!

Gigantic discovery: thick transition zones in the earth's mantle in front of Antillen!

In a significant discovery, an international research team, led by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, identified one of the thickest transition zones in the earth's mantle in front of the small antils in the Atlantic. This zone, which is about 330 kilometers thick, lies between the upper and lower mantle. The results of these studies, in which the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) is also involved, were published in the Nature journal and show how large quantities of basaltic rock can influence the behavior of sinking oceanic plates. According to kit this rock accuses several hundred million years, which leads to a braking of the plates.

The current research illuminates the geotectonal past of these plates and their influence on the dynamics of plate tectonics. Professor Andreas Rietbrock from the Geophysical Institute of the KIT coordinates the project, which is part of the international research project Voila (Volatiles in the Lesser Antilles). This study is based on the theory of plattectonics, which has revolutionized the earth sciences since the 1960s and explains how large land forms arise from subtle movements of the earth's crust.

The role of the transition zone

The transition zone in the coat contains basal -rich regions in depths of 410 to 660 kilometers. These special geological structures have a direct impact on the coat circuit and the dynamics of plate tectonics. Research shows that certain plates can stagnate, which in turn depends on their chemical composition and geological history. These findings could fundamentally change the way scientists understand the movement of the earth plates.

In order to systematically examine these complex relationships, 34 seismometers were installed on the sea floor. Your data provides crucial information about the dynamics of the panels and their diving into the transition zone. The project also benefits from the support of the European Research Council, which underlines the relevance and urgency of this research.

context of the plate tectonics

Place tectonics is a theory that explains the emergence of significant geological formations by the movements of the earth. This theory is based on the observations that the lithosphere, which includes the earth's crust and the upper coat, is divided into large, solid panels. These plates move on a partially melted layer, the asthenosphere. Their movement takes place relative to one another with speeds between 2 and 15 centimeters per year, which has an essential effects on the geological events, such as the emergence of mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes, such as National Geographic explained.

The study of the transition zones in the earth's mantle will not only contribute to clarifying geological processes, but could also have an impact on our understanding of global geological phenomena. The results could ultimately help to predict and understand earthquakes and volcanic activities.