A recent study suggests that a massive plume of super-heated rock rising from near Earth’s core may provide an explanation for the enigmatic distortions associated with a significant tear in the planet’s surface that seems to be splitting Africa in two.
Continental rifts, large gashes in Earth’s surface causing landmasses to separate, are widespread globally.
The East African Rift, stretching approximately 2,175 miles (3,500 kilometers) from the Red Sea to Mozambique, represents the largest active continental rift.
During continental rifting, the planet’s outermost rigid layer, known as the lithosphere, undergoes deformation.
As the lithosphere stretches thin, its shallowest parts can exhibit various forms of distortion, from tearing apart like dough to fracturing.
The study’s co-author, D. Sarah Stamps, likens these responses to Silly Putty, where applying force abruptly can lead to cracks, while gradual pulling results in stretching.
The behavior of Earth’s lithosphere varies over different time scales.
After studying the East African Rift for over 12 years, researchers discovered an unexpected type of deformation in addition to the typical perpendicular motion along the rift.
They observed parallel surface movements, which are unusual and had not been observed elsewhere.
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Massive Superplume Unveils Clues to Earth’s Surface Deformations
To explain these anomalies, the study proposes the involvement of a massive mushroom-shaped “superplume” of scorching-hot rock ascending from Earth’s mantle.
According to the study, these plumes, particularly in continental rifts where the lithosphere has thinned, may actively contribute to the deformation of the Earth’s surface.
The African Superplume, located beneath southwest Africa and extending northeast across the continent, becomes shallower as it moves northward.
By utilizing GPS technology and seismic instruments, the scientists closely monitored surface motions and analyzed the flow of mantle rock over a broad area.
They came to the conclusion that the anomalous deformations parallel to the rift might be caused by a northward mantle flow connected to the African Superplume through 3D computer simulations.
This can be compared to the interaction of a stronger Silly Putty layer on top of a weaker one, where the weaker material progressively sticks together with the stronger material until both move in the same direction.
Overall, the findings contribute to a better understanding of how continents undergo breakup, emphasizing the significance of the study’s implications.
The research sheds light on the complex geological processes behind continental rifts and offers valuable insights into the dynamic forces shaping our planet.
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Source: Head Topics, Yahoo Life