A tectonic plate may have peeled apart--and that could shrink the Atlantic Ocean

[yuiyoshida]

Something strange is happening off the coast of Portugal, and scientists have now proposed a groundbreaking explanation.

BY MAYA WEI-HAAS
PUBLISHED MAY 6, 2019
For years, João Duarte has puzzled over a seemingly boring underwater expanse off the coast of Portugal. In 1969, this site spawned a massive earthquake that rattled the shore and sparked a tsunami. But you would never know why just from looking at the broad, featureless surface of the seabed. Duarte, a marine geologist from the Instituto Dom Luiz at the University of Lisbon, wanted to find out what was going on.

Now, 50 years after the event, he may finally have an answer: The bottom of the tectonic plate off Portugal's coast seems to be peeling away from its top. This action may be providing the necessary spark for one plate to start grinding beneath another in what's known as a subduction zone, according to computer simulations Duarte presented in April at the European Geosciences Union meeting.


If confirmed, the new work would be the first time an oceanic plate has been caught in the act of peeling—and it may mark one of the earliest stages of the Atlantic Ocean shrinking, sending Europe inching toward Canada as predicted by some models of tectonic activity. (Find out what scientists think will happen when Earth's tectonic plates grind to a halt.)

“It’s certainly an interesting story,” says the University of Oslo's Fabio Crameri, who was not part of the research team but who attended the EGU lecture. Duarte presented some strong arguments, he says, but he cautions that the model needs further testing—not an easy feat when your data comes from a natural process that works at the speed at which fingernails grow.

“It’s a big statement,” Duarte says of the conclusions, acknowledging that he and his team still have work to do. “Maybe this is not the solution to all the problems. But I think we have something new here.”

more
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2019/05/tectonic-plate-peeled-apart-could-shrink-atlantic-ocean-geology/

[saidsimplesimon]

1. Who knows on the scale of time if

this will be more than "an interesting story" decades from now. Not much I can do about events that are not man made.

[Cartoonist]

2. I find it interesting

I love plate tectonics!

[bluescribbler]

3. Wow!

Fascinating.

[ffr]

4. That main picture is just cool!!!

Baja Portugal.

[yuiyoshida]

5. I tried to post that photo

but it wouldn't let me, said it was copy written and not available to reprint.

[ffr]

6. Ancient Chinese Secret.

I cheat.

[Jeroen]

11. Make a print sceen n/t

[mountain grammy]

10. WOW

[crazytown]

7. Blame Canada!

[yonder]

8. Interesting, thanks

[Evolve Dammit]

9. "And the band played on." Titanic reference to our reaction to events destroying our planet.

[Cartoonist]

12. A natural event

Can't blame humans for that. I also don't think it will destroy our planet.

[Evolve Dammit]

13. Please tell me how this is a "natural event."

[Cartoonist]

14. The short lesson

Plate tectonics are what forms mountains and continents. The Himalayas are formed by two tectonic plates smashing into each other. The Atlantic Ocean has a rift down the center formed by two plates pushing apart. The Earth has many such plates, and they've been active since the real year one. They act on their own. We could no more stop or start them.

[Evolve Dammit]

16. Thanks for that. And you're sure these events are not influenced in any way by rising temps

due to rising CO2, SO2 and/or other post-industrial influences?

[Cartoonist]

17. Read the article

It says it was noticed after an earthquake in 1969. Portugal lies on a fault zone and has had major quakes in the past.

Its possible that fracking may contribute to earthquakes, which may affect plate movement, but that's not the case here.

[Evolve Dammit]

18. Thanks. Apologies for not reading thoroughly.

[Judi Lynn]

15. Great information. Fascinating. Thank you. n/t