A recent scientific discovery has revealed an enigma beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean that challenges the foundations of plate tectonics.. The research, published in Scientific Reports, was carried out by scientists from the ETH Zurich (Switzerland) and the California Institute of Technology (United States). According to the study, structures that have gone unnoticed until now are found under the western Pacific, suggesting the existence of an unknown phenomenon in the Earth’s mantle.
Using a high-resolution seismic model, lResearchers managed to obtain more detailed images of the depths of the Earth. This model includes all variants of seismic waves, allowing a more complete analysis of their composition. The results revealed remains of submerged tectonic plates in unexpected locations, such as beneath oceans or inside continents, far from traditional tectonic plate boundaries.
Among the most striking discoveries is an anomaly under the western Pacific, where, according to current knowledge, there should be no material from subducted plates. Thomas Schouten, lead author of the study and doctoral student at ETH Zurich, explained that These areas of the mantle are much larger than previously thought, raising new questions about the internal dynamics of the planet..
Although the new model has allowed these structures to be identified, their exact nature remains a mystery. Scientists acknowledge that, for now, they can only speculate about what materials make up these anomalies and how they formed.. This discovery not only expands questions about the Earth’s geological past, but also opens new lines of research to unravel the secrets of its interior.
S.V.
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