
Earth's Crust Rifting Deep Beneath the Pacific Ocean
New analysis of the Cascadia subduction zone reveals that one of the tectonic plates is tearing itself apart, indicating a gradual end to this subduction process, which is part of Earth's natural geological cycle. Using seismic imaging, scientists observed faults and fractures suggesting the plate is slowly breaking into smaller microplates, akin to a train derailing gradually, rather than a sudden catastrophe.

