All articles tagged with #mantle dynamics
Scientists have uncovered new insights into the Indian Ocean Geoid Low, the largest gravity hole on Earth, linking it to mantle processes such as sinking slabs and rising plumes originating from deep within Earth's mantle, which have evolved over millions of years and are influenced by interactions with the African hotspot and mantle structures like the LLSVP.
Recent research indicates Earth's continents formed much earlier than previously believed, around 4.3 billion years ago, driven by active tectonic processes and mantle plumes during the Hadean, challenging the idea of a stagnant early Earth and providing new insights into crust formation and mantle recycling.
Scientists used a new computer simulation called the Bambari model to recreate Earth's early molten state 4.5 billion years ago, revealing how layered structures and chemical patterns formed, which influence today's mantle features and volcanic activity, and providing insights into the evolution of other planets.
Researchers from Yale University have discovered an ultra-low velocity zone (ULVZ) beneath the Himalayas, 1,800 miles beneath Earth's surface, using seismic waves to study the structure just above the boundary between Earth's rocky mantle and metallic core. The ULVZ may have been formed by subducted material that had sunk from the surface down to the core-mantle boundary, providing direct evidence for subducted slabs playing a role in driving flow at the base of the mantle. This discovery sheds light on the poorly understood composition and role of ULVZs in mantle dynamics, offering insights into the interconnected processes of the deep mantle and their influence on tectonic plates and surface features.