Syllabus: GS1/Geography
Context
- Recent geological studies have revealed that the Indian Plate is undergoing a process of delamination, where a portion of it is splitting apart and sinking into the Earth’s mantle.
About
- India is drifting northward at an average of about 5 cm per year—one of the fastest continental motions on Earth.
- This northward movement, postulated by plate tectonics, is responsible for the uplift of the Himalayas, along with the complex geological stress within the Indian plate itself.
Science Behind the Split
- Delamination of the Indian Plate: The Indian Plate has been colliding with the Eurasian Plate for about 60 million years, leading to the formation of the Himalayan mountain range.
- Evidence from Seismic Waves and Gas Emissions: Scientists studying earthquake waves beneath Tibet noticed unusual patterns, indicating a vertical tear in the plate.
- Helium isotopes detected in Tibetan springs further support the theory of deep fractures forming in the Earth’s crust.
Potential Consequences
- Increased Earthquake Risk: The delamination process could lead to stronger and more frequent earthquakes, particularly in the Himalayan region and Tibetan Plateau.
- The Cona-Sangri Rift, a large fracture in Tibet, may be directly linked to this underground activity.
- Implications for Plate Tectonics: The above discovery challenges traditional views on continental stability, suggesting that Earth’s plates are more dynamic and unpredictable than previously thought.
- Geologists believe that similar processes may be occurring in other tectonic regions worldwide.
| Plate Tectonic Theory – It explains the movement and interaction of lithospheric plates, provides insights into the processes driving this collision and its implications. – It proposes that the earth’s lithosphere is divided into seven major and some minor plates that float on the semi-fluid asthenosphere beneath. – These plates interact at boundaries, leading to geological phenomena such as earthquakes, volcanic activity, and mountain formation. Types of Plate Boundaries – Convergent Boundaries: Plates collide, leading to subduction or mountain building. 1. Three ways of convergence: (i) between an oceanic and continental plate; (ii) between two oceanic plates; and (iii) between two continental plates. – Divergent Boundaries: Plates move apart, creating new crust. 1. Example: Mid-Atlantic Ridge: American Plate(s) is/are separated from the Eurasian and African Plates. – Transform Boundaries: Plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes. 1. Transform faults are the planes of separation generally perpendicular to the midoceanic ridges. |
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