Scientists at the University of Texas at Austin have found that North America is experiencing a geological phenomenon referred to as “continental leaking,” where bedrock is detaching from the continent’s base. This marks the first observation of thin cratons, ancient stable continental rock layers, in real-time. The process is linked to the Faralon Plate, which has been sinking beneath North America for approximately 200 million years, impacting the flow of mantle material and creating a shear force against the cratons. As the plate releases volatile compounds, the foundation of the craton weakens, leading to the separation of bedrock.
The researchers employed advanced seismic imaging techniques to visualize this phenomenon, which had never been documented before. They simulated the interaction between the craton and Faralon Plate in computer models, confirming that the dripping effect ceases when the plate is removed from the simulation.
Although other regions, such as North China, have experienced similar geological transformations historically, the current findings are unique because they capture real-time changes rather than relying solely on historical data. The research indicates that while this leakage is an ongoing process, it does not pose immediate risks to residents of the Midwest U.S. as it operates on a slow geological timescale. Overall, these discoveries provide critical insight into the Earth’s dynamic processes and the evolution of continents, published in Nature Geoscience.
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