Tag: geology

The journey toward the acceptance of plate tectonics theory has been long and filled with challenges, yet even now, it continues to evolve. A recent study focusing on four plateaus in the western Pacific Ocean sheds new light on the dynamics of Earth's crust, suggesting that these expansive areas are not rigid slabs as previously thought but rather weak spots being pulled apart by distant forces at the plate's edge. Led by University of Toronto geophysicist Russell Pysklywec and earth scientist Erkan Gün, the study challenges the traditional view that large sections of oceanic plates remain rigid as they drift atop the mantle. By analyzing existing data on oceanic plateaus such as the Shatsky Rise, Hess Rise, Ontong Java Plateau, and Manihiki Plateau, the researchers found evidence of d...