Deep beneath the surface, India is changing. A new study says that the Indian Continental Plate is splitting into two parts. This split is taking place in layers, not sideways.
Researchers are interested in learning how the Tibetan Plateau formed. At a meeting in December, a new idea was shared. The Indian Plate is “delaminating,” it says. This means it is splitting into two layers. The top layer may explain why Tibet is so high. The bottom layer is descending into the Earth’s mantle.
Researchers studying helium in Tibet’s springs included Stanford University’s Simon Klemperer. In northern Tibet, they found a rare type of helium called helium-3. This means the mantle, a part inside the Earth, is very close to the surface there. Helium-4 was more commonly found in southern Tibet. This shows the plate has not split there yet.
Professor Douwe van Hinsbergen from Utrecht University, who did not work on this study, said this discovery is very important. It shows that continents can behave in ways we did not know before.
Although this study is still being verified by other scientists, it provides us with an exciting glimpse into the changing nature of our planet. The findings help us understand the strong forces that shape the Earth’s surface.
In short, the Indian Continental Plate is separated into two layers. This might explain why the Tibetan Plateau is so high. This discovery alters our understanding of continents and what occurs deep within the Earth.
