Melting glaciers linked to faster continental drift, volcanoes
Can melting glaciers influence the acceleration of continental drift and volcanic activity? New research suggests that this is possible and that it has a significant impact on Earth's geological processes.
Melting glaciers may accelerate the movement of continents and increase volcanic activity, at least according to scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder. As reported by the SciTech Daily portal, researchers have discovered that the reduction of glaciers 10,000 years ago significantly influenced Earth's geological dynamics. Data analysis may reveal what changes could occur due to the current rate of glacier melting.
Impact of glacier melting on continental movement
Geophysicists Tao Yuan and Shijie Zhong used computer models to study Earth's conditions from 26,000 years ago. They found that the melting of the Laurentide Glacier, which covered a large part of North America, might have accelerated the movement of the North American continental plate by 25 percent.
Studies showed that between 12,000 and 6,000 years ago, drift on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge could have increased by up to 40 percent. The researchers emphasize that glacier melting caused not only vertical but also horizontal movement of the plates.
Consequences for the modern world
The results, published in "Nature," could have great significance for today's world. Glaciers in Greenland are melting rapidly, which may lead to increased volcanic activity in Iceland.
The research, financially supported by the National Science Foundation USA, suggests that the melting of glaciers in Greenland and West Antarctica might, in the future, increase the spreading of the ocean floor and volcanic activity.
