Scientists think they discovered a plume of “ghost” for the first time.
By rising from the kernel of the earth under Oman, the unusually elusive column of Hot Rock does not show any surface volcanic activityUnlike typical plumes.
With or without visible disturbance on the surface, mantle We think that playing a crucial role in the interaction of heat, pressure and movement all along in the center of the planet.
Understanding ghost plumes and where they are located can help scientists find out more in fields such as plates tectonics, the evolution of life and Magnetic field of the earth.
“This study presents interdisciplinary evidence of the existence of a plume of” ghost “under the east of the east of the Oman – the panache of Dani”, ” writing The international team of researchers in their published article.
The first index came from seismic data: waves slows down by crossing the region, suggesting a warmer and softer rock below.
IT modeling and other field measures added to the evidence of a ghost plume, including seismic discontinuities: the layers of significant geological limits of 410 kilometers (255 miles) and 660 kilometers (410 miles) of depth, respectively.
According to the data collected, the plume is likely to have about 200 to 300 kilometers in diameter and up to 100–300 ° C (212–540 ° F) warmer than the hottest than the hottest than hot than the hottest than the hottest than the hottest than the hottest than surrounding coat. It is a relatively small and concentrated rock patch.
The models suggest that the plume can have been there for a very long time, influencing the movement of Indian tectonic plate About 40 million years ago. The phenomena could still help to raise land to Oman today, according to the researchers.
“While individual results alone may seem non -conclusive, their collective contribution provides a coherent and robust interpretation”, ” writing The team.
If it is indeed a ghost plume, the chances are high that there are others in the world, waiting to be discovered. This has implications for the models and calculations that experts use to understand geological evolution.
The most common plumes we know, With tied volcanic activitycomes from the border of the central mantle. This border is approximately 2,890 kilometers below the surface, and is the point where the hot material escapes from the core of the earth.
The results also suggest that more heat can flee from the nucleus than previously estimated, potentially requiring other studies to trace the impact of this in the long term.
“A increased heat -based heat flow supports implications for the thermal evolution models of our planet and potential revisions to take into account the distribution of elements producing heat, including those sequestrated in the lower mantle and in the nucleus”, ” to write researchers.
Research was published in Earth and planetary science letters.