Hot Moves

Introduction

Earth’s tectonic forces have been slowly tearing apart the continents since millions of years. It has now been found that it is the two giant fountains of hot rock under central Africa and the central Pacific that are driving the movements of the massive tectonic plates that make up Earth’s surface.

These two hotspots have, however, remained stationary for at least 250 million years. The knowledge can help geologists understand geologic features that are a result of Earth’s mantle dynamics, such as ocean basins, mountains belts, earthquakes and volcanoes.

Source

Down To Earth, July 2013