Researchers uncover mechanisms behind Earth's vertical shifts

A groundbreaking study led by Professor Thomas Gernon and published in Nature has unveiled new insights into the dynamic processes shaping our planet's continents.

Professor Gernon’s research proposes a compelling theory: the breaking of tectonic plates may generate waves that push continents upwards by more than a kilometre, Caliber.Az reports, citing foreign media.

This theory, supported by simulations from Professor Sascha Brune and Dr. Anne Glerum, suggests that the stretching and thinning of continental crust—similar to the way a hot-air balloon rises by shedding weight—facilitates this uplift. Their findings not only shed light on the forces driving continental rise but also highlight the broader impacts on climate, biodiversity, and geological processes. This study marks a significant advance in our understanding of Earth's evolving landscape and the profound changes it undergoes over geological time.

Our planet is a dynamic and evolving entity, continuously undergoing physical transformations. While it's well-known that tectonic plates move horizontally, research has revealed that these plates also experience vertical movement, causing continents to gradually rise. This process, although slow and spanning millions of years, has recently attracted significant interest. A new study led by Professor Thomas Gernon, published in Nature, offers a compelling explanation for this phenomenon. Gernon proposes that the fracturing of tectonic plates might generate powerful waves that contribute to the continents' uplift by over a kilometre.

Gernon suggests that the dramatic uplift seen around regions like South Africa could be linked to the rifting and splitting of continents over geological time. However, he notes that understanding why the interior parts of continents—far from such rifts—also rise and erode remains a complex challenge. The study indicates that as continents split, their crust undergoes stretching, creating a "sweeping motion" that affects the continent's base. "It’s akin to stretching a piece of toffee," Gernon explains. This stretching thins the crust and triggers an upwelling of hot material from below, which interacts with the cooler continental crust before sinking back down.

Professor Sascha Brune and Dr. Anne Glerum from the research team utilized advanced simulation tools to investigate the behavior of this phenomenon, according to the University of Southampton. Their analysis revealed that the waves involved exhibit speeds comparable to those seen during erosion events that contributed to the breakup of the supercontinent Gondwana. Professor Brune elaborated, “Similar to how a hot-air balloon ascends by shedding weight, the removal of continental material results in the continents rising—a process known as isostasy.”

These waves also induce erosion events that mobilize rocks and other continental materials, effectively reducing the continent’s weight and causing it to rise further. Gernon emphasized that this uplifting process, occurring over billions of years, showcases the significant changes and evolution of the continents. “What’s truly fascinating is that these regions represent the ancient cores of the continents, enduring through Earth’s major historical events. Despite their long survival, they underwent substantial disturbances after the continents began to fragment,” he noted.

The research team also observed that these waves not only trigger erosion but also influence climate and other factors. They highlighted that the disturbances responsible for bringing diamonds from deep within the Earth also contribute to reshaping landscapes. This, in turn, affects climate, biodiversity, and human settlements. “The destabilization of continental cores likely had repercussions on ancient climates as well,” Gernon added. The rising of continents is a captivating phenomenon with profound implications for human life, wildlife, and more, and continues to be a subject of ongoing study.