Advanced New Earth Tectonic Plate Model To Improve Global Earthquake And Volcanic Threat Prediction

The research, published in the journal Earth-Science Reviews, provides a better explanation of the spatial distribution of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in Earth history. “Our new model for tectonic plates better explains the spatial distribution of 90 percent of earthquakes and 80 percent of volcanoes over the last two million years, while existing models record only 65 percent of earthquakes,” Derrick said. Hasterok, lecturer in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Adelaide. In the study, the scientists produced three new geological models – a plate model, a province model and an orogeny model (mountain formation). “There are 26 orogenies – the process of mountain formation – that have left their mark on the current architecture of the crust. “Many of them, but not all, are related to the formation of supernatural beings,” said Dr. Hasterok. The supercontinents, mainly Pangea, Godwana and Lavrasia, are large land masses in Earth history believed to have split to form today’s continents. The new model, according to scientists, includes fresh microplates such as the Macquarie microplate in southern Tasmania and the Capricorn microplate that separates the Indian and Australian plates. “These new slab models show an improved correlation with observed earthquakes and volcanoes in deformation zones and microplates, compared to existing models, meeting 73 and 80 percent of these criteria, respectively,” the study wrote. The researchers added more accurate information about the boundaries of the deformation zones, as previous models showed them as discrete areas rather than wide bands. “The biggest changes to the plate model have taken place in western North America, which often borders the Pacific plate as far as the San Andreas and Queen Charlotte faults. “But the recently demarcated border is much wider, about 1,500 kilometers, than the previously designed narrow zone,” Dr. Hasterok explained. “The other big change is in Central Asia. “The new model now includes all the deformation zones in northern India, as the slab is being bulldozed across Eurasia.” Scientists say the recently updated model could be used to improve models of geological hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. “The orogeny model helps to understand geodynamic systems and better models the evolution of the Earth, and the provincial model can be used to improve the search for minerals,” said Dr. Hasterok.

title: “Advanced New Earth Tectonic Plate Model To Improve Global Earthquake And Volcanic Threat Prediction " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-29” author: “Nicholas Adams”