India is undergoing significant changes beneath its surface, according to a recent study. Instead of breaking into two pieces and separating sideways, the Indian Continental Plate appears to be splitting into two separate layers horizontally. Scientists believe this phenomenon is linked to the formation of the Tibetan Plateau.
The formation of the Tibetan Plateau has been a topic of debate in the scientific community for years. A new theory was presented at a recent conference, suggesting that the Indian Plate is “delaminating.” This process would explain why Tibet’s incredibly high altitude results from the plate’s upper section contributing to its elevation while its lower section sinks into the Earth’s mantle.
Researchers led by Simon Klemperer of Stanford University studied helium levels in Tibetan springs to support this theory. Their findings, detailed in a study on ESS Open Archive, showed that there is a pattern suggesting that rare helium-3 emerges through northern Tibet’s springs due to the mantle being close enough to the Earth’s surface. Meanwhile, Helium-4 is more prevalent in southern Tibet, indicating that the plate has not split there yet.
Professor Douwe van Hinsbergen of Utrecht University commented on this concept, stating that continents behave similarly when delaminating – fundamental knowledge for solid earth science. This discovery could have significant implications for our understanding of tectonic plates and their movements.