Recent satellite data analysis from the University of Toronto reveals a surprising phenomenon beneath the Konya Basin in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Researchers have discovered that the Earth’s crust is undergoing continuous reshaping over millions of years, indicating the presence of a new class of tectonic plates.
Published in Nature Communications, the study combines experimental simulations with geophysical, geodesic, and geological data, highlighting a mysterious subsidence in the basin’s interior. This finding could have implications not only for Earth but also for other planets like Mars and Venus, which lack Earth-like tectonic plates.
Julia Andersen, a PhD candidate in the Department of Earth Sciences at the University of Toronto, noted, “Observing satellite data, we detected circular features in the Konya Basin where the crust is shrinking or where the basin is deepening.” This prompted the team to investigate further, leading to the discovery of seismic anomalies in the upper mantle and thickening crust, suggesting a potential lithospheric drop.
Russell Pysklywec, a professor in the same department, explained that as the lithosphere thickens and sinks, it creates surface basins that emerge when heavy loads beneath them detach and sink further into the mantle. “We see this process as not a singular tectonic event but a series of occurrences that have led to the rapid subsidence of the Konya Basin,” he added.
The implications of this research are profound. Understanding the dynamics of the Earth’s crust could enhance our knowledge of geological processes on other planets, potentially guiding future exploration missions. Additionally, the connection between basin formation and highland uplift could provide insights into Earth’s geological history and climate change impacts.