A new study warns that despite appearing to be an enduring feature of Earth, a new subduction zone known as the “Ring of Fire,” could possibly demolish the Atlantic Ocean. According to Portuguese scientists, this subduction zone is currently beneath the Gibraltar Strait, which is the little body of water between Spain and Morocco. However, the researchers believe it has the potential to spread and grow into the Atlantic and eventually cause the ocean basin to “close,” or shrink. Earth’s subduction zones, where one tectonic plate plunges beneath the other, are well-known for their intense seismic activity. Since the Atlantic Ocean has been growing, it is only a matter of time before it begins to shrink.
Researchers used computer models to simulate the arc’s past and future. They found that it might cross the Strait and merge with the Atlantic in 20 million years by a process called “subduction invasion.” This wouldn’t be the first time the Atlantic ocean has been conquered by such zone. There are currently two of these zones. One can observe this process in its infancy by studying Gibraltar.
Gibraltar Arc
In the event that the Gibraltar Arc awakens, it might mimic the “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific Ocean, with subduction zones gradually sealing the Atlantic on both sides. Given that the last significant earthquake to strike the area was 250 years ago, it is extremely improbable that there will be another earthquake or volcanic eruption anytime soon. The African Plate and the Eurasian Plate are the two primary tectonic plates that meet at the 10-mile Gibraltar Strait, which divides Europe and Africa in addition to Spain and Morocco. Seismic activity and the possibility of earthquakes are caused by the African plate subducting beneath the Eurasian plate. The convergent plate boundaries beneath the Gibraltar Strait is currently “sleeping,” which refers to the extremely sluggish speed at which the plate is sinking into the Earth’s mantle.
There is currently one of the smaller subduction zones in the world, extending approximately 125 miles beneath the Gibraltar Strait. In reality, it plunges up to a depth of more than 350 miles. As the ocean basin narrows due to subduction, the ocean bottom gradually sinks. This procedure draws the continents closer together. Thus, the Atlantic might “close up” and vanish as a result of this new Ring of Fire.
However it might take an estimated 20 million years to do so.
More Information
As previously stated, a subduction zone could possibly demolish the Atlantic Ocean. Tectonic plate subduction is the source of mountains, volcanoes, oceanic trenches, and earthquakes. The well-known Pacific Ring of Fire is shaped by these occurrences. Oceanic crust forms continuously on the mid-ocean ridge and sinks beneath the continental edges along this ring.
When the oceanic crust is several tens of millions of years old and has cooled to the point where its density exceeds that of the asthenosphere, the region of the earth’s mantle underneath it, subduction begins. Consequently, it sinks beneath the adjacent continent more or less by itself. In the world’s oceans, there is thus hardly any oceanic crust that is older than about 170 million years. Compared to the Pacific, things are much quieter in the Atlantic. It would seem that the oceanic lithospheric plate has not begun to sink along the margins of the Atlantic yet. Potential destroying of the Atlantic Ocean by subduction zone is closer to us than the world knows.
A frequent method of subduction initiation in oceans similar to the Atlantic is probably subduction invasion. This is also a key phase in Earth’s recent geological evolution. “Everything seems to suggest that the Pacific will close,” says João Duarte, a researcher at the University of Lisbon’s Instituto Dom Luiz.
Written By Dijana Reedfields.
Sources:
NDTV – Atlantic Ocean Faces Fiery Future: Subduction Zone to Spark ‘Ring of Fire’ in 20 Million Years
Daily Mail – The Atlantic Ocean could be SWALLOWED by a terrifying ‘Ring of Fire’, scientists say as they discover a ‘sleeping’ subduction zone beneath the Gibraltar Strait
Business Today – This Ring Of Fire Can Swallow Entire Atlantic Ocean if Sleeping Subduction Zone Beneath It Wakens
yahoo news – Sleeping subduction zone could awaken and form a new ‘Ring of Fire’ that swallows the Atlantic Ocean
The Week – The Atlantic Ocean may start shrinking
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Inset Image Courtesy Of Jo Zimny Photos‘ Flickr Page – Creative Commons License
