Hidden rift in Indian Plate may trigger future Himalayan quakes
Synopsis A rare geological process is tearing the Indian Plate apart deep beneath the surface, scientists have discovered. In a study published by the American Geophysical Union, researchers revealed the plate is delaminating—its dense lower layer peeling off and sinking into the Earth's mantle. This shift could reshape earthquake patterns across the Himalayas and beyond, challenging long-held views of how continents behave. The implications are vast, from seismic risk to tectonic theory, and may herald a new era in Earth sciences. In a seismic revelation that could reshape our understanding of the planet's crust, scientists have found that the Indian Plate is splitting apart. A part of the plate's lower layer is peeling off and plunging into the Earth's mantle. The process—called delamination—was detected beneath the Tibetan Plateau using seismic waves and helium gas analysis from natural springs. These findings have raised urgent scientific questions about the stability of one of Earth's most active tectonic zones.
ADVERTISEMENT The Indian Plate, which has been colliding with the Eurasian Plate for about 60 million years, gave rise to the Himalayas. But this new study reveals a less visible, more dramatic shift underway—right beneath our feet.The research, published by the American Geophysical Union, has caught many experts off-guard. Delamination is rare, and its presence in such a prominent plate suggests tectonic processes are far more complex than earlier believed.
'We didn't know continents could behave this way, and that is, for solid earth science, pretty fundamental,' said Douwe van Hinsbergen, a geodynamicist at Utrecht University.The findings challenge the traditional view of tectonic plates as rigid blocks. Instead, they reveal that parts of these plates—especially their deeper sections—can soften, break off, and sink back into the Earth over geological time.The potential impact on seismic activity is profound. The Himalayan region is already one of the most earthquake-prone areas in the world. With the Indian Plate tearing from below, new stress lines could be forming in the crust above.
ADVERTISEMENT
Simon Klemperer, a geophysicist at Stanford University, warned that this process could produce new zones of seismic instability: 'The tearing and sinking of the plate could create new stress points in the Earth's crust, triggering more frequent and potentially more powerful quakes.'
Particular attention is being paid to the Cona-Sangri Rift, a deep fracture in the Tibetan Plateau. Scientists believe it may be directly connected to this hidden tear. If confirmed, regions around this rift could face heightened earthquake threats in the coming decades.
ADVERTISEMENT
The implications go beyond India. The study suggests that delamination may not be unique to the Indian Plate. Researchers are now scanning other continental plates for signs of similar activity. If such processes are more common than previously believed, this could change how scientists understand everything from how mountains form to why tectonic plates move the way they do.'This could be a missing piece in our puzzle of how continents evolve and interact,' said Fabio Capitanio, a geodynamicist at Monash University. 'It's just a snapshot, and much more data is needed to understand the full picture.'
ADVERTISEMENT The discovery raises new questions about continental interiors. Can such deep rifts explain the formation of other mountain chains? Are there hidden fractures beneath our continents waiting to be found?For now, the answers remain partial. Capitanio urged caution, noting that while the discovery is exciting, it is based on early data. 'It's just a snapshot,' he said, underlining the need for deeper studies to map how this process evolves over time.
ADVERTISEMENT Researchers continue to monitor seismic activity and helium levels across the region, using these tools to paint a clearer picture of what's happening miles beneath the Earth's surface. The story of the Indian Plate's subterranean split is still unfolding.Beyond academic theory, the real-world consequences of delamination are significant. If confirmed, this process could help explain long-standing geological puzzles and improve earthquake forecasting. It might also change how nations plan infrastructure in vulnerable zones and how scientists model Earth's internal behaviour.
As the Indian Plate tears apart from within, it leaves a pressing question in its wake: How many more hidden splits lie beneath the continents we thought we knew?
(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)
Disclaimer Statement: This content is authored by a 3rd party. The views expressed here are that of the respective authors/ entities and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, vouch for or endorse any of its contents nor is responsible for them in any manner whatsoever. Please take all steps necessary to ascertain that any information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET hereby disclaims any and all warranties, express or implied, relating to the report and any content therein.
NEXT STORY
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
India will be split into two halves due to...! Scientists flag BIG danger hidden under the Himalayas, say it can trigger...
Representational/AI-generated. The Himalayas are the majestic mountain ranges surrounding the Indian plains and valleys, but beneath these breathtaking mountains lies a a threat of such gargantuan proportions that it can literally split the entire country into two separate halves. India could be split into two As per a team of scientists at the Stanford University, the tectonic plate on which India rests has started developing cracks, and this phenomenon can trigger devastating earthquakes, weather changes, and even alter the entire map of the Indian sub-continent in the near future. Simon Klemperer, a geophysicist at the Stanford University, and his team, have identified a unique process taking place in the Indian tectonic plate. Under the process, which the geophysicists have dubbed 'delamination', the heavy, dense part of the Indian tectonic plate is now slowly breaking and sinking into the depths of the Earth, as if a part of India's land is quietly and steadily, sliding deep inside the planet. Indian tectonic plate breaking up According to a new study by the American Geophysical Union, the Indian tectonic plate has been sliding northwards for the last 60 million years, and this collision gave birth to mountain ranges like Himalayas, but now this phenomenon poses a major threat to the Indian sub-continent. The study reveals that heavier parts of the plate are no longer able to support themselves, and are breaking up and sliding deeper inside the earth. The process is slow, but the its effects can be seen in the coming future, it said. Northern India most vulnerable As per the research, its believed that the Himalayas surrounding Northern India and its adjoining areas are the most vulnerable to this phenomenon, and the intensity and intensity and frequency of earthquakes in North India, Nepal, Tibet and Northeast India could surge by a significant margin, if the breaking up of the tectonic plates intensifies. North India is already categorized as an active seismic zone. The research warns that this breaking up of plates could drastically alter the shape of the landmass, and even change direction of rivers, and the position of mountains. Additionally, changes in the elevation and structure of the land could affect monsoon and climate cycles. Scientists predict that populous cities in the region, such as national capital Delhi, Dehradun, Guwahati, and Shillong, are at the most risk due to their infrastructure and large populations.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Science for All: Krill don't have jet lag, thanks to their circadian rhythm
(This article forms a part of the Science for All newsletter that takes the jargon out of science and puts the fun in! Subscribe now!) Krill (Euphausia superba) are transparent marine organisms. Each krill is the size of a matchbox but they travel the open seas in swarms of several thousands. They are prey to millions of seals, penguins, and whales in the Southern Ocean, a rapidly warming water body whose temperature has significant effects on tropical rainfall. All organisms have an internal clock called the circadian rhythm that syncs with the day/night cycle. If the natural cycle is interrupted, so is the rhythm. This is why you have jet lag. Yet krill have been found to have a circadian rhythm that ticks on even when their days and nights are distorted. Researchers from Germany and the U.K. recently reported this finding in eLife. Every day, krill move to the surface of the ocean and back down to feed and fend off predators. This collective swimming is called diel vertical migration (DVM). They tend to move towards the surface at night and to the depths during the day. The study took a closer look at the mechanism that drives DVM. 'We know that krill move up and down in the water column each day which also has important implications on nutrient cycling and carbon sequestration, but we don't know what mechanism governs this behaviour. This study sheds light on that, and will help us better understand and conserve this incredible species,' Matthew Savoca, a research scientist at the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University and who wasn't involved in the study, said. In 2024, the team developed a device called Activity Monitor for Aquatic Zooplankter (AMAZE). It's an observation incubator with 80-cm-long acrylic glass columns. Laser light is passed through the columns. When krill swim through them, they interrupt the laser light, which a detector records to track the krill's movement. For the experiment, the researchers collected krill from the Bransfield Strait and the South Orkney Islands located about 800 km and 1,250 km southeast, respectively, from the bottom tip of South America. They divided the samples into two groups. The first was immediately transferred to AMAZE, which simulated the natural durations of day and night around the islands. Some days were short (5.5 hours) and others much longer (15 hours). Then the krill were placed in complete darkness for 4-8 days. The scientists observed the second group of kill in their natural conditions using hydroacoustics, then they were moved to AMAZE and kept in darkness. Researchers studied the second group in conditions corresponding to the four seasons. Krill's DVM activity increased towards the night and decreased during morning hours. Notably, the scientists found that when DVM began or ended was fixed to daytime and nighttime whenever they happened, rather than to particular hours of the day. In fact the krill maintained the same DVM patterns even in complete darkness. If the days were long, the krill fed for fewer hours. And if nights were longer, they fed for longer and in phases. As krill move across the ocean via currents, they influence the lives of many other creatures around them. Lukas Hüppe, a doctoral researcher at the University of Würzburg in Germany and coauthor of the study, expressed optimism about the findings' implications for the Southern Ocean ecosystem, which centres around this species. 'The findings provide novel insights into the mechanistic underpinnings of daily and seasonal timing in Antarctic krill, a marine pelagic key species, endemic to a high-latitude region,' the researchers wrote in their paper. 'Mechanistic studies are a prerequisite for understanding how krill adapt to their specific environment and their flexibility in responding to environmental changes.' Manaswini Vijayakumar is interning with The Hindu. From the Science pages Question Corner What is synthetic aperture radar? Find out here Flora and fauna
Mint
3 days ago
- Mint
‘Great news for education sector…': PM Modi as 54 Indian institutions feature in QS World University 2026 Rankings
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a social media post on Thursday, 19 June 2025, congratulated Indian higher education institutions (HEIs) for being featured in the QS World University 2026 Rankings, focusing on how this is great news for the Indian education sector and the nation's youth. 'The QS World University 2026 Rankings bring great news for our education sector. Our Government is committed to furthering research and innovation ecosystems for the benefit of India's youth,' said PM Modi in his post on the platform X. According to multiple media reports, the QS World University 2026 Rankings list features over 1,500 universities from more than 100 locations around the world. The list features top education institutes like Stanford University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), and Imperial College of London, among many others. The Ministry of Education, in a social media post on Tuesday, announced that 54 Indian institutions have been listed in the QS World University 2026 Rankings. This marks a significant increase from 11 institutions in 2024. 'From just 11 universities in 2014 to 54 in the latest rankings, this five-fold jump is a testament to the transformative educational reforms ushered by PM @narendramodi ji's govt in the last decade,' said Union Minister of Education Dharmendra Pradhan in another post on X. Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also cited this rise as a result of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which is changing India's educational landscape. 'Confident that with NEP's thrust on research, innovation and internationalisation, more Indian HEIs will scale global excellence in the times ahead,' said Pradhan in his post on X. The Minister also cited that this news is a matter of 'immense pride' that India is becoming the fastest-growing education system among the G20 countries. Pradhan said that India is also the fourth most represented nation on the education front after the US, the UK and China. Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, IIT Bombay, IIT Madras, IIT Kharagpur, IISc Bangalore, Delhi University, Anna University and IIT Kanpur are amongst the top Indian institutes listed in the QS World University 2026 Rankings list.
