Is Tibet splitting in half? Indian tectonic plate movement may just cause it, says geophysicists

financialexpress.com:

Geophysicists have uncovered that the movement of the Indian tectonic plate is not only responsible for the growth of the Himalayas but may also be causing the division of Tibet into two separate entities.

Traditionally, it was believed that the Himalayas were expanding due to the collision of the Indian and Eurasian continental tectonic plates beneath the mountain range. In such collisions, commonly, the denser plate subducts beneath the other. However, since both the Indian and Eurasian plates have similar density, it remains uncertain which plate will ultimately prevail.

Unlike ocean plates, continental plates are thick and buoyant, making them resistant to easy subduction into the mantle during collisions. Some scientists hypothesize that the Indian plate may be resisting subduction and instead sliding horizontally beneath Tibet.

An international team of geophysicists conducted a study that analyzed earthquake waves beneath Tibet, proposing an alternative scenario. They suggest that the Indian plate might be undergoing “delamination” as it slides beneath the Eurasian plate, with its dense lower portion peeling away from the upper part. Moreover, evidence of a tear at the boundary between the separated section of the slab and the intact Eurasian plate was found.

This unexpected behavior challenges previous assumptions about continental movements and has the potential to revolutionize earth sciences. The findings, presented at the annual meeting of the American Geophysical Union, could enhance our understanding of Himalayan formation and contribute to improved insights into earthquake hazards in the region in the future.