Geoscientists Discover Pulsating Mantle Plume Under Ethiopia’s Afar Region

Quick Summary

• Researchers from the University of Southampton studied mantle dynamics in the Afar region, where three tectonic rifts converge-the Main Ethiopian Rift, Red Sea Rift, adn Gulf of Aden rift.
• the study found that a dynamic mantle plume beneath Afar pulses like a heartbeat and carries distinct chemical signatures.
• More than 130 volcanic rock samples where collected to analyze crust/mantle structures and melt behavior using statistical modeling.
• Findings reveal a single asymmetric plume with repeating chemical bands across rift systems. Pulse behaviors differ based on plate thickness and spreading speed.
• Mantle upwellings beneath plates focus volcanic activity at thinner regions, linked to surface volcanism and continental breakup processes.
• Collaborative interdisciplinary research methods have been pivotal to understanding these phenomena.
• Published in Nature Geoscience, the study advances knowledge of how earth’s interior interacts with its surface.

!Variation in geochemical and geophysical properties around the Afar Triangle. Image credit: Watts et al., doi: 10.1038/s41561-025-01717-0

Indian Opinion Analysis

The findings from this geological research hold notable implications for countries like india that are impacted by seismic activity or tectonic dynamics along their boundaries. Understanding mantle behavior aids global efforts to predict patterns of earthquakes, volcanism, or continental drift-key elements for disaster preparedness strategies.

India’s geographic proximity to active plate margins (e.g., Himalayan collision zone) underlines the importance of applying similar methodologies domestically. Collaboration among institutions-as exemplified here-can help Indian researchers better investigate deep-Earth mechanisms affecting local terrains. Furthermore, this enhanced scientific comprehension may strengthen India’s contributions toward global climate-resilient infrastructure planning tied heavily to geological stability.

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