New study reveals connection between climate, life and the movement of continents
A new study by The University of Texas at Austin has demonstrated a
possible link between life on Earth and the movement of continents. The
findings show that sediment, which is often comprised from pieces of
dead organisms, could play a key role in determining the speed of
continental drift. In addition to challenging existing ideas about how
plates interact, the findings are important because they describe
potential feedback mechanisms between tectonic movement, climate and
life on Earth.
High mountain ranges such as the Andes are formed near subduction zones
where one plate is forced under another. Eroding mountains and
subducting seafloor could be elements of a self-regulating mechanism
modulating the speed of continental movement. Credit: Nicolas Prieto on
Unsplash
