Antarctica
Sydney: Have you ever wondered what Antarctica under a thick sheet of snow looks? Bumping mountains, valleys and grounds are hidden below. Huge mountains such as the transantarctic mountains appear above the snow sheet, while the ancient Gamburtsev subglassal mountains located in the middle of East Antarctica are completely buried under snow. Gamburtsev mountains are similar to European Alps in terms of size and spread. However, we cannot see them, as high alpine peaks and deep glaciers are buried under several kilometers thick layer of snow.
How did Gamburtsev Mountains come into existence?
Usually a mountain range emerges in places where two tectonic plates collide. But the eastern Antarctica is then tectonically stable for millions of years. A new study published in the magazine ‘Earth and Planetary Science Letters’ suggests that the huge mountain range buried under a thick sheet of snow came into existence more than 50 million years ago, when the Gondwana Gondwana was prepared by the Tactonic plate collision. The study provides new information about how mountains and continents developed during different geology times. This also helps to understand why the internal part of Antarctica has been remarkably stable for millions of years.
Antarctica
Soviet party raised the curtain from existence
The Gamburtesev mountain range is buried under the highest point of snow sheet in eastern Antarctica. In 1958, in 1958, a Soviet team unveiled its existence with the help of seismic techniques. Since, this mountain range is completely covered with snow, it is one of the tectonic characteristics of the Earth that has not been able to achieve much understanding. This is a very mysterious tendency for scientists.
Answers to questions are getting
How did such a huge mountain range be prepared in the heart of an ancient, stable continent and how its existence remains still intact? So the answer is that most of the major mountain ranges mark the sectonic conflict places. For example, the Himalayas are still growing, as Indian and Eurasian plates are constantly moving towards each other. Due to this process, which started about five crore years ago, the height of the Himalayas is recorded by a few millimeters every year. Plate tectonic models suggest that the current Bhuparpati of East Antarctica was prepared by more than 70 million years ago, at least two large continents came close to the continent. These continents were divided by a huge ocean basin. The confrontation of these huge plots was born to Gondwana, a large continent that included current Africa, South America, Australia, India and Antarctica. The new study supports the idea that the Gamburtsev mountain came into existence during the confrontation between these ancient continents. This confrontation accelerated the flow of warm, partially melted rock under the mountains. During the mountain construction, Bhuparpati gradually became thick, warm and unstable and started to break due to its own weight. Warm rocks under the surface began to flow in a parallel direction under gravity proliferation, just as a toothpaste comes out of the tube. This caused the mountains to partially collapsed, while a thick perpati “root” remained, which is absorbed into the Earth’s cover.
Antarctica
Assessment of time from ‘Time Capsule’
To assess this dramatic bulge and the period of demolition, more than 25 million years ago, the subtle ‘zirkon’ particles found in sand stones gathered on the banks of rivers flowing from the ancient mountains were analyzed. These sandstones were obtained from the Prince Charles ranges covered with a thick layer of snow. ‘Zircon’ is often called ‘Time Capsule’, as their crystal structure has a very small amount of uranium. Uranium has decay at the known rate known, due to which scientists are able to determine their age with great accuracy. These ‘zircon’ particles record the period of construction of mountains.
The secrets are open under the snow
The Gamburtesev mountain range began to be formed about 65 million years ago, about 58 million years ago he achieved as height as the Himalayas and about 50 crore years ago, Bhuparpati melted and witness to the flow of rocks. Most of the mountain ranges made up of continental collisions are eventually destroyed due to continuous erosion. However, these can take shape again due to later tectonic events. Since, Gamburtsev subgleshal mountains are buried under a thick sheet of snow, they are one of the best preserved ancient mountain ranges on Earth. Antarctica is a huge continent filled with geological wonders and its secrets under snow have just begun. (The Conversation)
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