More than 10 years ago, a group of geology experts from Utrecht University in the NetherlandsThey reported that they found significant evidence of the possible existence of the Pacific Ocean The subduction zone that crossed the ancient Pacific Ocean West 120 million years ago, according to the newspaper “El Confidencial”.
In a recent statement, geologists from the same university, who have been analyzing and working on these investigations for years, announced that Susanna van de LagmatI was able to verify and reconstruct this subduction zone.
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The study is entitled “Plate tectonic crossroads: reconstruction of the Panthalassa-Neotethys junction area of the Philippine Sea, Australian Ocean, and Orogeny plate.The publication on the ScienceDirect website says that samples of lost tectonic plates have been found in this area.
this Extinct tectonic plates were named “Pontos” As the expert mentioned in her research, its area is approximately one-third of the total area of the Pacific Ocean, or about 50 million square kilometers.
He also mentioned that during the extensive research he conducted a comprehensive study of the mountain belts Philippines, Japan, New Zealand and Borneo.
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Moreover, they add that plate tectonics It is estimated that Pontos has been around for at least 150 million years It disappeared completely about 120 million years ago.
The discovery of Pontos could shed light on the geological history of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists will be able to analyze the remains of this plate and obtain invaluable information about the development of plate tectonics in this region of the world. Furthermore, this can help better understand the geological processes and seismic phenomena that occur in the Pacific Ocean.
Map of the reconstructed area. Geographical and tectonic maps of area A0.
Image taken from ScienceDirect
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The expert states that the discovery of “Pontus” could be the same Implications for natural disaster prediction and prevention. Because it will help better understand the dynamics of Pacific tectonic plates, scientists will be able to improve earthquake and tsunami prediction models, which could save lives in the future.
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