https://youtu.be/962NEjCy4RA

Recent research led by the University of Göttingen has uncovered a significant geological phenomenon occurring deep beneath the Earth's surface. The study focuses on the Neotethys oceanic plate, once situated between the Arabian and Eurasian continents, which is now experiencing a horizontal break. This tear is progressively extending from southeast Turkey to northwest Iran, indicating complex interactions within the Earth's interior. The findings highlight the profound influence of subsurface processes on the Earth's surface evolution, particularly in regions like the Zagros Mountains in the Kurdistan area of Iraq. The research team employed geodynamic modeling to assess the bending of the Earth's surface over the past 20 million years due to the Zagros Mountains' load. Their analysis revealed that the weight of these mountains alone could not account for the 3-4 km deep depression observed in the southeastern segment of the study area. Instead, the additional load from the sinking Neotethys plate, still attached to the Arabian plate, is pulling the region downward, creating space for significant sediment accumulation. This discovery enhances our understanding of how deep Earth processes govern surface topography and has implications for exploring natural resources and assessing earthquake risks. P. Geo. Ricardo A Valls, M. Sc. and Geo Gadfly Valls Geoconsultant ORCID ID- https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5421-0914 Scopus Author ID: 7003369619/35335510700 ResearcherID: S-6604-2018 If you like this content, please "buy me a coffee" https://www.buymeacoffee.com/goldendroplets