Dossier
tectonic plates
Coverage of tectonic plates in the Nexus archive.
- Want an oxygen-rich atmosphere? Stuff oxygen’s friends in the mantle.
Earth's oxygen-rich atmosphere developed over billions of years through a combination of biological and geological processes. A new study led by Wei Shi links changes in tectonic plate subduction to significant increases in atmospheric oxygen levels.
- Scientists discover hidden forces are warping Earth deep beneath the surface
Scientists have mapped deformation in Earth's deepest mantle, revealing ancient tectonic plates buried thousands of kilometers underground. Using global seismic data, they confirmed theories about these slabs' influence on mantle deformation for the first time on a global scale.