Subduction zone discovered beneath Gibraltar Strait: Concerns raised over future of Atlantic ocean – Times of India

NEW DELHI: A recent study from scientists in Portugal has raised concerns about the future of the Atlantic Ocean. They have identified a subduction zone, known as the ‘Ring of Fire‘, that could potentially swallow the Atlantic Ocean. Currently located beneath the Gibraltar Strait, between Spain and Morocco, this subduction zone is predicted to expand westwards over the next 20 million years.This process could lead to the shrinking of the ocean basin, ultimately closing off the Atlantic.
Subduction zones occur where tectonic plates interact, with one plate diving below another. These zones are associated with significant seismic activity and can have profound geological implications. Professor João Duarte, leading the study at the University of Lisbon, warns that the Atlantic may be in the early stages of closure due to subduction activity.
The Gibraltar Strait, a 10-mile gap separating Europe and Africa, marks the meeting point of the Eurasian Plate and the African Plate. The African Plate is currently subducting beneath the Eurasian Plate in this region, leading to seismic events and earthquake risks. Despite the slow movement of the subduction zone beneath the strait, experts believe it could grow and extend into other parts of the ocean, a phenomenon known as ‘subduction invasion’.
Although the current subduction zone below the Gibraltar Strait is relatively small, measuring about 125 miles in length, projections suggest it could expand to around 500 miles in the next 20 million years. Using computer simulations, researchers traced the evolution of this subduction zone from its formation millions of years ago to its potential future development.
The model indicates that the subduction zone will progress westwards through the Gibraltar Strait, forming a new Atlantic subduction system referred to as the ‘Ring of Fire’. This process, similar to the Pacific Ocean’s Ring of Fire, involves the gradual pulling of the ocean floor beneath the continents, leading to the closure of the ocean basin.
The study, published in the journal Geology, highlights the possibility of the Atlantic Ocean ‘closing up’ in the distant future. The researchers suggest that the extended subduction zone will propagate further into the Atlantic, eventually reshaping the ocean’s geography. While the timeline for these changes spans millions of years, the implications could be significant for the planet’s geological landscape.
In conclusion, the findings of the study shed light on the dynamic nature of Earth’s tectonic processes and the long-term evolution of ocean basins. The concept of the Atlantic Ocean shrinking and potentially ceasing to exist over a vast timeframe offers a glimpse into the geological forces shaping our planet.