HIDDEN FORCES BEHIND CONTINENTAL UPLIFT

UPSC Relevance

• GS-1: Geography (plate tectonics, geomorphology)
• GS-3: Science and Technology (geological research)

Key Points

• Scientists discovered that continental rifting triggers deep mantle waves, causing stable continental regions (cratons) to rise, forming plateaus and escarpments.

Detailed Insights

• Rifting, as seen in the African Rift Valley, stretches the crust, initiating mantle waves traveling 15-20 km per million years.
• These waves remove rock from continental roots, triggering uplift, amplified by erosion.
• Plate Tectonic Theory explains landform creation through the movement of lithospheric plates (e.g., Pacific, Eurasian) over the asthenosphere.

Significance

• Enhances understanding of craton dynamics and plate tectonics.
• Aids in predicting geological changes impacting topography.

Analysis & Way Forward

• Further research into mantle waves can refine geological models.
• Applications in resource exploration and disaster preparedness are promising.