The Earth has begun to break apart beneath the Pacific: scientists detect a tectonic phenomenon never seen before

A team of scientists from Louisiana State University has observed for the first time in great detail how a subduction zone is beginning to break apart beneath the Pacific Northwest . The finding, published by Science Daily, shows that these gigantic tectonic systems could disappear gradually , breaking apart piece by piece, instead of stopping suddenly.

The research focuses on the Cascadia subduction zone, off Vancouver Island , where the Juan de Fuca and Explorer plates slowly slide beneath the North American plate . These regions are responsible for some of the most powerful earthquakes and volcanic eruptions on the planet .

The researchers combined earthquake records with images obtained using seismic reflection techniques. During the CASIE21 experiment, funded by the National Science Foundation in 2021, a ship sent sound waves toward the seafloor and a 15-kilometer underwater cable recorded the echoes. The procedure made it possible to obtain detailed images of the structures hidden beneath the ocean depths.

Fractures can reach 75 kilometers and displace the plates by five kilometers

The results revealed numerous fractures in the sinking plate. One of them extends for about 75 kilometers and shows a displacement of approximately five kilometers . Some areas of this fracture are still recording earthquakes, while others remain unusually quiet, which could indicate that certain fragments have already separated.

According to the authors, the process would be creating small independent plates , known as microplates. The so-called transform faults, where blocks of the crust move laterally , would act like a kind of geological scissors that promotes fragmentation.

Each rupture can last for millions of years . However, as the fragments break away, the plate loses some of the strength that keeps subduction active.

The discovery could also help explain geological problems and remnants of ancient plates , such as the fragments associated with the vanished Farallon Plate, and provide new clues about the planet's tectonic evolution.