Scientists have discovered two continent-sized regions, known as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), deep within Earth’s mantle beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean. These structures are hotter, older, and more rigid than their surroundings, with larger mineral grains that resist mantle convection. Their edges are linked to volcanic activity, such as mantle plumes beneath Hawaii. This discovery challenges the idea of a well-mixed mantle and offers new insights into Earth’s geological processes.
- Discovery: Two continent-sized regions, known as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), identified deep in Earth’s mantle.
- Characteristics:
- Hotter, older, and more rigid than their surroundings.
- Comprised of larger mineral grains.
- Estimated to be over half a billion years old, possibly older.
- Significance: Challenges the idea of a well-mixed mantle and offers insights into Earth’s structure and evolution.
- LLSVPs Location:
- Found beneath Africa and the Pacific Ocean, more than 2,000 km below the surface.
- Located at the boundary between the Earth’s core and mantle.
- Impact on Surface Phenomena:
- LLSVPs influence volcanism and mountain formation.
- Mantle plumes, responsible for volcanic activity (e.g., Hawaii), likely originate from LLSVP edges.
