Our understanding of our own planet is still changing and a relatively new theory about how plate tectonics works. Researchers are now looking at evidence to sort of redefine oceanic plates, especially with regards to how they’re changing in unexpected areas.
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00:00Our understanding of our own planet is still changing, with a relatively new theory about how plate tectonics work.
00:10Researchers are now looking at evidence to sort of redefine oceanic plates, especially with regards to how they're changing in unexpected areas.
00:17For a long time it was believed that oceanic plateaus were reinforced areas of our planet's plates, especially since they are usually located far from where plate tectonics meet.
00:26However, new evidence finding ruptures and fissures in these areas paints a much different picture, with the study's lead author saying about it, quote,
00:33We knew that geological deformations like faults happen on the continental plate interiors, far from plate boundaries, but we didn't know the same thing was happening to ocean plates.
00:41With the researchers noting that plateaus are actually weak points, despite being thicker areas of the crust.
00:47This research looks specifically at plateaus in the Pacific.
00:50However, they say more evidence should be collected in the Atlantic as well.
00:53The floor of our planet's oceans are still very much a mystery.
00:56Areas that are largely inaccessible to humans, even to this day.