'Secret supercontinents': Earth’s mantle hides 2 massive giants that could trigger chaos
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Hidden Titans
Deep within Earth's mantle, massive "islands" larger than continents hold ancient secrets.
Seismic Maps
Seismologists use earthquake tones to uncover Earth's hidden layers and detect anomalies.
Ancient Giants
Colossal structures under Africa and the Pacific are over 500 million years old.
Credit: Mingming Li/ASU
Wave Damping
Dr. Arwen Deuss from Utrecht University explains how seismic waves reveal these regions' nature.
Credit: Utrecht University
Plate Burial
These islands are surrounded by a graveyard of subducted tectonic plates, reshaping Earth's dynamics.
Mantle Barriers
Known as Large Low Seismic Velocity Provinces (LLSVPs), these rigid structures resist mantle flow.
Volcanic Trigger
Scientists link LLSVP edges to mantle plumes, fueling volcanic hotspots like Hawaii.
Earthquake Insights
Data from deep earthquakes, like Bolivia’s in 1994, reveals the astonishing features of Earth's interior.
Planet’s Engine
LLSVPs drive Earth's volcanic and tectonic systems, shaping mountains and crustal evolution.