'Underground peeling begins': Scientists discover Earth’s crust sinking in real time
Produced by: Mohsin Shaikh
Deep Shift
Seismologists detected earthquakes 20–40 km deep under the Sierra—far below normal quake zones, revealing hidden crustal movement.
Crust Peeling
The lithosphere is actively detaching beneath central Sierra Nevada—peeling off and sinking like tectonic skin.
Silent Collapse
Seismic imaging shows Earth’s lower crust is sinking into the mantle—an underground process reshaping the range.
Striped Rocks
Rock layers beneath the range show compression patterns like stretched clay—evidence of intense subterranean deformation.
Cool Quakes
Unexpected deep quakes may stem from cooling crust being pulled downward, staying brittle enough to crack under pressure.
Mantle Map
Seismic scans revealed a 40–70 km mantle layer changing from south to north—southern Sierra is detached, central is mid-peel.
Continental Code
Foundering may explain how continents form—lighter crust rises while dense material dives deep, creating land masses.
Hidden Drama
This process is invisible at the surface but leaves geological scars that trace millions of years of tectonic history.
Earth Echoes
Scientists believe similar foundering may be underway in the Andes—and even hinted at in Venus’s mantle activity.