Open AccessThin precollision crust can explain aspects of Indo‐Asian convergence
Author(s) -
Wendel JoAnna
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1002/2014eo390013
Subject(s) - plateau (mathematics) , collision , crust , convergence (economics) , continental collision , geology , south asia , collision zone , eurasian plate , plate tectonics , geography , paleontology , ancient history , tectonics , history , lithosphere , subduction , mathematics , computer science , economics , economic growth , mathematical analysis , computer security
Between 40 and 50 million years ago, the Indian and Eurasian continental plates collided, eventually forming the Himalayas and the Tibetan Plateau. If an average crustal thickness is assumed before the collision occurred, recent research reveals that what is left of the Eurasian and Indian plates after the collision is 30% less than what it should be—a finding that has puzzled scientists because the modern Eurasian plate is twice the normal crustal thickness in Tibet.