Scientists solve Bermuda mystery after discovering hidden structure below ocean
Daily Express • • science
Key Points:
- Scientists from Carnegie Institution of Washington and Yale University discovered a hidden, lighter slab of rock beneath Bermuda that keeps the island elevated above the ocean floor, formed 30 to 35 million years ago from ancient volcanic activity.
- Unlike typical volcanic islands that rely on active volcanic heat to stay afloat, Bermuda remains elevated due to this previously unseen geological structure, challenging traditional models of mantle plumes.
- Researchers analyzed over 20 years of earthquake vibrations to map the rock layers beneath Bermuda, revealing a 12-mile-thick buoyant slab that causes the island to float higher than surrounding ocean crust.
- The Bermuda Rise, an underwater plateau linked to this structure, has remained elevated for millennia without active volcanoes, and is associated with gravitational anomalies and magnetic disturbances affecting navigation equipment.
- These findings suggest there are unknown convective processes within Earth’s mantle influencing geological features, expanding scientific understanding beyond classic volcanic plume theories.