What is it about?
As a direct consequence of the Cenozoic collision and postcollisional convergence of the Indian and Eurasian plates, the Tibetan Plateau is arguably the most spectacular result of plate tectonic. Following the pioneering work of Émile Argand (1879–1940, Swiss geologist), who proposed the concept of underthrusting of the Indian lithosphere beneath the Eurasian Plate to give rise to the Tibetan Plateau, this study tackles two long-standing questions: 1) the morphology and physical state of the subducting Indian slab under Tibet, along with their impact on growth dynamics of the plateau, and 2) the driving forces behind the ongoing northward motion of the Indian Plate during its postcollision with Asia.
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Why is it important?
We present evidence indicating that the Indian slab subducts beneath nearly the entire plateau, exhibiting a subhorizontal geometry at a depth of ~300 km. The mechanism by which the plateau sustains its high-elevation, low-relief topography may be attributed to the buoyancy of the low-velocity zone (which serves as a repository for older and denser portions of the lost landmass of Greater India) situated above the flat slab. We propose that deep mantle convective currents, traced back to the Réunion plume and identified as large-scale low-velocity anomalies extending from the upper mantle beneath the Indian Plate down toward the uppermost lower mantle under the Baikal-Mongolia Plateau, represent the primary force driving the ongoing the ongoing India–Asia postcollisional convergence.
Perspectives
It is a great pleasure to write this article, as the mystery surrounding the growth and tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau have captivated countless distinguished scientists who have dedicated their lifelong talents and energies to this subject over the past century. During my undergraduate studies at Jilin University, I was profoundly inspired by my geology professor's lectures on plate tectonics, which continue to resonate with me today. In pursuit of a deeper understanding, I explored nearly all relevant literature available in the library; notably, the most challenging and stimulating texts focused on the Tibetan Plateau. It was during this period that I began to contemplate the unresolved enigmas associated with this region. Now, by building upon the foundational work of those who preceded us, we are fortunate to make significant advancements in uncovering the mystery behind the rise of the Tibetan Plateau—this endeavor serves both as a tribute to our predecessors and as an impetus for our future research efforts aimed at Reconstructing the evolution of the Earth’s mantle back in geologic time by performing novel geodynamic inversions.
Jincheng Ma
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Wholesale flat subduction of the Indian slab and northward mantle convective flow: Plateau growth and driving force of the India–Asia collision, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, February 2025, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2411776122.
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