These huge plates may move slowly, but they create many of the Earth’s unique topographical features such as mountains, chasms, individual islands, archipelagoes and ocean trenches – all on a continental scale.
Earthquakes, volcanoes and tsunamis, however, are all also the result of the constant flux of the lithosphere – the rocky crust and the solid upper part of the mantle. An average tectonic plate may move around 40mm a year – roughly the same speed as a fingernail grows – while the fastest, the Nazca Plate off western South America, moves around 160mm a year, around the same speed hair grows.
This story is from the January 25, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 25, 2022 edition of The Independent.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Russia In Race To Make Gains Before Fresh US Arms Arrive
Analysts and officials say the Kremlin wants a military victory to tout before its artillery advantage over Ukraine diminishes
Tory Voters Won't Thank Us If We Replace The Prime Minister
The results of the local and police and crime commissioner elections in England were supposed to follow a clear narrative – that Labour was on course for a massive parliamentary majority in a general election, and that Rishi Sunak’s premiership would be on the rocks, with rebel factions waiting to displace him.
Tories 'Smart' To Use Holiday To Mask Border Check Chaos
The director general of Britain’s leading trade body has described Tory ministers as “smart” for using the bank holiday weekend to mask the impact of a new Brexit border checks system, which is set to add delays, red tape and costs to many imports.
Netanyahu Rejects Hamas Peace Talks To End Gaza War
Rafah invasion talked up as Israeli PM shuts down Al Jazeera
Did Sunak Snub Susan Hall By Not Voting In London?
With the catastrophic local election results suffered by the Tories this weekend, Rishi Sunak’s leadership has again become the focus of attention.
Chelsea Crush West Ham On Late Surge For Europe
Chelsea kept up their electric goalscoring form at home and boosted their hopes of securing a Europa League spot with a 5-0 thrashing of West Ham.
How Spacey's career came down like a house of cards
As anew documentary reveals more harrowing allegations against the star of American Beauty’, Nick Hilton tells the story of an actor whose own character remains an enigma
MOVERS AND SHAKERS
House prices are down and mortgage costs are up. So how long will buyers and sellers have to wait before the market begins to show signs of life? James Moore digs into the data
Wilson on top after black ball finish halts Jones surge
World Snooker Championship final to resume this afternoon
Norris wins maiden grand prix to end Verstappen run
The Briton, 24, dedicates victory in Miami to his grandma’
