Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions

Melting Ice Age Glaciers May Have Sped Up Continental Movement And Increased Volcanic Activity

It seems that rapid ice loss put the whole of North America in a spin.

Melting glaciers at the end of the Ice Age may have sped up continental drift, fueled volcanic eruptions

Around 10,000 years ago, as the last Ice Age drew to a close, the drifting of the continent of North America, and spreading in the Atlantic Ocean, may have temporarily sped up—with a little help from melting glaciers, according to a new study from scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder.

Effects of glacial forcing on lithospheric motion and ridge spreading

Glacial cycles significantly influenced Earth’s surface processes throughout the Quaternary, impacting the climate, sea level, and seismic and magmatic activity1–3. However, the effects of glaciation and deglaciation (that is, glacial forcing) on lithospheric motion are unknown. To study these effects, we formulated high-resolution numerical models with realistic lithospheric structures, including weak plate margins, lithospheric thickness varia…

Glacial Forces Drive Lithosphere and Ridge Movement

The Earth’s surface is a constantly evolving interface shaped by dynamic processes operating over vast timescales. Among the many forces that sculpt our planet’s landscape, glacial cycles stand out as powerful agents of transformation, driving profound changes in climate, sea level, and tectonic activity throughout the Quaternary period. Recent advances in geophysical modeling have unveiled a previously underappreciated connection between glacia…

Melting glaciers appear to have an unexpected effect: around 10,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, they accelerated the drift of the North American continent. For the new study from the University of Colorado Boulder, geophysicists Tao Yuan and Shijie Zhong used computer simulations to go back in time about 26,000 years. […] More science? Read the latest articles on Scientias.nl .

About 10,000 years ago, when the last glacial period ended, the drift of the North American continent and spread into the Atlantic Ocean, may have temporarily accelerated – with some help from the melting of glaciers, according to a new study by scientists from the University of Colorado Boulder. [...]