Atlantic Ocean to become “Ring of Fire” in next 20 million years

The future of the Atlantic Ocean seems in jeopardy. Recent modelling study conducted by scientists suggests that the subduction zone beneath the Gibraltar Strait which seemed to be dormant over the past five million years might be on the verge of awakening. This may cause some changes in the geography of the Atlantic Ocean.

According to the scientists the seemingly dormant Gibraltar Arc is not so dormant. The speed of the arc is very slow which makes it seem inactive. The researchers discovered that the arc may traverse the Gibraltar Strait and enter the Atlantic Ocean in the next 20 million years. 

Why is it in News?

Image credit:Reto Stockli, NASA Earth Observatory

With the awakening of the subduction zone beneath Gibraltar Strait, it is possible that the Atlantic Ocean may witness the formation of a new subduction system similar to the Pacific Ocean’s “Ring of Fire”. 

Gibraltar Arc is a zone situated under Gibraltar Strait. This arc had been inching westwards for 30 million years. This movement seemed to have stalled in the last 5 Million years, which made it seem inactive. 

In a recently published article in the journal “Geology”, scientists claim that this pause is temporary. Researchers used scientific methods such as computer modelling to mimic the arc’s history and future. They discovered that the arc may traverse the Gibraltar Strait and enter the Atlantic Ocean in the next 20 million years, causing “Subduction Invasion”. This may result in the formation of another “Ring of Fire”.

What makes this phenomenon rare?

Image Credit: Mr. Elliot Lim, CIRES & NOAA/NCEI

Study of early stages of subduction invasion is a rare opportunity. The opportunity of observing the very start of any tectonic process is limited. Subduction initiation process is extremely hard to observe as it leaves almost no traces behind. Once the process of subduction starts, it erases the record of its initial stages.

What is Subduction Zone?

Image credit: Science History Images

Subduction Zones are the regions of tectonic activity, where one tectonic plate dives or subducts beneath the other, triggering earthquakes and seismic activity. This tectonic process can cause some of the Earth's deadliest and strongest earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanic eruptions. 

What is Subduction Invasion?

Image credit:  João C. Duarte

According to the first author of the journal Joao Duarte, “Subduction invasion is a three-dimensional process in which a new subduction zone forms in an exterior ocean and then migrates to an interior ocean, like in the case of Gibraltar Arc, which may enter the Atlantic ocean. This process has played a fundamental role in Earth's recent geological evolution.” 

What does it imply?

Image credit: João C. Duarte

This is not the first time that the Atlantic Ocean is experiencing subduction. Two such subduction arcs already exist in the ocean, namely Antilles subduction zone in the Caribbean and the Scotia arc, near Antarctica.

The subduction of Gibraltar Strait is in its initial stages. This provides an opportunity for the scientists to witness this process closely and from the beginning. In the event that the Gibraltar arc awakens, it might mimic the Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean. Subduction zones on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean will gradually seal it on both sides.

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