The Earth's core may be leaking heat through secret plumes

Recent discoveries suggest that Earth’s mantle may contain hidden “ghost plumes” that are leaking heat from the planet’s core a finding that challenges our previous understanding of how heat moves through the Earth’s interior layers.

Scientists have identified what they believe to be the first known “ghost plume” deep beneath the Earth’s surface a mysterious phenomenon that could reshape how we view the planet’s internal processes.

A section of the Earth’s mantle beneath the Al Hajar Mountains in Oman was found to be unusually hot. This may represent the first known instance of a “ghost plume” — a column of hot rock rising from the lower mantle without any surface signs of volcanic activity. Traditionally, mantle plumes are associated with volcanic hotspots, where molten rock rises to the surface and causes eruptions. Classic examples include the Yellowstone hotspot in the U.S. and the East African Rift.

However, the region in Oman shows no such volcanic activity, making this discovery highly unusual. “These are all cases where you see surface volcanism,” said Simone Pilia, a researcher at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia. “The ghost plume under Oman appears to be a rare exception to that rule.”

Mantle plumes are columns of hot rock that rise from deep within the Earth’s mantle. These plumes are thought to transmit heat from the core-mantle boundary to the Earth’s surface, especially in areas far from tectonic plate boundaries. They are believed to play a crucial role in the planet’s geologic processes, but until now, they’ve been primarily identified in volcanic regions.

By contrast, the ghost plume beneath Oman suggests that heat can escape from the mantle without producing visible surface eruptions. Identifying this ghost plume could open new research avenues into how heat is distributed within Earth’s interior, particularly in regions that do not experience volcanic activity.

The discovery could also offer new insights into how heat is transferred from the Earth’s core. Scientists have long known that Earth’s interior is far from static heat continuously moves from the core to the mantle but the exact mechanisms have remained a subject of study. The ghost plume in Oman suggests that more heat may be rising from the core to the surface than previously thought.

This heat flow is crucial to understanding the dynamics of our planet, as it affects everything from tectonic activity to Earth’s magnetic field. Researchers believe that ghost plumes like the one beneath Oman might be key to unlocking the mystery of how internal heat is transported.

This major finding may lead to significant shifts in our understanding of Earth’s internal dynamics. The presence of hidden plumes suggests there may be many more undiscovered features beneath the surface that influence how our planet evolves. If similar ghost plumes exist elsewhere, it could mean Earth’s mantle is far more active and complex than scientists had previously believed.

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