The Earth's crust has begun to subside under the USA

Alarming geological phenomenon discovered by scientists under the territory of the Midwest United States. According to a study published in Science Alert journal, in this region of the planet, the process of lithospheric dripping is actively developing - rocks located close to the molten mantle heat up, detach, and, like drops, sink into the depths of the Earth.

In the studied area, the lithosphere, which is the solid shell of our planet, forms a craton - an exceptionally large stable area that maintains relative constancy over colossal time periods. Such geological structures are so stable that they become the basis for the formation of entire continents. To date, the scientific community knows of approximately 35 cratons worldwide.

The phenomenon of lithospheric dripping occurs when the lower part of the rocky earth's crust heats to a critical temperature. During the melting process, the rock forms a kind of drop, which gradually gains mass until it becomes heavy enough to detach and sink into the deeper layers of the planet.

In some regions of the Earth, such as the Andes or the Anatolian plateau in Turkey, this process can create noticeable irregularities on the planet's surface. Traditionally, scientists determine the presence of lithospheric dripping precisely by these signs. However, in the current study, a fundamentally different approach was applied. A group of Chinese scientists working at the University of Texas used seismic data to reconstruct activity on the lower side of the earth's crust - they created a detailed map of the thickness of the earth's crust based on seismic information. In essence, the resulting image can be compared to an X-ray, clearly demonstrating areas with thicker and thinner surface layers.

"Thanks to the use of the full waveform method, we gained a clearer understanding of the critically important zone between the deep mantle and the more superficial lithosphere, where we expect to find keys to understanding the processes occurring with the latter," explained University of Texas geophysicist Thorsten Becker.

The conducted study showed that the craton located under a significant part of the North American continent is undergoing thinning. The central point of this process is located directly under the Midwest, however, its consequences can be traced in other parts of the region. It is important to note that such geological changes occur on a scale of millions of years, so the thinning of the crust will most likely not affect the current inhabitants of North America.