Indian Plate ripping beneath Himalayas reveals cause of repeated quakes

Geologists say Indian Plate tearing explains frequent Himalayan quakes (Representative Image: Canva)

A quiet mountain view often hides fierce forces below. A new study reveals shifting rock beneath the Himalayas. The findings show movement shaping the mountains each year. The work uses 3D seismic data for fresh insight. The study appears now in a preprint release.

What does the new research show underground?
The data reveals the Indian Plate bending under Tibet. The plate does not behave like one solid block. The team used S-wave imaging to examine depth. Their model shows tearing near ninety to ninety-two degrees east. This zone lies near Yadong Gulu and Cona Sangri rifts.

How does the behaviour differ across the Himalayas?
The western region shows the plate staying mostly intact. It slides smoothly beneath thick Tibetan crust without major breaks. This process is known widely as simple underplating. The layers meet roughly one hundred kilometres north of the suture. This suture marks the known boundary between India and Tibet.

What changes appear further east beneath Tibet?
The lower mantle layer seems to peel from the crust. This separation forms a rising asthenospheric wedge between layers. The Tibetan lithosphere extends nearly one hundred kilometres south. This growth signals a base still forming under Tibet. The structure shows active changes in deep continental roots.

What supports these conclusions from the study?
Helium gas patterns match signals from deep earthquakes. These signs point to tearing as plates continue collision. The collision still shapes both Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau today. The study clarifies earthquake trends across several active rift zones. It also changes views on long-term mountain building.