Unveiling the Secrets of the Atlantic: 117 Million-Year-Old Giant Structures Discovered Beneath the Waves

Recent studies from Heriot-Watt University and a ScienceDirect report have revealed incredible structures hidden deep beneath the Atlantic Ocean. These discoveries shed light on how the Atlantic formed, confirming that it may have begun developing earlier than we thought.

Geologists have drilled sediment cores off the coast of western Africa, about 250 miles from Guinea-Bissau. These cores, part of the Deep Sea Drilling Project that started in 1975, uncovered previously unknown mud waves. These aren’t just geological oddities; they provide key insights into the rifting process that separated South America and Africa.

“Picture waves a kilometer long and a few hundred meters high, formed at a crucial point where these continents were pulling apart,” explains Uisdean Nicholson, a geologist on the project.

These mud waves formed when salty water from the South Atlantic mixed with the fresher water of the North Atlantic. This intense mixing created strong currents that shaped the seabed.

The opening of the Atlantic wasn’t just a quick event; it was a gradual process of tectonic rifting. As the two continents drifted apart, the space in between filled with water to form the Atlantic. The mud waves represent a critical phase in this separation, created at a time when the land connection was almost gone.

Before the Atlantic fully formed, the area was dotted with deep basins, rich in salt deposits. As water from these basins mixed, powerful currents emerged, leading to the mud wave formations.

Interestingly, the Atlantic’s formation might have had far-reaching climate impacts. The basins separating Africa and South America stored a significant amount of carbon. As the Atlantic developed, this carbon was released into the atmosphere, potentially causing a global warming spike between 117 and 110 million years ago. “This shows how the formation of the Atlantic influenced global climate patterns,” notes geologist Débora Duarte.

The mud waves tell a story of Earth’s geological past, revealing that this area was once extremely dynamic. Layers of sediment have preserved these features over millions of years. This discovery enhances our understanding of how the Atlantic Ocean was formed and the forces that shaped our planet.

Such findings highlight the interaction between geological processes and climate change. A deeper look into the past can help us understand not just how our planet changes but also how it can inform future climate scenarios.

For more details, you can check out the studies published by Heriot-Watt University and the ScienceDirect report linked above.

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