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What mysterious force caused the Indian plate to drift northward at a rapid speed and collide with the Asian plate?
The geology of the Himalayas records the most dramatic and visible evolution of this massive mountain range, caused by the forces of plate tectonic forces and subsequent weathering and erosion processes. The Himalayas extend for more than 2,400 kilometers, from the holy mountain of Nanchabhava in the east to Nanga Parbat in the west. Its formation is a continuous orogeny, which is mainly driven by the impact of the Indian plate against the Eurasian plate.
The Himalayan-Tibetan region provides fresh water to more than a fifth of the world's population, and it also accounts for a quarter of the global sediment budget.
The Himalayas contain many stunning topographical features: they have the highest subsidence rate in the world (Nanga Parbat’s rapid ascent rate is nearly 10 mm per year), as well as the world’s tallest peaks (Everest 8848 meters) and Extremely high erosion rate (2-12 mm per year). This last feature gives the Himalayas its name, derived from the Sanskrit word meaning "abode of snow".
According to research by geologists, the Indian subcontinent was once part of the southern ancient continent Godavana during the late Precambrian and Paleozoic periods, and was separated by the Mediterranean region of the Paleozoic Pacific Ocean. And until now, as the Indian plate drifts northward at an alarming rate, the changes between it and the Asian plate continue, causing continuous earthquakes and the formation of mountains.
Over the past tens of millions of years, the Indian plate has slowly moved northward at a speed of about 6 to 10 centimeters and collided with the Eurasian plate. This collision formed the Himalayas we see today. .
As scientists speculate, there are several reasons for the rapid movement of the Indian Plate. The first is that over time, the north of the Indian Plate sinks, causing the contact between the plates to strengthen. This is followed by an increase in compressive stress, ultimately prompting large-scale crustal deformation.
The main geological units of the Himalayas
By dividing the Himalayan system into geological units, we can better understand its structure and formation processes. These units mainly include four major regions based on their geological characteristics and location: Sub-Himalayas (Sivaliks), Lesser Himalayas, Central Himalayas and Tasi Himalayas. Each of these regions has its own unique history of plate movement, sedimentation, and deformation.
The Para-Himalaya forms the southern hills of the Himalayas and is mainly composed of suspended sediments composed of erosion from the Himalayas, indicating that active orogeny is still taking place here.
The Lesser Himalaya consists of Upper Protozoic to Lower Cambrian sediments, compressed beneath the main boundary subduction structures. The Central Himalayas are the backbone of the Himalayas, containing the highest peaks in the world, and are clearly the center of collision of all tectonic plates.
The connection between earthquakes and plate motion
Today, the relative velocity between the Indian and Eurasian plates is about 6.5 to 8 millimeters per year. The movement of this plate results in ongoing seismic activity, and the collision between the Indian and Eurasian plates has made the Himalayas one of the most seismically active regions in the world. These earthquakes can cause serious infrastructure damage and even cause natural disasters.
Many highly destructive seismic events have occurred in the Himalayas over the past few hundred years, with their epicenters mostly concentrated in different parts of the Himalayas.
In the process of this dramatic change in geological history, in addition to earthquakes, the changes in the Himalayas also challenged the long-standing hypothesis of plate movement, revealing the importance of the subduction of oceanic plates to mountain movement and chronological changes.
Future Outlook
With the deepening of scientific research, geologists' understanding of the Himalayan region has gradually improved, but there are still many unsolved mysteries waiting to be explored. We have to ask, will these distant geological forces continue to impact our environment and redefine the Earth's surface?
