Researchers have discovered a 'ghost plume' beneath eastern Oman, a previously hidden pillar of hot rock rising from 410 miles below the Earth's surface. Unlike typical mantle plumes that create volcanoes, this one remained undetected due to its lack of volcanic activity. The discovery was made by analyzing the slowdown of seismic waves, indicating the presence of hot rock. The findings suggest that multiple ghost plumes could exist globally, raising concerns about the rate of heat loss from the Earth's core, potentially impacting geological activity.
Dr Pilia says: 'A ghost plume is a mantle plume that doesn't produce observable surface volcanism, making it essentially "invisible" to traditional geological observation.'
Lead author Dr Simone Pilia, of the King Fahd University of Petroleum, Engineering and Geosciences, told MailOnline: 'It's a reminder that surface silence doesn't mean the mantle is quiet.'
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