Iberian Peninsula Rotating: Europe-Africa Collision Causes Slow Shift, Earthquake Risk?
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News18•24-01-2026, 22:10
Iberian Peninsula Rotating: Europe-Africa Collision Causes Slow Shift, Earthquake Risk?
- •Scientists discovered the Iberian Peninsula is slowly rotating clockwise due to the collision of Eurasian and African tectonic plates.
- •The movement, less than one millimeter per year, is imperceptible to humans but detected through satellite data and earthquake signals.
- •Research published in 'Gondwana Research' highlights the uneven pressure from tectonic plates, with the Gibraltar Arc acting as a buffer.
- •The northern part of the peninsula is linked to Eurasia, while the southern part rotates due to pressure from Africa.
- •While no immediate major threat is identified, the study helps map stress accumulation and invisible faults, aiding future earthquake prediction.
Why It Matters: The Iberian Peninsula's slow rotation, driven by tectonic plate collision, reveals ongoing geological changes and aids earthquake prediction.
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