Plankton Contributed to the Formation of Mountains

As it is known, billions of years ago, the geology of our planet shaped life on Earth. However, a new study conducted by scientists in Scotland revealed that the opposite of this situation may have been experienced as well.

According to published research, the movements in the rock plates that caused the formation of mountains on our planet billions of years ago. supported by primitive life forms it could be. Experts call these creatures’ rock slabs ‘make it slippery’, that is, it makes it easier to move, he says.

Plankton helped form mountains

According to researchers at the University of Aberdeen and Glasgow, if there were no life on Earth, our planet’s surface would likely be flatter and ‘boring’. So the lack of living things would prevent the formation of mountains on the planet. Professor John Parnell of the University of Aberdeen explains this situation as follows:

“Simply put, mountains are made up of slabs of rock stacked on top of each other. But a stacking of this magnitude is friction It is quite a difficult situation. So the rocks need something to slide over each other.”

Parnell and his team found that the source of this lubricating effect was 2 billion years ago. primitive plankton revealed that it was due to an increase during growth. According to the statements, this increase came after a major climate change that would have a lasting impact on the Earth’s surface.

Plankton are at the base of the marine food chain and are vital to the health of today’s ocean ecosystems. are microscopic creatures. The study revealed that the importance of these tiny organisms to the planet is much greater than anticipated.

Graphites facilitated the movement of rocks

According to Parnell, when plankton died, they sank to the bottom of the oceans, and then turned into a substance called ‘graphite’ with the help of heat and pressure. These graphites, which are a very oily substance, lubricate the rocks, just like many of our current daily uses. to move more easily provided. As a result of these events that took place two billion years ago, mountains that can now be observed in China, North America, Greenland and Scandinavia were formed.

According to scientists, this study, published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment, revealed that living life also plays an important role in changing the surface of the planet. In addition, the research will provide future generations with important data on the protection of mountains. can help save the world stated by the researchers.