New geological study shows Spain and Portugal are moving northward at 4-6mm annually as the Iberian Peninsula undergoes clockwise rotation towards the Eurasian tectonic plate
Geologists believe Spain and Portugal are moving(Image: Getty)
Spain and Portugal are “rotating” and “moving northwards,” according to fresh research. Scientists say the two European nations are gradually experiencing a “clockwise rotation” on their axis.
Previously the Iberian Peninsula had been regarded by geologists as an “immobile block”. However, new research has discovered that it is shifting northward and travelling towards the Eurasian tectonic plate.
And whilst the movement, approximately four to six millimetres annually, isn’t something that will affect everyday life, it has transformed how geologists comprehend the tectonics of Europe, reports Executive.
It emerges as scientists have previously determined that both plates on either side of the Gibraltar Strait are shifting, theorising that they will eventually close, reconnecting Africa and Europe once more.
Researcher Asier Madarieta from the University of the Basque Country, said: “Every year the Eurasian and African plates are moving 4-6 mm closer to each other. The boundary between the plates around the Atlantic Ocean and Algeria is very clear, whereas in the south of the Iberian Peninsula the boundary is much more blurred and complex.”
The Iberian Peninsula is moving, scientists say(Image: Getty Images)
He stated that the fresh data “confirms that the Iberian Peninsula is rotating clockwise. The data indicate that the Gibraltar Arc is playing a significant role on the Eurasia-Africa boundary. To the east of the Straits of Gibraltar the crust of the Gibraltar Arc is absorbing the deformation caused by the Eurasia-Africa collision, thus preventing the stresses being transmitted to Iberia.
“On the other hand, to the west of the Straits of Gibraltar the direct collision between the Iberia (Eurasia) and Africa plates is taking place, and we believe that could affect the stresses being transmitted to the southwest of Iberia, by pushing Iberia from the southwest and making it rotate clockwise.”
Researchers believe pressure generated by the Alboran Domain has triggered an “unequal interaction of forces” between the African and Eurasian plates. This has resulted in subtle shifts in southern Spain and Portugal.
Portugal is reportedly moving clockwise(Image: Getty)
Whilst the displacement is marginal, it has been sufficient to alter how geologists understand tectonic evolution. The research indicates the zone surrounding the Gibraltar Arc has been crucial to the fresh study.
This is where both the Betic Cordillera mountain range and Moroccan Rif are situated. These mountainous territories help disperse the stresses across smaller formations, according to Executive.
The research has been carried out using permanent GPS stations installed throughout the Iberian Peninsula. They detect any minute ground shifts, which are subsequently compared with local seismic activity.
It offers a more accurate picture of the movement than more straightforward measurements. And whilst Spain and Portugal aren’t Europe’s most earthquake-prone areas, they have experienced tremors historically.
In 1755 Lisbon was struck by a massive earthquake. Known as the Great Lisbon Earthquake, it reached a magnitude of 7.7 and virtually obliterated the city along with the neighbouring region.
It is estimated that between 30,000 and 40,000 people perished in the quake. The new model, researchers say, clarifies why earthquakes can occur in locations without visible faults on the surface.