Brief by Shorts91NewsDesk / 11:43am on 19 Apr 2025,Saturday Weather & Environment
Scientists have discovered a rare geological process called lithospheric foundering occurring beneath California’s Sierra Nevada mountains. This phenomenon involves the dense lower layer of Earth’s lithosphere detaching and sinking into the mantle—described as the crust "peeling off" from beneath. According to the study, this event happened between 4 and 3 million years ago, triggering major changes such as crustal uplift and increased volcanic activity. The findings offer new insight into how deep Earth processes shape the planet’s surface and mark the Sierra Nevada as a key location for geoscientific research. (PC: Getty Images)
