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Geodynamics

How plumes help to break plates

Computer models show how hot material that rises from Earth's interior is affected by plate tectonics, producing unexpected irregularities in Earth's topography and assisting in the break-up of continental plates. See Letter p.85

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Figure 1: Topography and bathymetry of the Afar region.

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Correspondence to Susanne Buiter.

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Buiter, S. How plumes help to break plates. Nature 513, 36–37 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/513036a

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