Scientists discovered new cracks in the tectonic plates

This year, there was an extraordinary event - cracked one of the major tectonic plates that make up Earth's crust. As a result, there have been two major earthquakes on April 11 to the south-east of Sumatra.
According to the publication El Pais (translation Inopressa), the earthquake caused little damage when compared to natural disasters in 2004 in the same region. However, writes journalist Alicia Rivera, referring to the recent publication in the journal Nature, the rift tectonic plates - the event is a rare and significant. Thus, according to the newspaper, an earthquake measuring 8.7 points in reaction to four faults in the thickness of plate: three parallel between himself and the fourth - the perpendicular. Two hours later there was a second earthquake force 8.2 points. The ocean floor cracked.
"Earthquakes led to the emergence of" gaps in the plate "- said Rivera.
In turn, an expert from the University of Southern California, Thorne Lay argues that a separation of the two plates Indoavstraliyskoy. However, as emphasized, this is not the complete fault, but a tangled web of cracks.
Madrid Miguel Errais geophysicist noted that fractures occur on the earth plates with a gap of a few hundred thousand years.
"But this time we were able to observe the beginning of a new border between the plates themselves and with the necessary equipment," - he stressed.
We add that the earthquakes that occurred near Sumatra, also produced an unexpected effect on the other side of the Pacific. Apparently, they have caused seismic activity on the other fault - in California, explain Fred pollitsa (USA) and colleagues.