New look at 1755 quake, Europe's largest ever, may foretell Atlantic 'ring of fire'.

The article discusses new research that suggests the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, which had a magnitude of 8.7 and resulted in significant destruction, may be linked to a geological process called delamination occurring beneath the Atlantic Ocean off Portugal's coast. This process involves the mantle, a dense layer of Earth's interior, peeling away from the crust, potentially generating stress that could lead to major earthquakes. The study indicates that this delamination could provide insights into the origins of subduction zones and the future geological evolution of the Atlantic Ocean, possibly leading to its eventual closure and the formation of a new supercontinent. Researchers emphasize the ongoing seismic risks in the region, highlighting a lack of preparedness for such events in Portugal. [Extracted from the article]