In the image below, taken from Google Maps satellite view, between Svalbard and Greenland there is what looks like a massive crevasse, chasm, crack, &c.
What is it? Should I be worried?
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$\begingroup$ Just out of couriosity: Wasn't this covered during your time at school? Basics of plate tectonics? $\endgroup$– ErikAug 23, 2019 at 7:22
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$\begingroup$ @Erik probably, but that knowledge went the way of all things $\endgroup$– CobblesAug 23, 2019 at 9:25
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$\begingroup$ The part that goes north from Greenland across to Siberia is called the Gakkel Ridge. $\endgroup$– SpencerAug 23, 2019 at 21:40
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1 Answer
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You probably realise this, but you're not seeing that directly from satellite photos. Google Earth (or the "satellite" view in Google Maps) shows direct imagery on land, but underwater it shows a hillshaded view of bathymetry. So you're looking at the shape of the seabed.
With that said, I think this is the nothernmost part of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, possibly the part known as the "Mohns Ridge". You'll see a similar line, coming and going, all the way from here down to the middle of the South Atlantic. There's a deep valley with mountains on either side. It's the boundary between two tectonic plates, where new seabed is slowly created as the Atlantic widens.
No, you should not be worried about it :-)
answered Aug 22, 2019 at 21:42
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$\begingroup$ That's amazing, thank you! I'll hold off on building the tsunami shelter then $\endgroup$– CobblesAug 22, 2019 at 23:08