Africa is Breaking Apart: A New Ocean Is Forming at Breakneck Speed—Faster Than Expected – The Daily Galaxy –Great Discoveries Channel
A massive crack is widening across Africa, hinting at a transformation deep beneath the surface. Tectonic forces are reshaping the land faster than expected, with signs of an emerging ocean. Scientists are closely monitoring the shift, uncovering clues about what’s unfolding beneath our feet. The continent’s future is changing, and the implications could be enormous.The African continent is undergoing a dramatic transformation as tectonic forces carve a path toward the formation of a new ocean. The East African Rift System, a vast network of faults stretching from Mozambique to the Red Sea, is actively reshaping the landscape. Recent studies suggest this process, once thought to span tens of millions of years, could unfold in as little as a million years—maybe even sooner.Deep beneath Africa, the African and Somali plates are moving apart at a rate of 0.8 centimeters per year. This slow but persistent shift is tearing through East Africa, creating massive fissures and gradually weakening the landmass.One of the most striking examples of this transformation is in the Afar region of Ethiopia, where a 60-kilometer-long rift has already formed, reaching depths of 10 meters. While seemingly small on a human timescale, this marks the beginning of what could one day be an entirely new ocean, separating parts of East Africa from the rest of the continent.“We’ve reduced the timeframe to about 1 million years, possibly even half that,” says Cynthia Ebinger, a geoscientist at Tulane University.This accelerating timeline suggests that the rift’s progress could be further sped up by earthquakes or volcanic activity, events that are difficult to predict but could have immediate geological consequences.The East African Rift is the only place on Earth where continental crust is splitting into oceanic crust in real time. This rare opportunity allows scientists to witness the birth of a new ocean basin, a process that once shaped the Atlantic Ocean millions of years ago.In 2005, Ethiopia experienced a geological event that shocked researchers. Over 420 earthquakes in just a few weeks triggered the rapid formation of a massive fissure. What typically takes centuries happened in mere days, proving that tectonic shifts are not always slow and steady.The formation of a new ocean will redraw Africa’s map, reshaping not only the land but also its economies, ecosystems, and infrastructure.While the prospect of a new ocean sounds distant, the implications for Africa’s future geography are enormous. Scientists continue to refine models predicting how and when this transformation will unfold, calling for increased monitoring, research, and preparation.The forces shaping Africa’s future ocean are a powerful reminder that our planet is constantly evolving. As tectonic activity continues to rewrite geography, researchers are racing to understand its full implications.What is happening in East Africa today is more than a geological curiosity—it’s a preview of a future where continents break apart, oceans emerge, and the world as we know it changes forever.Got a reaction? Share your thoughts in the commentsEnjoyed this article? Subscribe to our free newsletter for engaging stories, exclusive content, and the latest news.This is simply unacceptable. We need to jump really fast to halt this!
There will be so much lost land, harm to various species, and who knows what harm it will do the climate.Your ads are so invasive that I’m literally blocking the entire domain because it’s so aggravating. Nearly every time i scrolled to continue reading a new slide out or overlay popped up. Absolutely horrible UX.There won’t be any humans left by the time this happens, so there is nothing for us to worry about. 500,000 years is a very long time from now.Jim, you’re funny.It’s going to take a million years, humans won’t be hereWell get a shovel Jim and start filling it in. It is Mother Nature Jim and you or any other human on this earth can’t stop it. Adaptation to natural events is what’s needed. I agree the pop up ads are very annoying.This is so much click bait. What an alarmist and ridiculous idea. Yes, it will likely happen, but it will be so far in the future that WHO CARES!!!! And I echo the sentiment about the invasive ads. YUCK!!Jim, please get a grip,it’s nature,not doomsdayIF this continues at this rate, it will move around 6 ft. in 100 years.
“…calling for more research & preparation” = ‘give us taxpayer dollars to fund our scare tactics.
BTW – this ‘news’ has been going on for 20 years now; all they are doing is ‘cut & paste’ old stories.The “East African Rift Valley ” has been slowly splitting apart for roughly 250 million years, since the supercontinent of Pangea broke apart in the Triassic period.We see how Africa our continent is breaking apart, never before witnessed in this world, it’s history in front of us. We would not be alive to
see the outcome of the new ocean and island of Africa but we can only predict it.Toto’s been singing about this for decades.Comment Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
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