Beneath the surface of the Earth lie several tectonic plates – large slabs of rock that move slowly over time – at a rate similar to the growth of fingernails.
Some of these plates move towards each other, known as convergent boundaries, that push together and build mountain ranges. Other plates move apart, creating new oceanic crust and rift valleys. Magma then rises from the mantle below to the surface and solidifies.
The Earth’s continents were once joined together in a single landmass known as Pangea, which existed around 240 million years ago. The movement of the tectonic plates led to the creation of the continents and oceans that we know today.
However, deep below the surface of Africa, researchers have discovered that the forces deep beneath Africa are making the continent split apart, making way for a new ocean to form.
The East African Rift – a huge crack in the Earth’s surface – is at the centre of this activity, which stretches from Mozambique in the south to the Red Sea in the north. It represents the only place on Earth where continental crust is breaking apart to eventually form oceanic crust.
Scientists have estimated that the technotic plates in this region – the African and Somali plates – are pulling away from each other at a rate of about 0.8 centimetres a year. While this may seem like a very slow process, it marks the start of a process that could culminate in the creation of a new ocean in about one million years, or even sooner.
In Ethiopia’s Afar region, this rift spans over 37 miles and plunges up to 10 meters deep.
In 2005, this area showed the rift’s unpredictability when over 420 earthquakes struck in a period, leading to the formation of a massive fissure. What usually takes centuries unfolded in mere days, challenging traditional views on the timescales of geological processes.
The formation of a new ocean basin will dramatically alter the geography of Africa that we know today.
“We’ve reduced the timeframe to about 1 million years, possibly even half that,” revealed Cynthia Ebinger, a geoscientist at Tulane University, according to The Greek Reporter.
She warned that seismic activity, such as earthquakes, in the region could further accelerate the process, though predicting the exact timeframe of the event remains incredibly difficult.
Landlocked countries like Zambia and Uganda could gain coastlines, which ultimately could come as a great blessing – offering new access to trade and reshaping their economies. At the same time, marine habitats will develop in the newly created waters, transforming local ecosystems.
At the same time, however, land management and coastal infrastructure will need significant adjustments as new coastlines emerge. For example, many settlements are currently located right within the East African Rift and could very well be lost.
Scientists are closely monitoring the geological event, which should provide real-time insights into how oceans are born. Indeed, the East African Rift mirrors, and provides insight into, the formation of the Atlantic Ocean millions of years ago.
The rift sits as a constant reminder of the power of the Earth and its tectonic plates. The creation of a new ocean may seem a long time away, but its impacts will leave a lasting mark on the continent and its future.