Latest news with #AfricanSuperplume
Economic Times
23-05-2025
- Science
- Economic Times
Is Africa splitting in two? Scientists uncover fiery force tearing the continent apart faster than predicted
iStock Scientists have uncovered a massive superheated force beneath East Africa that's rapidly tearing the continent apart. The East African Rift, once thought to take tens of millions of years to split, may now form a new ocean in just one to five million years. Deep beneath the sun-scorched plains of East Africa, something extraordinary is unfolding—something so vast in scale that it could eventually reshape the very face of our planet. A new study has revealed that the East African Rift System (EARS), the 2,000-mile-long tear that runs from Ethiopia to Malawi, is ripping apart the continent at nearly double the previously estimated speed. According to a report from the Daily Mail , this dramatic process, long thought to be glacially slow, is being accelerated by a powerful and ancient force surging from the depths of the Earth—a massive upwelling of superheated rock known as the African Superplume. Scientists say this 'giant hot blob' is not only pushing tectonic plates apart but also elevating the continent by hundreds of meters. And its influence is far greater—and faster—than once believed. At the heart of this seismic drama lies the boundary between the Somali Plate and the Nubian Plate, where GPS tracking has long recorded their gradual separation. But new research led by scientists from the University of Glasgow, using advanced isotope tracing and high-precision mass spectrometry, now suggests that this process is being driven from deep within the Earth's mantle—far deeper than surface tectonic activity alone could explain. By studying the isotopes of the noble gas neon from Kenya's Menengai geothermal field, researchers traced the chemical signature back to the core-mantle boundary. It's a smoking gun that confirms the presence of the African Superplume—an enormous reservoir of molten rock fueling the continental rift. "We've always known the surface was changing, but now we know the true power lies far below," said lead author Professor Fin Stuart. "This upwelling force is not only driving the plates apart, it's lifting the entire region." The consequences of this tectonic ballet are already visible on the surface. In 2005, a sudden swarm of over 400 earthquakes in Ethiopia's Afar region opened a staggering 37-mile-long fissure in just days. In 2018, another colossal crack tore through Kenya's Great Rift Valley, halting traffic and making headlines around the world. As the rift continues to widen—now at around 0.2 inches per year—the stage is being set for an entirely new ocean to form. According to marine geophysicist Ken Macdonald, 'The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood into the East African Rift Valley. A new ocean will be born.' In the distant future—possibly within just one to five million years—countries like Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania could drift away from the mainland, creating a new continent altogether. Meanwhile, landlocked nations such as Uganda and Zambia might find themselves with coastlines, completely reshaping regional geopolitics and trade routes. — Rainmaker1973 (@Rainmaker1973) Beyond the astonishing visuals and dramatic forecasts, this research underscores a profound truth: our planet is in constant, powerful motion. What appears to be solid and eternal underfoot is, in reality, shifting, cracking, and transforming. The East African Rift is not just a tear in the Earth's crust—it's a preview of planetary rebirth, a glimpse into the same elemental forces that once shaped the Atlantic Ocean and will eventually redraw the map once again. So, are the continents breaking apart faster than we imagined? The science says yes—and East Africa is just the beginning.
Time of India
23-05-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Is Africa splitting in two? Scientists uncover fiery force tearing the continent apart faster than predicted
Deep beneath the sun-scorched plains of East Africa, something extraordinary is unfolding—something so vast in scale that it could eventually reshape the very face of our planet. A new study has revealed that the East African Rift System (EARS), the 2,000-mile-long tear that runs from Ethiopia to Malawi, is ripping apart the continent at nearly double the previously estimated speed. According to a report from the Daily Mail , this dramatic process, long thought to be glacially slow, is being accelerated by a powerful and ancient force surging from the depths of the Earth—a massive upwelling of superheated rock known as the African Superplume . Scientists say this 'giant hot blob' is not only pushing tectonic plates apart but also elevating the continent by hundreds of meters. And its influence is far greater—and faster—than once believed. A Fiery Revelation Beneath the Rift At the heart of this seismic drama lies the boundary between the Somali Plate and the Nubian Plate, where GPS tracking has long recorded their gradual separation. But new research led by scientists from the University of Glasgow, using advanced isotope tracing and high-precision mass spectrometry, now suggests that this process is being driven from deep within the Earth's mantle—far deeper than surface tectonic activity alone could explain. Play Video Pause Skip Backward Skip Forward Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration 0:00 Loaded : 0% 0:00 Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 1x Playback Rate Chapters Chapters Descriptions descriptions off , selected Captions captions settings , opens captions settings dialog captions off , selected Audio Track default , selected Picture-in-Picture Fullscreen This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Text Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Caption Area Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Opacity Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Drop shadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Crossout: New Apocalyptic MMO Crossout Play Now Undo By studying the isotopes of the noble gas neon from Kenya's Menengai geothermal field , researchers traced the chemical signature back to the core-mantle boundary. It's a smoking gun that confirms the presence of the African Superplume—an enormous reservoir of molten rock fueling the continental rift . "We've always known the surface was changing, but now we know the true power lies far below," said lead author Professor Fin Stuart. "This upwelling force is not only driving the plates apart, it's lifting the entire region." You Might Also Like: Why are resilient people so funny? Wellness expert explains the science behind laughter and healing from pain iStock At the heart of this seismic drama lies the boundary between the Somali Plate and the Nubian Plate (African Plate), where GPS tracking has long recorded their gradual separation. Splitting at the Seams: From Cracks to Coastlines The consequences of this tectonic ballet are already visible on the surface. In 2005, a sudden swarm of over 400 earthquakes in Ethiopia's Afar region opened a staggering 37-mile-long fissure in just days. In 2018, another colossal crack tore through Kenya's Great Rift Valley, halting traffic and making headlines around the world. As the rift continues to widen—now at around 0.2 inches per year—the stage is being set for an entirely new ocean to form. According to marine geophysicist Ken Macdonald, 'The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood into the East African Rift Valley. A new ocean will be born.' In the distant future—possibly within just one to five million years—countries like Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania could drift away from the mainland, creating a new continent altogether. Meanwhile, landlocked nations such as Uganda and Zambia might find themselves with coastlines, completely reshaping regional geopolitics and trade routes. — Rainmaker1973 (@Rainmaker1973) What This Means for Earth's Future Beyond the astonishing visuals and dramatic forecasts, this research underscores a profound truth: our planet is in constant, powerful motion. What appears to be solid and eternal underfoot is, in reality, shifting, cracking, and transforming. You Might Also Like: Want a fear-free mango season? Here is the science behind mango pimples and ulcers, and how to avoid them The East African Rift is not just a tear in the Earth's crust—it's a preview of planetary rebirth , a glimpse into the same elemental forces that once shaped the Atlantic Ocean and will eventually redraw the map once again. So, are the continents breaking apart faster than we imagined? The science says yes—and East Africa is just the beginning.
Daily Mail
21-05-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Scientists discovery why one of the world's continents apart at double speed
A massive geological transformation is taking place in East Africa, where a hidden force beneath the Earth's surface is slowly tearing the continent apart. The process stems from the East African Rift System (EARS), which is a 2,000-mile-long rift that began forming at least 22 million years ago and runs through the region where Africa's Great Lakes are located. This rift marks the boundary between two tectonic plates: the Somali Plate and the Nubian Plate (part of the African Plate), which are gradually pulling away from each other. Scientists have now identified a massive upwelling of hot, partially molten rock beneath the region, known as the African Superplume, which is driving this divergence. Beneath the surface, intense heat and pressure from the superplume are weakening and cracking the Earth's outer layer, known as the lithosphere. GPS measurements indicate that the plates are moving apart at a rate of about 0.2 inches per year, roughly the speed at which human fingernails grow. Over time, this rifting could form a new ocean, potentially splitting off parts of Somalia, eastern Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania to form a new landmass. While the full separation was previously thought to take tens of millions of years, recent models suggest it could happen in one to five million years. In the new study, scientists from the University of Glasgow in Scotland used data from Kenya's Menengai geothermal field to trace the isotopes of the noble gas neon. This helped the team determine whether the forces splitting Africa apart originate deep within the Earth's mantle or are due to shallower surface tectonic processes. They found that the gas likely comes from deep within the Earth, between the outer core and the mantle. Lead author Professor Fin Stuart said in a statement: 'We have long been interested in how the deep Earth rises to surface, how much is transported, and just what role it plays on forming the large-scale topography of the Earth's surface.' 'Our research suggests that a giant hot blob of rock from the core-mantle boundary is present beneath East Africa, it is driving the plates apart and propping up the Africa continent so it hundreds of meters higher than normal,' Stuart added. Using high-precision mass spectrometry, the team also identified a consistent chemical 'fingerprint' across a wide area. This supports the theory that the EARS is fueled by a 'superplume,' rather than several smaller sources. The study provides crucial insights into continental breakup and ocean formation, enabling researchers to comprehend similar processes that have shaped Earth's surface throughout history. EARS spans from Ethiopia to Malawi, and massive cracks have appeared in recent years. In 2005, a series of over 400 earthquakes in Ethiopia's Afar region led to the sudden appearance of a 37-mile long crack, providing an example of how dynamic forces works. Similarly in 2018, a massive crack emerged in Kenya's Great Rift Valley, disrupting transportation and highlighting the ongoing nature of the continental split. As the rift continues to widen, scientists predict that seawater from the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean will eventually flood the low-lying areas, creating a new ocean basin. Ken Macdonald, a marine geophysicist, said: 'The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will flood over the Afar region and into the East African Rift Valley, giving rise to a new ocean.' 'Consequently, this part of East Africa will evolve into its own distinct continent,' he added. Countries like Somalia, Kenya, and Tanzania could become part of a new landmass, effectively forming a separate continent. While landlocked nations such as Uganda and Zambia might gain coastlines, altering trade routes and geopolitical dynamic. This ongoing rifting leads to frequent earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and large fractures across the landscape.
