Latest news with #EARS
The Irish Sun
28-05-2025
- Science
- The Irish Sun
Africa is being split apart by intense ‘superplume' of hot rock 1,800 miles below Earth's surface, experts warn
AFRICA is splitting apart - meaning the continent will form two separate land masses with an ocean in between in several million years, experts say. But the driving force behind the continental drift has long been debated. Advertisement 7 The East African Rift System drives volcanic activity in places like the Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia Credit: Getty 7 Damage caused by the rift at an intersection in Maai Mahiu-Narok Credit: Nation 7 Scientists previously thought Africa's tectonic plates, which collided to form large mountains and pulled apart to create vast basins, were simply moving apart again. But a new A gigantic superplume of hot rock, roughly 1,800 miles (2,900km) beneath the Earth's surface, is pushing up against the African crust and fracturing it. Professor Fin Stuart, of the University of Glasgow and the Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre (SUERC), led the project. Advertisement READ MORE ON EARTH SCIENCE He said: "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 metres higher than normal." Experts suspected as much back in 2023, but geologists have now detected volcanic gases that back up the theory. The Meengai geothermal field in central Kenya has a chemical signature that comes from deep inside Earth's mantle, matching those found in volcanic rocks to the north, in the Red Sea, and to the south, in Malawi. Advertisement Most read in Science The discovery indicates that all these locations are sat atop the same deep mantle rock, according to experts. Inside active volcano where world's largest ACID lake is buried - so dangerous it melts human skin & spews blue lava Study co-author, Biying Chen, of the University of Edinburgh and SUERC, said: "These gases from our geothermal wells have provide valuable new insight into the Earth's deep interior." Chen added that the findings will help researchers to understand both the geological forces shaping East Africa and "the fundamental processes which drive the formation of our planet's surface over millions of years". 7 The split would create a new ocean Credit: Getty Advertisement The East African Rift System (EARS) is the largest active continental rift system on Earth. It is in the process of ripping through around 2,175miles (3,500km) of Africa. Continental rifting is nothing new for Earth - and is the reason why we have seven continents today. Roughly 240 million years ago, long before humans roamed, Earth was home to just one supercontinent known as Pangaea. Advertisement The Scottish Highlands, the Appalachians, and the Atlas Mountains were actually all part of the same mountain range on Pangaea, but were torn apart by continental drift. In January, Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, warned the continent was splitting at a Somalia and parts of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania will form a distinct continent, accompanied by a fresh coastline. The split would create a new ocean, and a small new continent that he said could be called the "Nubian continent". Advertisement "What might happen is that the waters of the Indian Ocean would come in and flood what is now the East African Rift Valley," Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, told the The new ocean could become as deep as the Atlantic if waters continue to flow into the area, added Macdonald. 7 A deep chasm next to a repaired section of road that had been washed away during a heavy downpour at Maai-Mahiu in 2018, around 54km southwest of Nairobi capital Nakuru Credit: Getty - Contributor 7 Women work on their farm near a chasm suspected to have been caused by a heavy downpour along an underground fault-line near the Rift Valley town of Mai Mahiu, Kenya March 28, 2018. Picture taken March 28, 2018. REUTERS/Thomas Mukoya Credit: Reuters / Thomas Mukoya Advertisement 7 Continental rifting is nothing new for Earth - and is the reason why we have seven continents today Credit: Getty
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.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Continent Is Splitting and Might Create a New Ocean on Earth
Tectonic plates shifting in Africa could one day cause a new ocean to form. The plates in northeast Africa are moving at a rate of .3 inches per year. Once the continental drift reaches a certain point, it could create a sixth ocean in the region, but that could take millions of years to Earth might be getting a new ocean, though you'll have to wait a long time to see it. Due to tectonic plate movement, part of eastern Africa is slowly splitting apart, which could lead to the creation of a sixth ocean in one million to 20 million years. (While a million years is a long time by human life scale, it's considered to be a small time on a geological scale.) What is currently the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea could be slowly moving away from the rest of the continent, eventually breaking off and allowing water from the Indian Ocean to rush in to fill the gap. This would lead to a separate land mass, new coastlines, and a change in climate patterns and geography for northeast Africa. This area is part of the East African Rift System (EARS), home to an active continental rift zone, where one plate is slowly pulling away from another one. According to research on the plates, parts of the rift are separating at a rate of .3 inches per year due to the movement of magma deep below the surface. Scientists were alerted to its relatively rapid movement due to a large fissure that appeared in Ethiopia in 2005. This isn't, of course, certain but scientific experts believe it's likely since similar geological activities created the Saudi Arabian peninsula. 'In the future, as extension continues along the rift, the rift valley will sink lower and lower eventually allowing ocean waters to flood into the basin. If rifting continues, new basaltic oceanic crust may form along the centre of the rift producing a new narrow ocean basin with its own mid ocean ridge between the Nubian and Somalian plates,' the London Geographical Society says on its website. The movement of tectonic plates can be responsible for volcanoes, geysers, and valleys when the plates move apart, and large mountain ranges when they move together, as well as earthquakes. The last new ocean to be identified was the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in 2021. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
This Continent Is Splitting and Might Create a New Ocean on Earth
Tectonic plates shifting in Africa could one day cause a new ocean to form. The plates in northeast Africa are moving at a rate of .3 inches per year. Once the continental drift reaches a certain point, it could create a sixth ocean in the region, but that could take millions of years to Earth might be getting a new ocean, though you'll have to wait a long time to see it. Due to tectonic plate movement, part of eastern Africa is slowly splitting apart, which could lead to the creation of a sixth ocean in one million to 20 million years. (While a million years is a long time by human life scale, it's considered to be a small time on a geological scale.) What is currently the countries of Djibouti, Ethiopia, and Eritrea could be slowly moving away from the rest of the continent, eventually breaking off and allowing water from the Indian Ocean to rush in to fill the gap. This would lead to a separate land mass, new coastlines, and a change in climate patterns and geography for northeast Africa. This area is part of the East African Rift System (EARS), home to an active continental rift zone, where one plate is slowly pulling away from another one. According to research on the plates, parts of the rift are separating at a rate of .3 inches per year due to the movement of magma deep below the surface. Scientists were alerted to its relatively rapid movement due to a large fissure that appeared in Ethiopia in 2005. This isn't, of course, certain but scientific experts believe it's likely since similar geological activities created the Saudi Arabian peninsula. 'In the future, as extension continues along the rift, the rift valley will sink lower and lower eventually allowing ocean waters to flood into the basin. If rifting continues, new basaltic oceanic crust may form along the centre of the rift producing a new narrow ocean basin with its own mid ocean ridge between the Nubian and Somalian plates,' the London Geographical Society says on its website. The movement of tectonic plates can be responsible for volcanoes, geysers, and valleys when the plates move apart, and large mountain ranges when they move together, as well as earthquakes. The last new ocean to be identified was the Southern Ocean around Antarctica in 2021. Read the original article on Travel & Leisure
