Numerous scientists have ended up discovering a shocking fact that the continent Africa is now in the process of splitting into two continents which is an extremely dramatic geological event occurring in the East African Rift Valley (EAR), reported Metro. The Somalia plate is gradually pulling away from the Nubian plate which in return is creating a massive 2,000 mile long fissure that is widening at a rate of 6-7 millimeters annually.
According to Metro, this certain tectonic movement could potentially lead to the formation of the Sixth Ocean which would end up separating Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and parts of Ethiopia into a new continent called the Nubian continent.
Various geologists now predict that this significant transformation could eventually occur in just 1 to 5 million years while such a timeline might seem really distant, at the same time; it still represents a relatively rapid change in the geological terms. The continental split is now actually driven by complex geological processes while including the ejection of super hot rock from the core of the Earth and then significant movement of the lithosphere, asserted Metro.
The African Superplume which is a swollen slab of mantle beneath southwest Africa, at the same time, is also contributing to this phenomenon by stretching the lithosphere very thinly and pushing the plates apart.
Although the dramatic changes will not at all be visible within the human lifetimes, the region is already experiences significant geological activity. For instance, in the year 2005, a 35 mile fissure got opened in the country Ethiopia and similar events have also occurred in Kenya. Ken Macdonald from the University of California located in Santa Barbara eventually notes that while people will not see the ocean intrude immediately, still they will be experiencing associated phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as this process unfolds, noted Metro.
FAQs:
Numerous scientists have ended up discovering a shocking fact that the continent Africa is now in the process of splitting into two continents which is an extremely dramatic geological event occurring in the East African Rift Valley (EAR).
This certain tectonic movement in the African continent could potentially lead to the formation of the Sixth Ocean which would end up separating Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and parts of Ethiopia into a new continent called the Nubian continent.
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Various geologists now predict that this significant transformation could eventually occur in just 1 to 5 million years while such a timeline might seem really distant, at the same time; it still represents a relatively rapid change in the geological terms. The continental split is now actually driven by complex geological processes while including the ejection of super hot rock from the core of the Earth and then significant movement of the lithosphere, asserted Metro.
The African Superplume which is a swollen slab of mantle beneath southwest Africa, at the same time, is also contributing to this phenomenon by stretching the lithosphere very thinly and pushing the plates apart.
Although the dramatic changes will not at all be visible within the human lifetimes, the region is already experiences significant geological activity. For instance, in the year 2005, a 35 mile fissure got opened in the country Ethiopia and similar events have also occurred in Kenya. Ken Macdonald from the University of California located in Santa Barbara eventually notes that while people will not see the ocean intrude immediately, still they will be experiencing associated phenomena like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions as this process unfolds, noted Metro.
FAQs:
What shocking fact has been discovered regarding Africa during recent times?
Numerous scientists have ended up discovering a shocking fact that the continent Africa is now in the process of splitting into two continents which is an extremely dramatic geological event occurring in the East African Rift Valley (EAR).
What does this tectonic movement in the African continent could lead up to?
This certain tectonic movement in the African continent could potentially lead to the formation of the Sixth Ocean which would end up separating Somalia, Kenya, Tanzania and parts of Ethiopia into a new continent called the Nubian continent.
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