Earth’s Mantle Pulses Accelerate Africa Rift, Form New Ocean

Recent geological research reveals that the African continent is gradually splitting apart due to rhythmic pulses of molten mantle rising beneath the Afar region in Ethiopia, a meeting point of three tectonic plates. These magma pulses, described as similar to a heartbeat, are weakening the Earth's crust and causing tectonic plates to rift, which will eventually lead to the formation of a new ocean basin over millions of years. Studies led by teams from the University of Southampton and Swansea University involved collecting volcanic rock samples and employing advanced statistical models to analyze the structure and behavior of the Earth's mantle and crust in this region. This geological transformation will not only reshape the continent’s physical landscape by creating new coastlines and lakes but will also have significant social, economic, and political implications for the countries situated on the diverging land masses. The findings underscore the dynamic interactions between Earth's deep interior processes and surface features, offering profound insights into continental breakup mechanisms. The results are published in the journal Nature Geoscience and highlight an active and evolving geological process with far-reaching consequences for Africa's future.