Pulsing Mantle Plume Beneath Ethiopia Creates Emerging Ocean Basin

A new study reveals that a pulsing mantle plume beneath the Afar region of Ethiopia is gradually tearing the African continent apart, leading to the formation of a new ocean basin. This mantle plume, marked by rhythmic surges of molten rock, behaves like a heartbeat and influences the tectonic plates above, which are converging at this unique geological junction involving the Main Ethiopian Rift, the Red Sea Rift, and the Gulf of Aden Rift. Researchers analyzed over 130 volcanic rock samples and used advanced modeling to show that the plume’s pulses vary depending on the thickness and movement of the tectonic plates, carrying distinct chemical signatures that affect volcanic and seismic activity. The study highlights how these deep Earth processes forecast the slow but eventual splitting of the continent and the creation of new oceanic crust, emphasizing the dynamic interaction between Earth’s interior and surface. This discovery enhances understanding of continental breakup and ocean formation, illustrating that such geological events are preceded by millions of years of mantle activity. The findings were published on June 25 in the journal Nature Geoscience by an international team led by researchers from the University of Southampton and Swansea University.