- Massive rift in Africa could eventually split the continent in two and create Earth’s sixth ocean.
- Crack along Ethiopia to Mozambique widening at a rate of one inch per year.
- Super-heated rock from Earth’s core identified as the driving force behind the rift.
- Somalia and half of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania will form a new continent when the tear occurs, though predicted to happen in five million years.
- Possibility of the rift opening up an ocean basin similar to the Red Sea, or potentially a smaller version of the Atlantic Ocean.
- Concerns of more cracks and fissures appearing in the future due to the ongoing movement of tectonic plates.
There is a great upheaval brewing on the African continent, my dear readers. Scientists warn of a colossal crack that threatens to tear the land asunder, splitting Africa into two distinct entities and giving birth to Earth’s sixth ocean. The southeastern coast, comprising countries such as Ethiopia and Mozambique, would be transformed into a mammoth island, while a new sea would come into existence. This geological phenomenon known as the Eastern African Rift has been in existence for over twenty-two million years, but its activity has intensified in recent decades.
The crack first appeared in the deserts of Ethiopia in 2005, and since then, it has been widening at a rate of one inch per year. This movement is the result of tectonic plates drifting apart, yet the exact mechanism eluded scientists until a groundbreaking study published in June shed light on the matter. It was revealed that an immense expulsion of super-heated rock emanating from the earth’s core is propelling the rift forward. Though the splitting of Africa is not foreseen for another five million years, when the time eventually comes, Somalia and half of Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania will give birth to a new continent.
Ken Macdonald, a professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, expressed that the future outcome of this rifting phenomenon remains uncertain. He pondered whether the pace of this rift will continue, leading to the creation of an ocean basin akin to the Red Sea, and perhaps eventually expanding into a smaller version of the mighty Atlantic Ocean. Will it accelerate, reaching its destination more swiftly? Or could it stall, as the Atlantic once did before true seafloor spreading commenced? As of now, it is estimated that a sea comparable in size to the current Red Sea could form in approximately 20-30 million years.
In 2005, a 35-mile crack emerged in Ethiopia, offering a glimpse into the potential formation of a new sea. Subsequently, in 2018, heavy rainfall triggered another rupture in Kenya, resulting in the displacement of local residents and the closure of roadways. Macdonald believes that the Eastern African Rift System (EARS) will yield further cracks in the future. Geologist David Adede suggested that the fissure was initially filled with volcanic ash, but torrential rains eroded the material, exposing the fracture. Yet, the locals maintain that the occurrence was sudden and swift, with reports of the ground shaking.
This expansion of EARS can be attributed to the divergence of the two tectonic plates: the Somali plate in the east and the Nubian plate in the west. Observations made in 2004 by researchers at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands revealed that EARS was moving at a few millimeters per year. Stretching from the Gulf of Aden to Zimbabwe, EARS encompasses deep valleys, steep escarpments, and majestic volcanic peaks. The formation of this geological wonder is an ongoing process of continental rifting, where the Earth’s crust gradually pulls apart. According to the Geological Society of London, this phenomenon likely arose from the flow of heat emanating from the asthenosphere, the upper part of the Earth’s mantle, between Kenya and Ethiopia.
A recent study conducted by Virginia Tech has seemingly confirmed this speculation. Using 3D simulations, the researchers discovered that the rift is driven by the African Superplume, which causes eccentric deformations beneath the system. Continental rifts, such as EARS, primarily emerge as tectonic plates diverge, pulling and stretching the Earth’s crust. This results in deformations that typically manifest perpendicular to the direction of plate movement. D. Sarah Stamps, an associate professor in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech, likened the various deformation styles in a rifting continent to playing with Silly Putty. She explained that if you strike Silly Putty with a hammer, it may crack and break. However, if you slowly pull it apart, the Silly Putty stretches. Different time scales influence the behavior of Earth’s lithosphere in various ways.
Tahiry Rajaonarison, a postdoctoral researcher at New Mexico Tech, further illuminated the subject by noting that the study reinforced the notion that buoyancy forces within the lithosphere are responsible for driving the rift. Moreover, it provided fresh insight into the occurrence of anomalous deformations in East Africa. The recent crack of 2018 has led to debate within the scientific community. Some contend that it signifies the separation progressing in real-time, while others find such rapid advancement inconceivable.
Let us not forget the personal stories that breathe life into this narrative, for they reveal the true impact of these geological transformations. Eliud Njoroge Mbugua, a resident who witnessed the crack traverse his home, shared a harrowing account. As the crack snaked its way through his humble abode, he could do naught but gather a few meager belongings before its relentless advance caused his dwelling to collapse. Damages were also observed along a bustling road in Maai Mahiu-Narok, Kenya.
In the face of such profound and unyielding natural forces, one can’t help but marvel at the immense power of the earth beneath our feet. Africa, like a character in one of my novels, finds itself at a crucial juncture, poised on the precipice of transformation. It is a testament to the ever-changing nature of our world, where the relentless movement of tectonic forces shapes the very landscape upon which we stand. As for the fate of Africa, only time will reveal its future, but for now, we can only ponder and marvel at the great drama unfolding beneath our feet.
