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The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created - Science/Technology - Nairaland

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The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Nobody: 12:43am On Jul 25, 2020
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The African continent is very slowly peeling apart. Scientists say a new ocean is being born.

In one of the hottest places on Earth, along an arid stretch of East Africa’s Afar region, it’s possible to stand on the exact spot where, deep underground, the continent is splitting apart.

This desolate expanse sits atop the juncture of three tectonic plates that are very slowly peeling away from each other, a complex geological process that scientists say will eventually cleave Africa in two and create a new ocean basin millions of years from now. For now, the most obvious evidence is a 35-mile-long crack in the Ethiopian desert.

The African continent’s tectonic fate has been studied for several decades, but new satellite measurements are helping scientists better understand the transition and are offering valuable tools to study the gradual birth of a new ocean in one of the most geologically unique spots on the planet.

“This is the only place on Earth where you can study how continental rift becomes an oceanic rift,” said Christopher Moore, a Ph.D. doctoral student at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, who has been using satellite radar to monitor volcanic activity in East Africa that is associated with the continent’s breakup.

It’s thought that Africa’s new ocean will take at least 5 million to 10 million years to form, but the Afar region’s fortuitous location at the boundaries of the Nubian, Somali and Arabian plates makes it a unique laboratory to study elaborate tectonic processes.

Earth’s crust is made up of a dozen large tectonic plates, which are irregularly shaped, rocky slabs that constantly mash against, climb over, slide under or stretch apart from one another.

For the past 30 million years, the Arabian plate has been moving away from Africa, a process that created the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden between the two connected landmasses. But the Somali plate in eastern Africa is also stretching away from the Nubian plate, peeling apart along the East African Rift Valley, which extends through Ethiopia and Kenya.

But there are still some big unknowns, including what is causing the continent to rift apart. Some think that a massive plume of superheated rocks rising from the mantle beneath East Africa could be driving the region’s continental rift.

In one of the hottest places on Earth, along an arid stretch of East Africa’s Afar region, it’s possible to stand on the exact spot where, deep underground, the continent is splitting apart.

This desolate expanse sits atop the juncture of three tectonic plates that are very slowly peeling away from each other, a complex geological process that scientists say will eventually cleave Africa in two and create a new ocean basin millions of years from now. For now, the most obvious evidence is a 35-mile-long crack in the Ethiopian desert.

The African continent’s tectonic fate has been studied for several decades, but new satellite measurements are helping scientists better understand the transition and are offering valuable tools to study the gradual birth of a new ocean in one of the most geologically unique spots on the planet.

“This is the only place on Earth where you can study how continental rift becomes an oceanic rift,” said Christopher Moore, a Ph.D. doctoral student at the University of Leeds in the United Kingdom, who has been using satellite radar to monitor volcanic activity in East Africa that is associated with the continent’s breakup.

It’s thought that Africa’s new ocean will take at least 5 million to 10 million years to form, but the Afar region’s fortuitous location at the boundaries of the Nubian, Somali and Arabian plates makes it a unique laboratory to study elaborate tectonic processes.

Earth’s crust is made up of a dozen large tectonic plates, which are irregularly shaped, rocky slabs that constantly mash against, climb over, slide under or stretch apart from one another.

For the past 30 million years, the Arabian plate has been moving away from Africa, a process that created the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden between the two connected landmasses. But the Somali plate in eastern Africa is also stretching away from the Nubian plate, peeling apart along the East African Rift Valley, which extends through Ethiopia and Kenya.

But there are still some big unknowns, including what is causing the continent to rift apart. Some think that a massive plume of superheated rocks rising from the mantle beneath East Africa could be driving the region’s continental rift.
Source: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/african-continent-very-slowly-peeling-apart-scientists-say-new-ocean-n1234128

14 Likes 1 Share

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by illicit(m): 12:48am On Jul 25, 2020
e for break from middle belt Nigeria

465 Likes 31 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Righteousness89(m): 12:56am On Jul 25, 2020
Even with the Limited Knowledge of Humans, Man still Knows and Understands that Mysterious Mysteries Lies ahead of us..

It's not Just only African.. it's gonna Hit the Whole Earth!

This Earth is toooo Small. The Breath of GOD alone will Dissolve this Earth and Everyone in it!

My Heavenly Father says in
Isaiah 40:15
Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing.

Soonest The Owner and Creator of this Earth will Wrap it up and roll it up!

The Question is on Whose Side are you?

Fear God Folks!
Respect God Folks!
Surrender to JESUS Folks!

They That Have Ears to Hear! Let them Hear!

444 Likes 38 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by starbuck(f): 1:17am On Jul 25, 2020
The ocean should do fast and come undecided undecided... Let it drown all of our politicians and the people at the helm of affairs of this country so we can start afresh

26 Likes 5 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by merits(m): 4:25am On Jul 25, 2020
The new ocean shall be called Buhari ocean.

26 Likes 4 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by MANNABBQGRILLS: 4:26am On Jul 25, 2020
GOD SAVE AFRICA � �

7 Likes 3 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by jolyment: 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
Okay
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by 175(m): 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
Righteousness guy, the way you rush every thread ehn? Hmmmmm!


I hope you're not CAN-BMC lol

30 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by seunlayi(m): 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
It should pass thru North and south Nigeria, people will be happy here for mother nature

94 Likes 4 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by dimexy247(m): 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
Ok, if it likes, it can break and bend. I don't care.

5 Likes 2 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by sageer1706(m): 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
I actually did not understand the write up

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Akhirastriver(m): 4:27am On Jul 25, 2020
Okay grin
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by omonla10(m): 4:29am On Jul 25, 2020
Wetin concern us with million years. Geography as a subject can be boring sometimes.. We talking next month u talking 1 million years mtcheeew

133 Likes 4 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by seunlayi(m): 4:29am On Jul 25, 2020
Millions of years is too fast jor, why need it now

6 Likes 1 Share

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Emmyk(m): 4:29am On Jul 25, 2020
Continental drift.

2 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by olumzzz(m): 4:29am On Jul 25, 2020
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by seunlayi(m): 4:29am On Jul 25, 2020
omonla10:
Wetin concern us with million years
are you selling fish?

3 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by seunlayi(m): 4:30am On Jul 25, 2020
starbuck:
The ocean should do fast and come undecided undecided... Let it drown all of our politicians and the people at the helm of affairs of this country so we can start afresh

Digitally seconded

4 Likes 2 Shares

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Willdone5406: 4:30am On Jul 25, 2020
Do quick and apart BABA
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by mmadu4: 4:31am On Jul 25, 2020
starbuck:
The ocean should do fast and come undecided undecided... Let it drown all of our politicians and the people at the helm of affairs of this country so we can start afresh


Remember politicians can survive a heavy wave .but you can't

2 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by seunlayi(m): 4:31am On Jul 25, 2020
175:
Righteousness guy, the way you rush every thread ehn? Hmmmmm!


I hope you're not CAN-BMC lol
lol

3 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by omonla10(m): 4:32am On Jul 25, 2020
seunlayi:
are you selling fish?
no.. Why
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by bigfish3k: 4:32am On Jul 25, 2020
The ocean should better join us with Europe so that we can all "japa"

7 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by MrSensor(m): 4:32am On Jul 25, 2020
This ocean must divide naija into two plates na.
Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Princewill21(m): 4:33am On Jul 25, 2020
Our country i salute.

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by mjabdulk: 4:34am On Jul 25, 2020
Amazing! in as much as we are alive, we will not cease from seeing amazing things because the Almighty living Creator will continue to show us His signs of existence by evolving wonderful things from the created ones or inventing unthoughtful new things.

4 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Proffdada: 4:34am On Jul 25, 2020
Dem no wan gree sha. North America is not peeling apart, na Africa wey no dey earthquake prone zone dey peel. I smell preemptive lies

2 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by Nobody: 4:34am On Jul 25, 2020
In 5-10 Million years
I don't think this world can survive another 1 thousand years, talk less of 10 Million years. With the kind of madness going on in the world right now, nuclear weapons, crises, hunger, pandemic, natural disasters and of course, the much anticipated rapture, there isn't any guarantee that the earth would exist for that long... It's almost impossible.

18 Likes

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by bigplantainn: 4:40am On Jul 25, 2020
blacks are scum. scrapping them out of earth is the only way to make the earth a better place. dont even bother scraping africa. just concentrate on nigeria. scrape the scumbagss out of earth and u will see how the world will be better. next people t scrape out are the chinese

4 Likes 1 Share

Re: The African Continent Is Slowly Peeling Apart, A New Ocean Will Be Created by directonpc(m): 4:41am On Jul 25, 2020
make my part break from Abuja

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