Giant rift could create new sea in Africa

A rift in the dry grounds may eventually separate a part of Africa from the rest of the continent and may create a brand new sea, geologists say.

Geologists from the University of Oxford say the 60-kilometre long rift, running from Ethiopia to the Red Sea, may isolate the horn of Africa if it continues to split.

The researchers used seismic instruments, field measurements, and satellite images from the European Space Agency to closely monitor the development of the new ocean basin.

The scientists say the Africa tectonic plate is slowly moving away from the Arabian plate, causing the Earth's crust to stretch, then thin, and eventually break.

The split is happening at an unprecedented rate, the scientists claim, and will likely be complete in about a million years.

They also say the shifting of the tectonic plates responsible for the rift has been going on for many millions of years.

Now, earthquakes and volcanic eruptions are causing sudden break-ups in the crust.

One such occasion in September created this rift, according to the geologists.

Roughly 2.5 cubic kilometres of molten rock bubbled up through the crack, creating a new slab of ocean floor.

The amount of magma that rose beneath the crack was enough to fill up a 90,000-seat stadium 2,000 times over.

The researchers' findings appear in the current issue of the journal Nature.

Photography: California State University

Source: Discovery Channel Reports, July 20