New Ocean in East Africa: A major geological change is underway, slowly altering the Earth’s surface. Scientists have found evidence of a new ocean forming in East Africa, which could eventually split the continent in two. This gradual but significant process might change global geography and create new economic opportunities for several countries in the region.
Forces Driving the Rift
The creation of a new ocean is linked to the slow movement of tectonic plates. The African, Arabian, and Somali plates are slowly moving apart, forming the East African Rift, which is a huge crack in the Earth’s surface.
According to Ever growing USA, For the past 30 million years, the Arabian Plate has been moving away from Africa, while the Somali Plate moves the other way. This movement is gradually making the gap between them wider, and over time, it will lead to the formation of a new ocean, changing the region’s landscape forever.
Will You Need a Telescope to See the Supermoon Lunar Eclipse?
- African Plate:Gradually separating from adjacent plates.
- Arabian Plate:Shifting farther from the African landmass.
- Somali Plate:Retreating to create a widening chasm.
New Ocean in East Africa: What will be the location?
First ever image of earth taken from space left vs Current image right… Credit NASA pic.twitter.com/yozqsLlvt7
— Space (@redditSpaceView) June 22, 2021
The new ocean is expected to form along the East African Rift, which stretches through Ethiopia, Kenya, and Tanzania. Over millions of years, water from the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden will fill the growing gap, creating a new sea. As this transformation occurs, landlocked countries like Uganda and Zambia may gain coastlines, potentially boosting their economies and altering the region’s dynamics.
Technology Tracks Invisible Changes
While the tectonic shifts happen slowly and are nearly invisible, advances in technology allow scientists to track these changes with high precision. GPS tools, capable of detecting movements as tiny as a few millimeters each year, enable researchers to monitor the separation of the plates in real time.
This technology helps predict the future formation of the new ocean and provides valuable insights into Earth’s ongoing geological changes.
- Precision Tracking:GPS monitors plate movement in millimeters.
- Detailed Data:Enables forecasts of future geographic changes.
NASA Confirms Moon Is Shrinking: What This Means for Our Future
Other Tectonic Changes on the Horizon
The creation of new oceans is not the only major tectonic event that could reshape Earth’s geography. As per AS News, Experts also believe that India may be undergoing tectonic division, which could eventually split the continent. This process, like the formation of the new ocean, will unfold over millions of years, as tectonic plates continue to move and shift.
The formation of a sixth ocean, along with other tectonic changes, highlights the dynamic nature of our planet. These geological events, though occurring over vast time periods, serve as a reminder that Earth is constantly evolving. In the distant future, the world we know today may look vastly different.
