Current Events > Africa is splitting into two as new ocean forms, researchers say

(+) Yeah! (+)

Tectonic plate shifts in Ethiopia show that the African continent is splitting in two paving the way for Earths sixth ocean to emerge, according to researchers.

The shift between tectonic plates has been ongoing since the East African Rift a 35-mile-long crack in Ethiopias desert emerged in 2005.

The separation of the Somalian tectonic plate and the larger Nubian tectonic plate will effectively split the worlds second-largest continent in two a phenomenon that hasnt been observed in hundreds of millions of years when South America and Africa were divided into different continents.

The findings are based on a 2004 study on the separation of the Somalian tectonic plate and the larger Nubian tectonic plate. The study, which was published in the peer-reviewed scientific journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, found that the plates separate a few millimeters per year.

What will a split Africa look like?
Currently-landlocked countries in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and more will see the introduction of a coastline expanding possibilities for trade and production. Further, the split would lead to the emergence of a new ocean.

The Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will flood in over the Afar region and into the East African Rift Valley and become a new ocean, and that part of East Africa will become its own separate small continent, Ken Macdonald, a marine geophysicist and a professor emeritus at the University of California, told Mashable.

While the splitting of the African continent and the subsequent ocean that would arise holds an abundance of possibilities, the continent will not completely split for another 5 to 10 million years, according to researchers.

https://m.jpost.com/environment-and-climate-change/article-735092

Can't wait for the new maps

I also like how it comments on expanding the possibilities of trade millions of years from now.

boxoto posted...

the continent will not completely split for another 5 to 10 million years, according to researchers.

damn I'm not gonna make it

SSJKirby posted...

damn I'm not gonna make it

Dont give up hope so easily.

damn, didnt think I would live long enough to see tectonic plate shifts literally creating new oceans in one lifetime

I mean yeah, that's what the earth does.

boxoto posted...

sixth ocean

There's a fifth? >_>

KainWind posted...

Can't wait for the new maps

I also like how it comments on expanding the possibilities of trade millions of years from now.

It could help a future evolved species if something else comes after humans

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/7/9/8/AAYZyTAAET1G.jpg

Life... eh?

Does this mean the seven seas are now the eight oceans?

FortuneCookie posted...

Does this mean the seven seas are now the eight oceans?

It'll be a big ol' river at best

I bless the oceans down in Africa.

In 200 million years we're getting Pangaea II

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pangaea_Proxima

Orange sky and the temperature at 113
Them go hide from their lifeline
I know the tectonic plates shift under me
But they won't split apart in my lifetime

... yeah? This has been known for ages.

WaterLink posted...

There's a fifth? >_>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ocean

Currently-landlocked countries in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda and more will see the introduction of a coastline expanding possibilities for trade and production.

the continent will not completely split for another 5 to 10 million years

Bruh I don't think they're gonna be worrying about trade and production by then.

Hoodroar posted...

Bruh I don't think they're gonna be worrying about trade and production by then.

Either humans will be extinct or we will have long ago left Earth. Or we will have technology that makes traveling from any spot on earth to any other, a simple matter that could only take like a minute maybe

Pics or its not happening.

Sariana21 posted...

Pics or its not happening.

it's still a babby, tho

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/3/6/AAS_qZAAET1s.jpg

boxoto posted...

it's still a babby, tho

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/8/3/6/AAS_qZAAET1s.jpg

I wonder how deep that is.

K181 posted...

... yeah? This has been known for ages.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Ocean

https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/a/user_image/0/8/5/AATvv_AAET5l.jpg

I wouldn't say it's something we've all been using our whole lives.

David1988 posted...

damn, didnt think I would live long enough to see tectonic plate shifts literally creating new oceans in one lifetime

You won't

Yeah, that might take a while

boxoto posted...

Currently-landlocked countries in Africa, such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda

Erm?

KainWind posted...

Can't wait for the new maps

I also like how it comments on expanding the possibilities of trade millions of years from now.

Now *that* is optimism!

Such is the way of the world. It's not like we'll be alive to see it happen.

Blue_Inigo posted...

You won't

All it's going to take is a decent flood, and Africa will end up with a very long lake in the rift zone, similar to Loch Ness.

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Eventually big