- The shifting of the tectonic plate in Africa could lead to a new ocean forming one day.
- The plates are moving in the northeast Africa at a speed of.3 inch per year.
- After the continental drift has reached a certain point in the region, it may create a new ocean, but this could take many millions of year to form.
It’s possible that Earth will get a brand new ocean. However, you’ll still have to wait to see it.
Part of eastern Africa could split apart in a million years or less due to tectonic movement. This would lead to the formation of a new ocean. A million years may seem like a lot of time, but on a geological time scale it is considered short.
Djibouti and Ethiopia could slowly move away from the rest the continent. The Indian Ocean will eventually fill in the gaps. This would result in a new land mass, new coasts, and changes to the climate and geography of northeast Africa.
This area is located in the East African Rift System. It is home to an active continental zone where a plate is slowly pulling apart from another. Research on the plates shows that the magma moving deep beneath the surface is causing parts of the rift to separate at a rate.3 inch per year. Scientists became aware of its rapid movement after a large fissure appeared in Ethiopia in the year 2005.
It’s not certain, but scientists believe it is possible, as similar geological activity created the Saudi Arabian peninsula.
The rift valley is expected to sink further and further as the extension along the rift continues. Ocean waters will eventually flood into the basin. London Geographical Society: “If rifting is to continue, new basaltic sea crust may form at the centre of rift, creating a new narrow basin with a mid ocean ridge that separates the Nubian plate from the Somalian plate.” on its website.
As well as earthquakes, the movement of tectonic plate can lead to volcanoes. In 2021, the Southern Ocean was discovered around Antarctica.
