Scientists Have Witnessed the Birth of a Major Rift in Southern Ethiopia That Could Become a New Ocean Basin
A research team has discovered an 8-meter-wide rift that has developed underground in a remote desert area within just three weeks at the end of September.
This is a small step in a long-term division that is separating the eastern part of the country from the rest of Africa, which will ultimately create a large sea.
The British-Ethiopian research team expressed astonishment at the rapid expansion along the 60 km long rift.
“This is the most significant event we have ever witnessed in such a fault zone. It provides us with an interpretation and visualization of what is happening and how the Earth responds, which is truly remarkable,” said Cindy Ebinger from Royal Holloway University in London.
Historically, large seas like the Atlantic Ocean formed when supercontinents broke apart. In fact, North America and Europe are still moving in opposite directions today, albeit at a snail’s pace.
