Scientists have confirmed that Earth’s sixth ocean is slowly emerging as the African continent begins to split due to tectonic plate movements. This separation involves the African, Arabian, and Somali plates, which have been drifting apart over millions of years. The Arabian plate has gradually been moving away from the African continent, while the Somali plate is creating a significant rift through the East African Plate. As these plates continue to move, experts predict that the Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea will eventually flood the Afar region and the East African Rift Valley, forming a new ocean.
Ken Macdonald, a marine geophysicist from the University of California, explained how modern technology like GPS instruments has made it possible to precisely measure these movements down to just a few millimeters annually. Macdonald stated, “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.” Although this transformation will take millions of years to complete, the initial stages of the split are already visible.
Researchers noted that this geological phenomenon marks a significant change in our planet’s structure, with potential new coastlines for currently landlocked countries like Zambia and Uganda. This change in Earth’s geography is a reminder of the constant motion of tectonic plates, which continue to reshape the planet over time.
The discovery underscores the importance of ongoing research in understanding Earth’s shifting landscapes and highlights how new technology is enhancing scientists’ ability to monitor these massive geological shifts.
