A significant geological event is unfolding in East Africa, characterized by the East African Rift System (EARS), a 2,000-mile rift resulting from the separation of the Somali and Nubian plates. Recent discoveries reveal an African Superplume contributing to this rifting, which has been found to cause weakening in the lithosphere beneath the surface. GPS data shows plates moving apart at about 0.2 inches annually, with predictions suggesting potential ocean formation in one to five million years. Research from the University of Glasgow indicates contributing forces arise deeply within the Earth, challenging previous notions of regional tectonics.
The East African Rift System is a massive geological feature that showcases the slow but persistent separation between the Somali and Nubian tectonic plates.
As the African Superplume drives this divergence, the lithosphere is cracking and weakening, signifying a transformative phase that could eventually result in a new ocean.
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