Evidence found that Africa is breaking in two

(Dan Tri) - A giant geological force is quietly rising from deep within the Earth, accelerating the process of splitting the African continent, which could lead to the formation of a new ocean in the distant future.

A large chasm appears in the Rift Valley, Kenya (Photo: Thomas Mukoya).

For millions of years, the African continent has been slowly breaking apart. Now, scientists say they have found strong evidence that a deep-seated force is accelerating the process.

A giant column of hot rock rising from the boundary between Earth’s core and mantle is exerting a powerful force on the continental crust, according to new research. The intense pressure from this stream of material is causing the crust to crack, triggering volcanic activity and earthquakes across the East African Rift System (EARS).

Recent geochemical analyses suggest that this phenomenon is no longer just a hypothesis. In fact, it is leaving a visible trail stretching thousands of kilometers across East Africa.

The EARS system stretches more than 3,200 km from the Red Sea in the north to Mozambique in the south. It is considered the most active continental rift zone on Earth today, where the tectonic plates underneath are slowly pulling apart over time.

This geological process has created deep valleys, causing frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the area.

For years, scientists have debated the main cause of this massive change in the landscape. The recent discovery of traces of gases from the deep mantle provides the clearest evidence yet of increased heat from within the Earth.

At the Menengai geothermal field in Kenya, the team measured emissions that matched the neon isotopic signature of gas sources deep in the Earth’s mantle. Remarkably, similar signatures were found in volcanic regions as far apart as the Red Sea and Malawi.

Scientists believe the formation suggests a single, massive heat source known as the “Great African Gas Basin” is rising from 1,800 miles (2,900 kilometers) below the surface. This mass of material is spreading beneath the mantle, creating enough pressure to crack the lithosphere—the Earth’s rigid outer shell.

Unlike the narrow Hawaiian jet, the superheated jet over Africa is much larger and more energetic. As it rises, it heats and weakens the lithosphere, making the region more vulnerable to fracturing.

This pressure is thought to be responsible for the intense tectonic activity that is contributing to the separation of the African Plate. In the distant future, this process could create a new ocean and split East Africa into a separate continent.

Although the entire process takes millions of years to complete, the geological changes can already be seen today: valleys are getting deeper, new lakes are appearing, and volcanic activity is increasing along the rift. These signs show that the continental surface is being reshaped every day.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/tim-thay-bang-chung-cho-thay-chau-phi-dang-vo-lam-doi-20250530001432136.htm