[World] African desert rift confirmed as new ocean in the making

[The Helper]

In 2005, a gigantic, 35-mile-long rift broke open the desert ground in Ethiopia. At the time, some geologists believed the rift was the beginning of a new ocean as two parts of the African continent pulled apart, but the claim was controversial.

Now, scientists from several countries have confirmed that the volcanic processes at work beneath the Ethiopian rift are nearly identical to those at the bottom of the world's oceans, and the rift is indeed likely the beginning of a new sea.

The new study, published in the latest issue of Geophysical Research Letters, suggests that the highly active volcanic boundaries along the edges of tectonic ocean plates may suddenly break apart in large sections, instead of little by little as has been predominantly believed. In addition, such sudden large-scale events on land pose a much more serious hazard to populations living near the rift than would several smaller events, says Cindy Ebinger, professor of earth and environmental sciences at the University of Rochester and co-author of the study.

"This work is a breakthrough in our understanding of continental rifting leading to the creation of new ocean basins," says Ken Macdonald, professor emeritus in the Department of Earth Science at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and who is not affiliated with the research. "For the first time they demonstrate that activity on one rift segment can trigger a major episode of magma injection and associated deformation on a neighboring segment. Careful study of the 2005 mega-dike intrusion and its aftermath will continue to provide extraordinary opportunities for learning about continental rifts and mid-ocean ridges."

More about it here.

[Varine]

Ahh neat! I wish I had an ocean!

[seph ir oth]

Very interesting read! Thanks for posting it, TH!

[Whitesock]

I remember seeing a show of a guy that tried to get a 3D rendering of the chasm on the discovery channel. I think it's really cool to see the Earth actively doing something.

[tom_mai78101]

I'm getting my name up there in the list of the new ocean.

[Avaleirra]

That is so cool. Hopefully it might be somewhat formed when I'm 40 or so. I want to see it

[T.s.e]

That is so cool. Hopefully it might be somewhat formed when I'm 40 or so. I want to see it

I think that's kinda unlikely. Although this rift happened quickly, geological processes like forming oceans don't happen overnight

[tom_mai78101]

Originally Posted by T.s.e

I think that's kinda unlikely. Although this rift happened quickly, geological processes like forming oceans don't happen overnight

It sounded as if he meant it may form 20 years from now...

[Avaleirra]

Ya I'm only 16. And I just want to see some of it forming, like just a rift 28cm long would be cool.

[ElderKingpin]

so. dont we need like. water for oceans?

[Varine]

Originally Posted by ElderKingpin

so. dont we need like. water for oceans?

Not for desert oceans.

[tom_mai78101]

At least the sea level would be lower than predicted...

[CysticCraze]

I wanna throw a big rock in with my name on it. In 200 years when some diver goes exploring the new ocean hes gonna look over and there will be a picture of me carved into the rock waving and my name under it. He'll look up at the 700 feet of water and then at the picture, his only response... "WTF?"

(Im not gonna lie, never researched dessert oceans, so IDK if they mean it will be underground or whatever, but I want my rock there.)

[Varine]

Originally Posted by CysticCraze

I wanna throw a big rock in with my name on it. In 200 years when some diver goes exploring the new ocean hes gonna look over and there will be a picture of me carved into the rock waving and my name under it. He'll look up at the 700 feet of water and then at the picture, his only response... "WTF?"

(Im not gonna lie, never researched dessert oceans, so IDK if they mean it will be underground or whatever, but I want my rock there.)

Yeah well I'm going to throw pictures and stuff down there for them to find. Of some guy that's a lot better looking than me so that they think I was a complete stud muffin.

[tom_mai78101]

When I die, I will have my corpse be placed in the new ocean, with some preservation devices. Then, 150 years afterwards, when some group of biologist goes here and looks for some fossils, I'll dedicate my bones to aid the research of human evolution, with natural bones and a perfect body.