Archive · 26 Jun 2025
Africa's Magma Pulse Splits Continent, Forms New Ocean
Imagine the Earth has a heartbeat in Africa!
Scientists found that hot, melted rock is pulsing beneath the ground in the Afar region.
This hot rock comes from deep inside the Earth and is like the Earth breathing, slowly tearing Africa apart.
It's creating a new ocean where the land is splitting.
Scientists studied this to understand how the inside of the Earth affects what happens on the outside, especially how continents break up.
Scientists discovered a rhythmic pulse beneath the Afar region of Africa.
This pulse is caused by molten magma pushing against Earth's crust.
The magma activity is tearing apart the continent, potentially forming a new ocean.
Researchers collected and analyzed volcanic rock samples, utilizing advanced modeling.
The study reveals the interaction between Earth's interior and the surface.
- Who
- Researchers from various institutions, including the University of Southampton.
- What
- Rhythmic pulses of magma are tearing Africa apart and forming a new ocean.
- When
- The study was published in Nature Geoscience on June 25.
- Where
- Beneath the Afar region of Ethiopia, Africa.
- Why
- The study reveals how tectonic plates influence the flow of hot material from the mantle and how continental breakup occurs.
- Location
- Afar region, Ethiopia
- Cause
- Magma pulses from Earth's mantle
- Effect
- Continent splitting, new ocean formation
- Published in
- Nature Geoscience
- Lead Author
- Emma Watts
