A New Ocean is Taking Birth in Desert

A New Ocean is Taking Birth in Desert

A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will likely become a new ocean eventually. The 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 ocean.

The study 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 believed. In addition, such sudden large-scale events on land pose more serious hazard to populations living near the rift than would several smaller events, said Professor Cindy Ebinger of University of Rochester.

Professor Atalay Ayele of Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, led the investigation, painstakingly gathering seismic data surrounding the 2005 event that lead to the giant rift opening more than 20 feet in width in just days. The map he drew of when and where earthquakes happened in the region, fits tremendously well with the more detailed analyses Professor Ebinger has conducted in more recent years.

Professor Ayele’s reconstruction of events showed that the rift did not open in a series of small temblors over an extended period of time, but tore open along its entire 35 mile length in just days. A volcano called, Dabbahu, at the northern end of the rift erupted first, then magma pushed up through the middle of the rift and began unzipping, the rift in both directions.