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A pulsating coat flag under Ethiopia gradually forms a new ocean. | Credit: Dr. Derek Keir, University of Southampton/ University of Florence
A cloud made of melted rock, which pulsates deep under the East Africa deep into rhythmic floods, slowly divides the continent apart and may mark the birth of a new ocean.
At least this is a team of researchers who were led by Emma Watts from Swansea University in Great Britain. In particular, the new study by the scientists showed that the area region of Ethiopia is subject to a cloud of hot coat, which increases and falls into a repeated pattern, almost like “a beating heart”. According to the team, these impulses are closely connected to tectonic plates and play a key role in the slow rifle of the African continent.
“We found that the coat under Arop is neither uniformly nor stationary – it pulsates and these impulses have different chemical signatures,” said Watts in an explanation. “This is important how we think about the interaction between the interior of the earth and its surface.”
The ARE region, which covers the northeastern region of Ethiopia, is one of the few places on earth where three tectonic risk systems meet – the crack of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden Rift and the Ethiopian main tear. While the tectonic plates in this so -called “triple junction” are pulled apart for millions of years, the crust extends and finally breaks and signals an early step in the formation of a new ocean tank. Geologists have long suspected that a cloud of hot coat lies under this region and helps to drive the rifle process forward – but so far there was little known about how this pen behaves.
In order to examine what is below, researchers collected over 100 volcanic rock samples from all over Arober and the Ethiopian main tear. They combined this field work with existing geophysical data and advanced statistical modeling in order to better understand the structure and composition of the crust and underlying coat.
A landscape shots in the Dallol volcano in the Afar region in Ethiopia. | Credit: A.Savin via Wikimedia Commons
Her analysis showed a single asymmetrical cloud under the region, which was characterized by repeated chemical patterns or “geological barcodes”. “In places where the panels are thinner or pull apart faster, like the crack of the Red Sea, these impulses move more efficiently – like blood through a narrow artery.”
“We found that the development of deep coat processes is closely linked to the movement of the above panels,” added the co-author of the study, Derek Keir from the University of Southampton.
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“This has profound effects on how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity and the process of continental separation.”
The team’s study was published on June 25th in the Nature Geoscience magazine.
