The Earth may eventually have a new ocean.
Tectonic plate movement under a section of Northern Africa could pull the area that is currently Ethiopia, Djibouti and Eritrea away from the rest of the continent. This would then allow the Indian Ocean to flow in, further separating the land masses and creating a new major body of water, per scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey.
However, this doesn’t mean a new body of water will form anytime soon: If the new ocean does form, scientists predict it will likely happen in one million to 20 million years.
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Why is this occurring in Northern Africa, specifically?
An active continental rift zone currently exists in what is called the East African Rift System, where what is known as the Somalian plate is pulling away from the rest of the continent, known as the Nubian plate. Both plates are also shifting away from the Arabian plate in the north, per the London Geographical Society.
Research indicates that the rifts are being pulled apart by magma deep within the surface of the Earth, and that some parts of the rift are separating as much as 0.3 inches per year, according to USA Today.
Tectonic plate movement is responsible for a wide array of geographical features on Earth. Plates pulling apart from one another create phenomena like volcanoes, geysers and certain types of valleys.
Meanwhile, plates gradually crashing into each other create mountain ranges — many of which continue to grow by the year. Plate tectonics are thought to be responsible for phenomena like the Himalayan Mountain range, as well as the famed San Andreas Fault in California.
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For Northern Africa specifically, plate tectonic movement currently means an increase in earthquakes and volcanic activity.
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The last time a new ocean was formally identified was in 2021, when the National Geographic Society officially recognized the water around Antarctica as the Southern Ocean, separate and distinct from nearby bodies of water. Many scientists around the world had already deemed the area a distinct body for decades, but recognition from National Geographic led to more widespread acceptance.
