Africa: Splitting Into Two Continents?

The Present Day Continent of Africa by Moses Joy Onohoomhen, Youth STEM Matters Artist

In the future, scientists say that Africa may split into two separate continents! Cracks in the Earth are pulling the continent apart in ways that could cause the continent to divide, leaving the eastern region of Africa as its own land mass. The explanation for this is based on predictions of geographical plate tectonics.

In East Africa, particularly in the Afar region of Ethiopia, the hot climate is causing tectonic plates to pull away from each other [1]. This region lies over three tectonic plates, namely the Nubian, Somali and Arabian plates. Extreme temperatures experienced in this region cause land expansion and pull these plates away from each other at different speeds. It is said that movement of the Arabian plate is occurring at a rate of approximately 1 inch annually, whereas those of the other plates is approximately 0.5 inches annually [1]. Separation of these plates will eventually allow the infiltration of water from the Red Sea, birthing a new ocean. 

Fun fact: Did you know how the Red Sea was formed? It was actually formed by a similar process, where Saudi Arabia was separated from the African continent [2]!

Observations have seen the distinct formation of oceanic features, confirming the theory that Africa is indeed dividing. The ‘gaps’ or spaces formed as the plates are separating are moving in a southward direction towards Zimbabwe at a mean rate of between 1 to 2 inches a year, which will eventually result in the splitting into the two continents [3].

What are tectonic plates?

Think of a puzzle. A puzzle has many pieces that alone do not make much sense, but fit together to form one big structure. Tectonic plates can be thought of as the Earth’s puzzle pieces arranged in a way that forms the larger land masses we refer to as continents. While tectonic plates do not fit quite so perfectly, the idea is that they are arranged in such a fashion. 

Tectonic plates can either converge (come closer together), diverge (pull away from each other as is the case in Africa) or slide past (on top and below) each other. These movements actually help explain how other natural disasters such as volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. Therefore,  tectonic plates are very important!

Back to Africa – What is really happening?

Divergence of the tectonic plates is causing what is known as a ‘continental drift’. (For those of you who watched Ice Age 4: Continental Drift, you must have an idea of what this is all about!) Continental drift is the process by which continents literally disintegrate. A simplified definition would be that it’s, “the movement of continents resulting from the motion of tectonic plates” [4]. Continental drift results in the formation of an ocean basin, where new water bodies are created. This water barrier separates the two land masses, and the two are now independent of each other. This, essentially, is what is occurring in East Africa. Global warming and increasing global temperatures could potentially accelerate this process, and Africa could separate much quicker than we anticipate!

References

[1] D. Chow, (July 2020), "The African continent is very slowly peeling apart. Scientists say a new ocean is being born," NBC News, [Online]. Available: https://www.nbcnews.com/science/environment/african-continent-very-slowly-peeling-apart-scientists-say-new-ocean-n1234128. [Accessed 5 August 2020].

[2] Anon, (July 2019), "Africa is slowly breaking into two continents!," Times Travel, [Online]. Available: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/travel/destinations/africa-is-slowly-breaking-into-two-continents/as69465241.cms. [Accessed 5 August 2018].

[3] L. P. Diaz, (April 2018), "Is Africa splitting in TWO? A huge crack in Kenya that is growing could mean the continent will break up," Associated Newspapers Ltd, [Online]. Available: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-5562589/Is-Africa-splitting-TWO.html. [Accessed 5 August 2020].

[4] Anon, (June 2015), "Continental drift," National Geographic, [Online]. Available: https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/continental-drift/. [Accessed 5 August 2020].