Tectonic movements in East Africa accelerate continental fragmentation
Scientists have determined that the Earth's crust is thinning in the Turkana Rift Region of East Africa, reaching a critical stage in the continental fragmentation process.
A new study conducted in the Turkana Rift Region between Kenya and Ethiopia revealed that the Earth's crust has thinned down to approximately 13 kilometers. This indicates that the continental rifting in East Africa and the process leading to the formation of a new ocean in the future are at a more advanced stage than previously thought.
Investigation in the Turkana Rift Region
In the study published in the journal Nature Communications, the Turkana Rift Region between Kenya and Ethiopia was examined in detail using high-resolution seismic and drilling data.
Researchers found that the thickness of the crystalline crust at the center of the rift zone has dropped to about 12.7 kilometers, while this thickness exceeds 35 kilometers in the outer parts of the region.
Continental Necking Phase
The continental rifting process begins with the thinning over time of the Earth's crust stretching in two different directions, and the concentration of deformation along a specific line is called necking.
The crustal structure in the Turkana Rift Region proves that this phase is actively continuing and that the region transitioned into this phase approximately 4 million years ago.
Potential New Ocean Process
As a result of the Nubian and Somali plates moving away from each other, the landmass in eastern Africa could separate from the main continent over a geological process lasting millions of years.
Following the complete fragmentation of the continental crust, it is anticipated that magma rising from the mantle will form a new oceanic crust and the region will transform into an ocean.
Impact of Ancient Fractures
It is thought that previous rifting events belonging to the Central African Rift System created weak points in the Earth's crust in the region.
The East African Rift System utilizing these weakened lines and millions of years of volcanic activity explain the faster maturation of the Turkana region.
Human Evolution and Fossil Records
In addition to geological transformations, the Turkana region stands out as one of the critical areas harboring numerous fossils related to human evolution.
The sedimentary basins created by the crustal deformation that began approximately 4 million years ago have provided environments conducive to the preservation of fossils in the region up to the present day.
Geological Time and the Speed of the Process
Considering Earth's 4.5-billion-year history, while this process lasting millions of years is considered short geologically, it is extremely slow on the scale of human life.
The study does not claim that Africa will split in two immediately; rather, it provides the first strong evidence that the active rift system has reached the crustal necking phase.