A New Ocean is Forming on Earth that Will Split Africa in Two

A new ocean may form on Earth, reports the Economic Times. This will occur as the African continent continues to split apart. Landlocked countries (such as Zambia and Uganda) will be able to acquire their own coastlines.

Scientists believe that the process will take millions of years. The story of the future ocean began in 2005 with the formation at the intersection of three tectonic plates (Nubian, Somali, and Arabian) on the East African Rift. Christopher Moore, a doctoral candidate at the University of Leeds in Great Britain, stated, "This is the only place on Earth where we can study how a continental rift evolves into an oceanic rift." Similar tectonic movements occurred during the formation of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Marine geophysicist and emeritus professor at the University of California, Ken Macdonald, says, "As we receive more and more GPS measurements, we can better understand what is happening." GPS data has shown that the Arabian platform is moving away from Africa at a rate of one inch (approximately 2.5 cm) per year. Macdonald added that part of East Africa will become a separate continent.