For the first time in history, scientists managed to record in real time the opening of a tectonic plateand geological process which usually develops so slowly that it is impossible to observe it directly on a human scale.
The phenomenon occurred in Ethiopia and allowed us to document how a huge mass of rock began to separate from the interior of the Earth. The discovery represents an exceptional opportunity to understand one of the most important mechanisms on the planet.
Las tectonic plates They are the gigantic blocks that form the Earth’s surface and whose movements cause earthquakes, volcanoes and the formation of continents and oceans.
Until now, researchers could reconstruct these processes using geological evidence accumulated over millions of years.
However, the event recorded in Africa allowed us to observe how a fracture expanded rapidly and modified the terrain in a matter of daysoffering unprecedented information about the internal dynamics of the Earth.
What happened during the opening of the plate in Ethiopia
The episode took place in the region of Afarin Ethiopiaone of the most active geological zones on the planet. Three tectonic plates converge there and slowly move away from each other: the Arabic platewhich moves towards the north, and the African platedivided in this section into the Nubian and Somali subplates, which move westward and eastward, respectively.
This meeting point, known scientifically as the Afar Triple Unionrecords a constant stretching and thinning of the Earth’s crust due to the distancing of these continental masses. The phenomenon not only causes intense seismic and volcanic activity in the region, but also represents the birth of a new ocean and the definitive fracture of the African continent in the long term.
According to the researchers, an intrusion of magma from underground pushed the surface layers of rock and caused a huge crack to open. In just a few days, The fracture reached several kilometers in extension, something extraordinary for a phenomenon that usually develops at extremely slow rates.
The data was collected through satellite images, seismic monitoring stations and geodetic measurements that allowed each stage of the process to be reconstructed with unprecedented precision.
The opening of tectonic plates is one of the mechanisms responsible of the creation of new ocean basins. When two plates separate, magma rises from within the Earth and occupies the space created, forming new crust.
Los experts They believe that the region of Afar It could represent an image of what happened in other parts of the planet millions of years ago. In fact, some scientists maintain that the area could transform into a new ocean in the distant future if the separation process continues.
Beyond the spectacular nature of the event, the discovery constitutes a scientific tool of enormous value. The researchers were able to verify that the opening of a plaque does not always occur graduallybut can be produced by rapid episodes driven by magma movements.
It also allows for the improvement of monitoring systems in regions where similar phenomena could generate seismic or volcanic activity.
