• Africa witnessing the birth of a new ocean
    49 replies, posted
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science_and_environment/10415877.stm[/url] [release][img]http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48174000/jpg/_48174567_2005vent_royalsociety.jpg[/img] [B]Africa is witnessing the birth of a new ocean, according to scientists at the Royal Society.[/B] Geologists working in the remote Afar region of Ethiopia say the ocean will eventually split the African continent in two, though it will take about 10 million years. Lead researcher Tim Wright who is presenting the research at the Royal Society's Summer Exhibition, described the events as "truly incredible". Used to understanding changes in the planet on timescales of millions of years, the international team of scientists including Dr Wright have seen amazing changes in Afar in the past five years, where the continent is cracking open, quite literally underneath their feet. In 2005, a 60km long stretch of the earth opened up to a width of eight metres over a period of just ten days. Hot, molten rock from deep within the Earth is trickling to the surface and creating the split. Underground eruptions are still continuing and, ultimately, the horn of Africa will fall away and a new ocean will form. [B]'A smaller Africa' [/B] Dr James Hammond, a seismologist from the University of Bristol - who has been working in Afar - says that parts of the region are below sea level and the ocean is only cut off by about a 20-metre block of land in Eritrea. "Eventually this will drift apart," he told the BBC World Service. "The sea will flood in and will start to create this new ocean. "It will pull apart, sink down deeper and deeper and eventually... parts of southern Ethiopia, Somalia will drift off, create a new island, and we'll have a smaller Africa and a very big island that floats out into the Indian Ocean." The researchers say that they are extremely lucky to be able to witness the birth of this ocean as the process is normally hidden beneath the seas. The team hope to conduct experiments in the area that will help understand how the surface of the Earth is shaped. They believe that the information they glean from observing the shaping of the Earth will help scientists better understand natural hazards such as earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.[/release]
:iia:
That is fucking awesome
Quick, take photos to show the grandkids
I wish I got to see what it looks like in 10 million years :frown:
I thought it was referring to the huge amount of tears shed by the England supporters yesterday.
[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;22961829]I wish I got to see what it looks like in 10 million years :frown:[/QUOTE] Find the G-Man, ask him if he'll put you in stasis. On topic, SCHVEET! This is more awesome than the fault line splitting California apart. What should we name the new ocean in the future?
"The island will float into the Indian Ocean" ...that just ain't right.
[QUOTE=Kirbunny431;22961910] [B]This is more awesome than the fault line splitting California apart.[/B][/QUOTE] Its awesome because then we get rid of that stupid frickin' state. On topic however. That is pretty cool, I'll never get to see it but hey, I saw it get started.
[QUOTE=Swilly;22962015]Its awesome because then we get rid of that stupid frickin' state.[/QUOTE] Or at least some of it.
This is very, very old news. Apparently the Royal Society needs to get up to times.
I wonder what kind of animals might evolve to occupy it after 10 million years. They probably won't be too much different from what we have today though.
It'd be a pretty cool project to just have machines dip right there and make it happen within (I don't know.. 10?) years from now breaking the outer edges and watch their backyard ocean fill up.
I wonder what type of ocean life it will attract.
Wasn't this already known for years? I heard about this atleast 5 years ago.
[QUOTE=mzathemind;22963648]I wonder what type of ocean life it will attract.[/QUOTE] Genocide sharks and civil war whales. :smith:
If you've taken 8th grade geology, you should know this.
Hm, nothing a few bulldozers can't fix.
[QUOTE=Namo;22965758]If you've taken 8th grade geology, you should know this.[/QUOTE] im only in grade 2
They should speed it up with diggers and stuff
[QUOTE=mzathemind;22963648]I wonder what type of ocean life it will attract.[/QUOTE] By the time it's created who knows if the Earth won't be turned into a huge industrial wasteland or if it will still exist!
[QUOTE=Swilly;22962015]Its awesome because then we get rid of that stupid frickin' state. On topic however. That is pretty cool, I'll never get to see it but hey, I saw it get started.[/QUOTE] thanks you ass, in case you forgot to consider that you're basically insulting 30 million people for living here and a disregarding chunk of the economy.
I wish I was there in 10 Million years-ish :saddowns:
[QUOTE=Kirbunny431;22961910]Find the G-Man, ask him if he'll put you in stasis. On topic, SCHVEET! This is more awesome than the fault line splitting California apart. What should we name the new ocean in the future?[/QUOTE] Uh, what? It's a seduction fault you schmuck.
[QUOTE=Swilly;22962015]Its awesome because then we get rid of that stupid frickin' state. On topic however. That is pretty cool, I'll never get to see it but hey, I saw it get started.[/QUOTE] Says the basement dweller! [editline]05:51PM[/editline] Also, there goes the Mediterranean.
Good, maybe if there are two separate, smaller fuck ups, one of them can finally get their shit together.
[QUOTE=Richard Simmons;22967343][QUOTE=Kirbunny431;22961910]Find the G-Man, ask him if he'll put you in stasis. On topic, SCHVEET! This is more awesome than the fault line splitting California apart. What should we name the new ocean in the future?[/QUOTE] Uh, what? It's a seduction fault you schmuck.[/QUOTE] Subduction [editline]07:18PM[/editline] Seduction Fault sounds like another name for vagina
[QUOTE=Lambeth;22968008] Seduction Fault sounds like another name for vagina[/QUOTE] Some people do like their [url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orogeny]Orogeny[/url]. So guess it could be seductive to some....
[QUOTE=Lambeth;22968008]Subduction [editline]07:18PM[/editline] Seduction Fault sounds like another name for vagina[/QUOTE] I like seduction. That top shelf is seducing the bottom, forcing it under it. mmmm :gizz:
we shall call this new land NEWLANDIA.
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