Scientists have found that the African continent will split apart sooner than expected

The African continent may split apart sooner than expected, although the process will take several million years to fully complete. This is the conclusion reached by geologists from Columbia University who studied the East African Rift System. The results of the work were published in the journal Nature Communications.

The process in question is rifting — the divergence of tectonic plates. In this region, the African Plate is already splitting into two parts: the Nubian Plate to the west and the Somali Plate to the east. Over time, a new ocean may form between them.

The researchers focused on the Turkana Rift Zone, located in Kenya and Ethiopia. Analysis of seismic data showed that the Earth's crust here is significantly thinner than expected: about 13 kilometers at the center of the rift compared to more than 35 kilometers at the edges.

This is a critically important indicator. When crustal thickness decreases to approximately 15 kilometers, the "necking" stage begins — after which the breakup of the continent becomes virtually inevitable. According to geologist Chistian Rowan, the region has already reached this threshold, indicating a more advanced stage of breakup than previously thought.

As the crust continues to thin, magma will begin rising from the depths of the Earth, forming new oceanic crust. Over time, waters from the Indian Ocean will penetrate the area — creating a new oceanic basin. This process is already partially observed in the Afar Depression in northeastern Africa.

Despite the wording about a "rapid" breakup, we are talking about geological timescales: the process will take millions of years. Nevertheless, compared to previous estimates, the rift is developing at an accelerated pace.

Scientists also note that active geological processes in the region may have contributed to the preservation of ancient fossils, including the remains of early human ancestors, due to the accelerated accumulation of sedimentary rocks.