Science & Technology

Something pulsing deep beneath Africa could tear the continent apart

By T.K. Randall
June 26, 2025 ·  3 comments

Image: Pahoehoe Lava (illustrative)
Credit: Rufiyaa / CC BY-SA 4.0 (adapted) The perplexing phenomenon, which was detected in the Afar region of Ethiopia, consists of rhythmic 'pulses' of molten mantle rock that surge upward like a heartbeat deep underground.

This has pushed up the region from underneath, expanding the crust in the process.

Eventually, it will rip the continent itself apart and form a new ocean.

"We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary - it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures," said study lead scientist Emma Watson."These ascending pulses of partially molten mantle are channelled by the rifting plates above. That's important for how we think about the interaction between Earth's interior and its surface."

Fortunately for humans, however, any monumental tectonic upheavel brought about by this phenomenon won't occur for several million years.

"We have found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above. This has profound implications for how we interpret surface volcanism, earthquake activity, and the process of continental breakup," said study co-author Derek Keir.

"The work shows that deep mantle upwellings can flow beneath the base of tectonic plates and help to focus volcanic activity to where the tectonic plate is thinnest. "

Source: Independent | Comments (3)

Tags: Africa, Earth