In a discovery that echoes the rhythmic beat of a human heart, scientists have found that Africa’s crust is pulsing from deep within — and it’s slowly tearing the continent apart. The Afar region in Ethiopia, where three tectonic plates meet, is undergoing a dramatic geological transformation that may one day give birth to a new ocean.
Researchers from the University of Southampton, in collaboration with Swansea University and the University of Florence, have uncovered pulsing patterns of magma rising from the Earth’s mantle — a finding that redefines how we understand the connection between Earth’s deep interior and the surface above.
The study, published in Nature Geoscience on June 25, combines volcanic rock analysis, tectonic data, and advanced modeling techniques to reveal a startlingly dynamic process beneath one of Earth’s most active geological zones.
Molten Rhythms: A Hidden Pulse Beneath Africa
According to Professor Tom Gernon, Earth Scientist at the University of Southampton and co-author of the study, these magma movements aren’t random.
“The chemical striping in the volcanic rock suggests that the mantle plume is pulsing — like a heartbeat,” he said.
These pulses aren’t just fascinating anomalies; they signal a gradual but powerful upwelling of molten magma pushing against the crust. Over time, this could split East Africa from the rest of the continent, creating an ocean where land once stood.
Afar: The Birthplace of a New Ocean
The Afar Depression is a rare geological marvel. Located in the Horn of Africa, it’s one of the few places on Earth where you can stand on land and watch a continent being torn apart. It’s here that the Arabian, Nubian, and Somali tectonic plates are pulling away from each other, creating cracks that extend for hundreds of kilometres.
Lead researcher Dr Emma Watts, now based at Swansea University, spent years studying the chemistry of 130 volcanic rock samples collected from the Afar region and the nearby Main Ethiopian Rift. Her findings suggest that the Earth’s interior isn’t static.
“We found that the mantle beneath Afar is not uniform or stationary — it pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures,” she explained.
These chemical patterns, or “striping,” help scientists trace the origin and behavior of the rising magma, much like reading the rings of a tree to understand its age and growth conditions.
Tectonics and Magma: A Complex Dance
The upward flow of these molten pulses is guided by the movement of tectonic plates above, Dr Watts said. As the plates rift and pull apart, they create channels that allow magma to ascend, influencing surface volcanoes and earthquake zones.
Dr Derek Keir, Associate Professor of Earth Science at both the University of Southampton and the University of Florence, emphasized how deeply interconnected Earth’s systems are.
“We’ve found that deep mantle activity and tectonic plate motion are closely linked,” he said. “This gives us new insight into how volcanoes erupt, how earthquakes occur, and how continents break apart over time.”
What Does This Mean for the Future?
The findings suggest that the Afar region is slowly evolving into a new ocean basin. While this process will take millions of years, it marks the beginning of a dramatic planetary transformation. Just as the Atlantic Ocean was born from the breakup of Pangaea, this emerging ocean could one day reshape the map of Africa and the Arabian Peninsula.
For now, the region remains a focus of intense geological interest. With every pulse, magma is redrawing boundaries and reshaping the planet — deep below our feet.
A New Frontier in Earth Science
This discovery not only deepens our understanding of Africa’s tectonic dynamics but also challenges long-standing assumptions in Earth science. The idea of a pulsing mantle plume influencing surface conditions is a new and powerful insight into how our planet functions beneath the crust.
It also has practical implications. As researchers learn more about these processes, they can better predict volcanic activity, understand earthquake risks, and even anticipate future continental drift.
The Earth, it turns out, has a heartbeat — and in Africa’s Afar region, it’s pounding steadily toward the birth of a new ocean.
