Giant Crack in Africa Will Create a New Ocean

[snopes]

A 35-mile rift in the desert of Ethiopia will likely become a new ocean eventually, researchers now confirm.

The crack, 20 feet wide in spots, opened in 2005 and some geologists believed then that it would spawn a new ocean. But that view was controversial, and the rift had not been well studied.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/...reateanewocean

[Keeper of the Mad Bunnies]

While an interesting update, this is hardly new. I learned of the African triple junction back in 1980.

Triple junctions

[Hans Off]

True, but the point is that the "third" junction was largely thought to be the "failed arm" that would never continue to spread into a full blown oceanic rift. (as some claim that the North Sea Basin is a "failed arm")

The big news here is the failed arm hasn't failed!

[Silas Sparkhammer]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

. . . as some claim that the North Sea Basin is a "failed arm" . . .

I'd never heard that: I guess it would make sense if the North Sea is becoming shallower over time rather than deeper. Is that what is observed? I know the area has a lot of very shallow spots!

Silas (has read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!)

[A Turtle Named Mack]

Woo-hoo! What an investment opportunity - ocean front property - buy it now and wait a million years for the ocean to come to you!

Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer

I'd never heard that: I guess it would make sense if the North Sea is becoming shallower over time rather than deeper. Is that what is observed? I know the area has a lot of very shallow spots!

Silas (has read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!)

I had always heard that the North Sea was caused by depression of the crust during the previous ice maxima, and the crust had not sprunf back yet. Same as for the Great Lakes (well, not quite - they are drainig out the St. :awrence Seaway, but would eventually tilt to drain out the Chicago River, if not blocked from doing so. OSIH)

[Mosherette]

It's postulated that the North Sea is a failed attempt at opening up the North Atlantic (if the Earth can be said to actively attempt anything). I don't recall off the top of my head if it's getting shallower. There is isostatic rebound taking place across northern Europe, and the North Sea is right at the edge of the area affected. If it is getting shallower, then it'll be in the northern regions (which are very deep anyway).

[ganzfeld]

Originally Posted by A Turtle Named Mack

Woo-hoo! What an investment opportunity - ocean front property - buy it now and wait a million years for the ocean to come to you!

In a million years it will still be less than 25 km wide. So... lakefront property or maybe inland-sea-front property.

[Hans Off]

Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer

I'd never heard that: I guess it would make sense if the North Sea is becoming shallower over time rather than deeper. Is that what is observed? I know the area has a lot of very shallow spots!

Silas (has read Chitty Chitty Bang Bang!)

During the last Ice age it was swarming with beasties and people throwing spears at the beasties....

And even today it's not very deep, In fact (as has been told to me) there isn't anywhere in the North Sea that you can put St Paul's cathedral without leaving some of it sticking out of the water.

(quite why you would want to move a cathedral and be annoyed at it's non submergence is beyond me)

[Silas Sparkhammer]

Originally Posted by Hans Off

. . . And even today it's not very deep, In fact (as has been told to me) there isn't anywhere in the North Sea that you can put St Paul's cathedral without leaving some of it sticking out of the water.

(quite why you would want to move a cathedral and be annoyed at it's non submergence is beyond me)

Grin! At least, let's use the Eiffel Tower, which many people consider an eyesore. St. Paul's is lovely!

I remember when the submarine Kursk was lost, seeing that the sub was longer than the water, where it was destroyed, was deep. If they could have somehow up-ended the thing, the crew could simply have climbed out to safety. Continental shelves are remarkable places...

Silas (But the abyssal depths are where there be dragons!)

[Canuckistan]

Originally Posted by Silas Sparkhammer

At least, let's use the Eiffel Tower, which many people consider an eyesore.

Only during the day. At night, it's a thing of beauty when lit up.

[A Turtle Named Mack]

Originally Posted by Canuckistan

Only during the day. At night, it's a thing of beauty when lit up.

Maybe, but if you have to get lit up for something to seem beautiful, it must be bad enough.