Atlantic Ocean might be swallowed up in ‘Ring of Hearth,’ scientists warn

World Information

By Melissa Koenig

The Atlantic Ocean could “quickly” be swallowed up by an enormous chain of colliding tectonic plates that has been ominously dubbed the “Ring of Hearth,” scientists warn.

The tectonic plate beneath Africa has been sliding under the one beneath Eurasia for about 30 million years, geologists from the College of Lisbon in Portugal famous in a current examine revealed within the “Geology” journal.

Because it continues this downward development, the so-called Gibraltar Trench — positioned beneath the 10-mile-long Gibraltar Strait that separates Spain and Morocco — will develop westward, forcing continents to maneuver nearer and nearer, till the Atlantic Ocean is totally gone, the scientists discovered.

The method could have even already begun, regardless of different scientists’ claims that the ditch is inactive.

“We’ve good motive to suppose that the Atlantic is beginning to shut,” lead scientist, Professor João Duarte, advised the Each day Mail.

He and his colleagues got down to examine the long-term motion of the Gibraltar Trench, which Duarte known as an “invaluable alternative” to watch how the Africa Plate is transferring beneath the Eurasia Plate “in its early levels when it’s simply occurring,” he stated in an announcement.

The crew created a pc mannequin to trace the modifications to the ditch because it shaped within the Oligocene epoch between 34 million to 23 million years in the past.

They discovered that the plate subduction will not be as dormant as geologists had believed, however has as a substitute simply moved at a sluggish fee of pace over the previous 5 million years.

However over the subsequent 20 million years — which they stated is “quickly” in geological phrases — the ditch may quadruple in dimension.

It’s at present believed to be about 125 miles lengthy, however may attain as much as 500 miles in size, the scientists stated.

The enlargement would then set off a series response, forming a brand new Atlantic subduction zone known as the “Ring of Hearth,” just like the one which shaped within the Pacific Ocean.

Because the plates proceed to maneuver, the ocean flooring will sink and the continents can be pulled collectively, the examine discovered.

“Oceans appear everlasting to our lifespan, however they aren’t right here for lengthy: they’re born, develop and at some point shut,” the researchers stated in a press launch saying their findings.

Throughout this time, there may additionally be extra earthquakes just like the one which hit Lisbon in 1775.

The historic quake had an estimated magnitude of seven.7 on the Richter scale and killed practically 12,000 — practically destroying the Portuguese capital and its surrounding areas within the course of.