Why is this important? - Fast and furious: witnessing the birth of Africa's new ocean
Imagine being able to walk across a continent as it splits in two!
This process of ocean formation is normally hidden deep beneath the seas, but in Afar we can walk across the region as the Earth's surface splits apart. The Afar desert is a one-of-a-kind natural laboratory for studying geology.
Scientists from the UK, Ethiopia, France and the US have come together to conduct a major set of experiments, to help them understand how the surface of the Earth changes shape over time.
Why does this matter?
Think about what it must be like to live somewhere where earthquakes and volcanoes happen without warning, where your country is splitting in two beneath your towns and villages!
The scientists working in Afar provide regular hazard reports to the local government that help the local people to understand the risks, and to plan how they will act when volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The research is really important in understanding where and when earthquakes and volcanoes might occur, and the scientists are one of the first points of contact when there is a crisis situation.
Meet a scientist who works in the Afar desert.
It is not all bad news though! Sometimes buried in the edges of continents that are splitting in two are pockets of oil and gas, that formed as the Earth's surface changed over millions of years. By studying how the continents split apart, people can predict where to find this oil and gas. This can provide energy supplies to countries in the region, and is a source of income if they sell it to other nations.
But what are the problems with extracting oil and gas to use as an energy source?
Science for you to try!
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