Scientists observe rare continental rift process in Ethiopia

Science Features

By Ghion Hagos Dec 25, 2005, 13:24 GMT

Addis Ababa - A continental rifting process that normally takes millions of years to form has developed over a span of seven weeks in the Afar region of northeastern Ethiopia. It was a close study, using radar interferometry, of an earth rupture developing into a rare axial rift zone -- a future possible ocean basin. As Associate Professor Atalay Ayele of the Geophysical Observatory of the Addis Ababa University (AAU) tells it, scientists from Ethiopia and Britain made four expeditions to the Da'ure locality in the Afar Depression between mid-September and early October to collect geophysical and geological data. The series of quakes was first recorded at the AAU on September 14 in Da'ure, an area in the lowlands of the Western Ethiopia Escarpment that stretches from the central part of the country to the Dahlak Islands of Eritrea in the Red Sea. The volcanic activity, recorded at N 12.651 degrees longtitude and E 40.519 degrees latitude, spewed ash for three continuous days and eventually numerous cracks appeared in the ground, spreading fear among the pastoralist inhabitants. Unsettled by the unusual phenomena of rumbling tremors they approached the regional authorities to ask the federal government in Addis Ababa to look into it. The government asked experts in the field at the AAU to investigate the phenomena in the Afar region, and if need be ask for assistance from universities abroad, which is where the British scientist got involved. 'We were thus involved in collaborative undertaking with earth scientists from Britain to undertake further study to collect data in and around the Da'ure locality,' said Dr. Atalay. An image of the Da'ure locality taken by an earth orbiting NASA satellite showed that an area of 60 kilometres had developed an eight-metre opening. 'This was a fast opening rate within a span of about two months, from September 14 to early November, an exciting event in scientific terms,' said Dr. Atalay. 'Compare this to the very slow movement of the plate tectonic affecting the crust of the earth in the Afar region, which is about 17 mm per year,' he explained. Professor Cindy Binger of Royal Holloway, University of London, presented the findings at the Fall Meeting of the American geophysical Union in San Francisco. Dr. Atalay said there were no immediate concerns about the Afar region, noting that it would take a couple of million years before the area turns into an ocean basin. For scientists researching the phenomena, the Afar Region is a natural laboratory where the transition between oceanic rift and continental rift is visible on land. Such transition is also evident in Iceland. 'The events we witnessed in the Afar region for about seven weeks, beginning in mid-September, have enabled us to look into the possible faster rate of rifting in the Afar region,' said Atalay. 'What we saw was a microcosm of a process of an earth split that takes millions of years to evolve into an ocean basin,' he declared. © 2005 dpa - Deutsche Presse-Agentur

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Bewnet KewnetDec 25th, 2005 - 19:35:59

To:Ghion Hagos; Dr.Atalay ;and To All Ethiopins in the World and Ethiopian lovers. I have a question to ask speashalley to Ato Ghion and Dr.Atalay. Why dont you guys do your homework? you might save a lots of people. why dont you read your bible?. Ghion reported that.....normally takes millions of years to form has developed over span of seven weeks in the afar reggion of N.Ethiopia.and so on..... Now hear comes just like his name Dr.Atalay saying that there is no immediate concerns about the afar rigion. I ask you Dr. if that happens in seven weeks witch is abnormal to a lots of people; What makes you so shour that the hall prosses can,t be finshed before the day after tommorow?or nextweek?or before the year 2008?......I ask you one,s more please,please tray to see the trouth. see the sinces.read your baible. do your homwork properli.Like I saidet it before you might save billions of people.you dont have to worry about the Afar region and the Ethiopian peoples.they have ther God to save them.Pleas God have merrse for the others. as you can see English is not my mother thang but I am traying to make a point.good lack.

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MICKYDec 26th, 2005 - 02:30:39

Dear SCINTISTS,
I would like to express my deep appreciation to your discovery and close attention to the geographical process. but i would also want to mention that we should also concern the life of people who live on this world especially for the ethiopian people who are dying with in each minute due to the political case, by the brutal butcher regime.
WITH REGARDS!
M.

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astewayDec 27th, 2005 - 01:30:43

I agree with Bewnet Kewnet in that there is a disconnect between the rifting process observed within the two months period and the projection of Dr. Atalay to form an ocean basin. It is obvious that if the rifting process continues at the current observed rate, then it would not take millions years for the Afar region to become an ocean base. What was the scientific reasoning used by Dr. Atalay for the millions of years projections.

Dr. Atalay's explanation sounds like the Ethiopian govenment explanation of thins, anything - They just explain things but not usually willing to tell you the reason. Currently, the current Ethiopian regime led by Meles Zenawi claims that it has won the May 2005 elections, but they shoot everyone who asks for explanation how they won the May 2005 elections.

Dr. Atlay's explanation is no exception since he is part of the corrupt Ethiopian regime.

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melakuDec 28th, 2005 - 15:10:46

Sorry to hear such a stupid comment against scientific finding. Please open your mind bewnet & mastewal it is only facts figured here. Don't always connect things with your hopeless babbling. I think the second disease which attacks to much Ethiopians with shallow interest is religious & political ignorance. There is no need of blaming the Ethiopian expert for his name sake. Please don't make sick anything & place you are in contact with your Habesha ignorant propaganda which dislikes a good knowledge to be propagated to those who are indire need. For those who are in deep search for knowledge please don't weaken your heart with such covered arrogance.

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ElkeDec 29th, 2005 - 14:28:25

Dear Ghion Hagos & Dr.Atalay First of all i appreciate your report to make us know about
tommorow's Ethiopian Island. I think it's gonna take a long time like Millions of years. I mean
is it the right time to think about this? I think , let me call him Dr. or i don't know Mr. Bewnet
Kewnet, i agree with his idea. couse we don't have any power to stop this kind of FORCE OF
NATURE. So the only way is to pray to God. and Other thing to Melaku you have to be an
Ethiopian to give a pure info. and you know we have a political ignorance. So you have to read
some thing like ' DEAD MAN'S SICRET ' then Vote. On my way i would like to say to our Prime
Minster what Bob Marley Says on his Song ' You can fool some people at sametime ,but you can
fool all the people all the time.'
With Regards
Elke

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Bewnet KewnetJan 2nd, 2006 - 18:32:03

To all Ethiopians in the world and Ethiopian lovers:- By the way when we say Ethiopian lovers we say only 'Yighziabher Lighoch' (God's Children) that what it mean nothing less nothing more.

The smart Dr may be he stated doing his homework like I said because he is smart but you Melaku by the name an 'angel' you are the one who open your mouth to insult us just because we see the truth diffrently than the good Dr and all scientists. But you 'Melaku' why you chose to insult us before you do your homework? If you need help just ask. You don't get any where by insulting people but by saving them. Make them see the truth, what is your part in this?

You Ethiopians and lovers I want you see and read the news media

' Three Lines saved a girl'
' Lines killed farmers and terrorized town in Ethiopia'
' Ogrish.com you can see there how people cut their head off
specially the weastern citizens in the Arab world. You can find that
in the Bible written
' The Ethiopian demonistration in the world' which they don't hear us
untill it is too late for them

From the Bible you have to read all 'Tinbet Isayas', 'Tinbet Ermias'

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Bewnet KewnetJan 2nd, 2006 - 18:38:49

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Bewnet KewnetJan 3rd, 2006 - 17:57:07

We like to say 'Selam' to all Ethiopians and Ethiopian lovers in the world.

First of all before I forget again we like to wish you 'Happy BALIWOLED' day it mean 'YIGZABHER KEN', this coming Saturday Thahisas 29 according to Ethiopian calander, in European calander it would be Jan 7 in case we didn't here from one another on this because we were planing to go to countryside to celebrate BALEWELD for a couple of days untill then again Happy BALEWELD day.

After that from the movie we want you to see the movie called

' Independence Day'
' cartoon film called 'Lions King' part 1 & 2
' Big Fat Lier'
and others there are about banch of them I forget there titile but remember there story.

From Nature

' a weather called SUNAMI
' Pakistan, Indonesia and other places land slide, earth quicke
different parts of the world..... and others

From Politics

' War hear and there specially Ethiopia and Eritera
' Sadam and Ethiopia cangaroo court hearing and others

From Songs

' Country '' Road take me home where I belong'''
' Bob marley all songs'

From Bible

' Read Tinbet Sofonias chapter 1- 18 must

Untill we meet again stay safe pray to 'Igzabher ' only to ' Igzabher' nothing but 'Igzabher' that help you 'Igzabher'

Bewnet Kewnet

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fasil tesemaMar 15th, 2006 - 16:14:17

I think all of this is bullshit.
You guys are giving false statistics just to make a qiuck buck.
This is bullshit.
California expiriences earthquakes as often as pregnant women's contraptions the night before they give birth, and I don't see the ground spliting.
You can't possilbly assume that.
All you guys do is talk and talk and some more.

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orion manJul 24th, 2006 - 16:55:50

two major earthquakes near Indonesia, two tsunamis in 1 year
'only' 231.000 dead,
a 60km , 8 meters 'crack' , over 7 weeks near the Horn of Africa

Nothing Much ??????

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