A steady underground pulse has been discovered beneath East Africa, where researchers believe a new ocean is gradually forming.

The rhythmic movement was detected in the Afar region of Ethiopia, a geological hotspot where three giant sections of the Earth’s crust—the Arabian, Nubian, and Somalian plates—are slowly pulling apart. The site, known as the Afar Triple Junction, is one of few places on Earth where the process of continental breakup can be observed on land.

As the plates drift in different directions, the ground in the Afar Triangle is thinning. Over time, scientists predict this stretch of land will submerge below sea level, allowing seawater to rush in and eventually form a new ocean basin connected to the Red Sea.

Volcanic rocks reveal clues from deep within the Earth

To better comprehend the forces behind this process, a research team led by geologist Emma Watts of Swansea University studied the chemical makeup of volcanic rocks in the area. The team collected 130 samples from Afar and the Main Ethiopian Rift and analyzed their composition to trace their origin from deep within the Earth.

Watts, who conducted the research while at the University of Southampton, said the underground layer beneath Afar is dynamic rather than still or uniform. “It pulses, and these pulses carry distinct chemical signatures,” she said.

The movement appears tied to surface changes

These rising pulses of molten material appear to be influenced by the way the surface plates above them are shifting. In places where the crust is thinner or pulling apart faster—such as the Red Sea—the pulses flow more easily and regularly, Watts explained.

Geologist Tom Gernon of the University of Southampton said the repeating chemical patterns found across the region point to a distinct pulsing motion. “The chemical striping suggests the plume is pulsing, like a heartbeat,” he said.

New findings reshape understanding of Earth’s interior

This pulse movement beneath Africa is likely shaped by a plume of hot material pushing up from deep within the Earth. Unlike a symmetrical fountain, the plume is irregular and affected by its environment, including the thickness and speed of the plates above.

If the researchers’ model is correct, it shows that deep Earth activity is not just a one-way force—it can also respond to surface conditions. This changes how scientists view the connection between Earth’s interior and events like volcanoes, earthquakes, and even the breakup of continents.

“We have found that the evolution of deep mantle upwellings is intimately tied to the motion of the plates above,” said geophysicist Derek Keir, who is affiliated with both the University of Southampton and the University of Florence in Italy.

Future studies aim to better understand how quickly this material moves and how it helps shape the surface of our planet.