Birth of a New Ocean in the Red Sea, Danakil and East Africa region

The formation of a new ocean through the separation of continental lithospheric blocks is one of the fundamental geological processes predicted by the theory of Plate Tectonics and the hypothesis of Continental Drift. Today, this process is observable in the region of the Red Sea and the Horn of Africa (Afar, East African Rift), where the Arabian plate is separating from the African plate. There is no other geological scenario of equal significance that so clearly demonstrates the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration for a deeper understanding of such major phenomena. In recent years, numerous studies in geodesy, seismology, geophysics, tectonics, magmatism, petrology, and geochemistry have taken shape in this region, contributing to an increasingly detailed and precise understanding of the ongoing processes. We propose a conference at the AccademiadeiLincei to bring together experts from various scientific disciplines, with the aim of reviewing the results achieved so far, analyzing the synergies between different areas of research, and outlining the prospects for future developments on this critical issue for the Earth Sciences. The goal of the conference is to provide a space for discussion among leading national and international experts, address open scientific challenges, and stimulate new reflections in a strictly academic context.

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