21 Feb, 2024 @ 06:00
1 min read

‘Ring of fire’: How the Atlantic ocean will ‘close’ in the Strait of Gibraltar and form a new mountain range filled with volcanoes and earthquakes

THE Atlantic ocean will ‘close’ in the Strait of Gibraltar and form a new volcano filled mountain range in a geological phenomenon known as a ‘ring of fire’.

Gibraltar could look like this in years to come as tectonic plates form volcanoes and earthquakes in the region. Photo: Tetiana Grypache and Fernando Parede on Unsplash

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It will begin in the next 20 million years, a short period of time in geological terms. 

Although the water body is not shrinking or disappearing, Eurasian and African tectonic plates are converging, causing the Atlantic Ocean to become narrower at the Strait of Gibraltar. 

In millions of years, this process could eventually lead to the closure of the Atlantic Ocean, forming a new mountain range. 

Using computational models, University of Lisbon researchers predicted plate tectonics underneath the Gibraltar Strait will move further into the Atlantic, causing a ‘ring of fire’. 

This refers to an area characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. 

They form via ‘subduction zones’, where one tectonic plate is forced beneath the other, creating intense geological activity. 

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Currently, there is a ring of fire in the Pacific Ocean stretching from Australia to South America. 

This area is home to 75% of our volcanoes and 90% of earthquakes occur there. 

The formation of subduction zones is part of a geological process known as the Wilson Cycle. 

Oceans are formed as tectonic plates move apart and close again as they move back together over hundreds and millions of years. 

The Atlantic ocean was formed in this way after the breakup of the Pangaea megacontinent some 180 million years ago. 

If the Atlantic is to close, new subduction zones have to be formed. 

However, they can also ‘migrate’ or ‘invade’ other areas and this is what is expected to happen in Gibraltar. 

Two other subduction zones currently exist in the Caribbean Lesser Antilles and the Scotia Arc, Antarctica.

In both cases, they invaded the Atlantic several million years ago, so Gibraltar offers the unique opportunity to see this process in real time. 

Researchers predict the movement of plates in the Strait of Gibraltar could provide ‘invaluable’ into how our planet has evolved geologically.

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Yzabelle Bostyn

Yzabelle Bostyn is an NCTJ trained journalist who started her journalistic career at the Olive Press in 2023.
Before moving to Spain, she studied for a BA in English Literature and Hispanic Studies at the University of Sheffield.
After graduating she moved to the university’s journalism department, one of the best in the UK.
Throughout the past few years, she has taken on many roles including social media marketing, copywriting and radio presenting.
She then took a year out to travel Latin America, scaling volcanoes in Guatemala and swimming with sharks in Belize.
Then, she came to the Olive Press last year where she has honed her travel writing skills and reported on many fantastic experiences such as the Al Andalus luxury train.
She has also undertaken many investigations, looking into complex issues like Spain’s rental crisis and rising cancer rates.
Always willing to help, she has exposed many frauds and scams, working alongside victims to achieve justice.
She is most proud of her work on Nolotil, a drug linked to the deaths of many Brits in Spain.
A campaign launched by Yzabelle has received considerable support and her coverage has been by the UK and Spanish media alike.
Her writing has featured on many UK news outlets from the Sun to the Mail Online, who contracted her to report for them in Tenerife on growing tourism issues.
Recently, she has appeared on Times Radio covering deadly flooding in Valencia.

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