Atlantic Ocean to close up 'soon' due to tectonic shifts, forming new mountain ranges

Newsweek emphasizes that these transformations within the Atlantic are expected to escalate "soon". However, "soon" in this context refers to an approximate timeline of 20 million years from now. "From a geological point of view, it's imminent, but on a human scale, it's an inconceivably lengthy timespan" they explain.

It's important to remember that the global tectonic plates are continuously in motion. These movements are usually so minor that their impacts remain imperceptible for decades, if not centuries. These motions lead to the formation of oceans due to the spreading and subsequent convergence of the plates.

This process is referred to as the Wilson cycle. Around 180 million years ago, it prompted the split of the supercontinent Pangaea. This led to the creation of the Atlantic Ocean while the ancient Tethys Ocean transitioned into the Mediterranean Sea that we know today.

Scientists illustrate that the tectonic plates composing the Atlantic Ocean are still in motion and may begin to close in approximately 20 million years. "For the Atlantic to close, new subduction zones need to form," they explain. These are areas where one plate gets "forced" beneath another.

This movement results from density disparities between the two plates. Due to the vast size of the plates, the formation of subduction zones is a slow process. Nonetheless, scientists have predicted, based on tectonic analysis, that the subduction zone in the Mediterranean Sea beneath the Strait of Gibraltar will extend further into the Atlantic in about 20 million years. At this point, the "Atlantic ring of fire" will also take shape.

"Our research indicates that the zone below Gibraltar is inactive but will extend into the Atlantic within the next 20 million years" says João Duarte in a conversation with Newsweek. Duarte is a researcher from the Instituto Dom Luiz at the University of Lisbon. The developing "ring of fire" will pull the Atlantic Ocean plate under Africa and Europe. This motion could cause the Atlantic to "close up", meaning mountain ranges (borders) may form around it. However, this process will take many millions of years to occur.