Drying climate accelerates East Africa’s Rift
New research links the shift from humid to dry conditions in East Africa with faster fault movement in the East African Rift, measured at about 0.17 millimeters per year of extra movement on top of the regional 6.35 millimeters per year baseline. The dewatering of lakes after the African Humid Period reduces crustal pressure, while a nearby magma chamber may receive more melt, increasing tectonic activity around Lake Turkana and potentially accelerating continental breakup; scientists are expanding the study to Lake Malawi for broader climate-tectonics insight.