Have you ever wondered if the ground beneath your feet could actually be moving upward? This might sound impossible, but scientists have discovered something amazing happening in South Africa right now.
According to research reported by DailyMail, South Africa’s land is actually rising out of the ocean by up to two millimeters every year. This incredible discovery came from scientists at the University of Bonn, including Dr. Makan Karegar and Christian Mielke, who studied the country between 2012 and 2020.
The reason behind this upward movement is quite surprising. When South Africa experienced severe droughts, especially between 2015 and 2019, the country lost massive amounts of water. Think of it like this: imagine pressing down on a sponge with your hand, then suddenly lifting your hand away. The sponge springs back up, right?
How Scientists Made This Discovery
The scientific team used advanced technology to measure these tiny changes that are invisible to our eyes. Here’s how they did it:
- GPS receivers placed across South Africa constantly measured the exact position of the land, detecting movements as small as millimeters
- NASA satellites from the GRACE mission tracked changes in Earth’s gravitational pull, which happens when large amounts of water disappear from an area
- Data comparison between rainfall records and land elevation showed a clear connection – less rain meant higher ground
Dr. Karegar found that some areas experienced an average rise of six millimeters during the entire study period, with the most dramatic changes happening during the worst drought years.
Understanding the Physics Behind Land Rising
Christian Mielke explained this phenomenon perfectly: “The total mass of surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater is so large that it deforms the Earth’s crust – like putting pressure on an elastic ball.” When that pressure disappears, the land bounces back.
| Water Present | The enormous weight of underground water, rivers, and soil moisture pushes down on Earth’s crust, keeping the land compressed |
| Drought Occurs | When severe droughts remove this water, the weight disappears and the land springs upward like a foam ball expanding |
| Elastic Response | Earth’s crust behaves elastically, meaning it can flex and return to its original shape when pressure changes |
This process particularly affected areas around Cape Town, which faced the terrifying possibility of “Zero Day” – a day when the city would completely run out of water.
Looking forward, scientists believe these elevation changes are “episodic”, meaning they depend on future rainfall patterns. This discovery could become a powerful tool for monitoring drought effects and managing water resources. You can now understand how our planet responds to climate changes in ways we never imagined before, making this research crucial for future planning.
