{"id":141090,"date":"2025-05-29T09:53:08","date_gmt":"2025-05-29T09:53:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/141090\/"},"modified":"2025-05-29T09:53:08","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T09:53:08","slug":"south-africa-is-literally-rising-out-of-the-ocean-and-scientists-think-they-know-why","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/141090\/","title":{"rendered":"South Africa is literally rising out of the ocean, and scientists think they know why"},"content":{"rendered":"

While sea levels rise globally, South Africa defies expectations by slowly lifting itself higher above the waves. This surprising geological phenomenon, measured at nearly a quarter-inch between 2012 and 2020, has puzzled researchers for years. Now, a groundbreaking study suggests climate change and severe droughts are the real culprits behind this continental elevation.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A country on the rise<\/p>\n

Picture this: an entire country slowly but steadily rising like bread in an oven. That\u2019s essentially what\u2019s happening to South Africa<\/strong> right now. Scientists have been tracking this bizarre phenomenon using a vast network of permanent GPS receivers<\/strong> scattered across the country. These high-tech monitoring stations can measure position and altitude down to fractions of an inch, and they\u2019ve been telling a fascinating story.<\/p>\n

The data doesn\u2019t lie. Between 2012 and 2020, South Africa gained approximately 0.24 inches<\/strong> in elevation. Sure, that might not sound like much when you\u2019re thinking about your morning coffee, but on a geological scale? That\u2019s lightning fast.<\/p>\n

What makes this even more intriguing is that scientists have known about this land elevation<\/strong> for several years now. The measurements have been consistent, the technology reliable, but the \u201cwhy\u201d behind it all remained frustratingly elusive.<\/p>\n

The original suspect: Hot rocks from below<\/p>\n

Initially, researchers pointed fingers at something called a geological plume<\/strong>. Think of it as Earth\u2019s version of a lava lamp. The theory suggested that abnormally hot rocks from deep within our planet were slowly bubbling up toward the surface of the Earth\u2019s mantle<\/strong>, specifically underneath South Africa.<\/p>\n

This upward movement of scorching material would essentially be the planet\u2019s way of releasing internal heat. As these hot rocks pushed upward, they would cause the Earth\u2019s crust to swell and buckle, creating the observed uplift. Makes sense, right?<\/p>\n

A new theory emerges from drought data<\/p>\n

But here\u2019s where things get interesting. A fresh study from the University of Bonn<\/strong>, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research, has thrown a wrench into that hot rock theory. Instead of looking down into the Earth\u2019s depths, these researchers looked up at the sky and around at the landscape.<\/p>\n

The German research team noticed something curious: areas that experienced severe droughts were the same areas showing the most significant ground uplift<\/strong>. Coincidence? Highly unlikely.<\/p>\n

They used two key datasets to crack this puzzle. First, they analyzed precipitation patterns<\/strong> to understand regional climate, seasonal changes, and water resource evolution. Then they cross-referenced this information with satellite data that confirmed the connection between droughts and land elevation.<\/p>\n

Enter the GRACE satellite<\/p>\n

The real game-changer came from an unlikely source: the GRACE satellite<\/strong>. Originally launched to study Earth\u2019s gravity, this space-based observatory turned out to be perfect for understanding how much water different regions can store in their soil.<\/p>\n

Christian Mielke, a researcher at the German Institute of Geodesy and Geoinformation, explained how this works: \u201cThese results can be used to calculate, among other things, the variation of the total mass of water storage; the sum of surface water, soil moisture, and groundwater.\u201d<\/p>\n

What they discovered was remarkable. The less water mass present in a region, the more pronounced the uplift at nearby GPS stations became. It\u2019s like removing books from a sagging shelf \u2013 take away the weight, and everything springs back up.<\/p>\n

Why drought makes land rise<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s the science behind this phenomenon, and it\u2019s actually pretty straightforward when you think about it. Water is heavy \u2013 really heavy. When soil, underground aquifers, and surface water bodies are full, they exert tremendous downward pressure<\/strong> on the land beneath them.<\/p>\n

During severe droughts, several things happen:<\/p>\n