From Satellites to Camels

In East Africa Studying the Biggest Magmatic Rift Event Ever Seen

In September 2005 a 40-mile long crack opened in the Earth. Satellite images showed that this was the largest magmatic rifting event ever seen. Is the African continent splitting at the seams? Roger Buck will describe the science behind the cracking event and similar ones in Iceland, and will share his experiences traveling and working in this remote and dangerous desert area at the sourthern end of the Red Sea.