GEOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -The Atlantic Ocean grows 1.5 inches wider every year. That’s because the tectonic plates undergirding the Americas are separating from those beneath Europe and Africa.

Detailed explanation-2: -Scientists have long known that the tectonic plates beneath North and South America are moving apart from those beneath Africa and Asia, widening the Atlantic Ocean at a rate of about 1.5 inches a year, Business Insider explained.

Detailed explanation-3: -Its width varies considerably from north to South: about 4, 830 kilometres (3, 000 mi) between North America and northern Africa to 2, 848 kilometres (1, 770 mi) between Brazil and Liberia.

Detailed explanation-4: -Activity far below the Earth’s crust has tectonic plates constantly in motion and aside from earthquakes, we don’t really feel these movements. However, scientists are observing that the Atlantic Ocean is slowly widening and pushing the continents of North and South America further apart from Europe and Africa.

Detailed explanation-5: -If the Atlantic Ocean is widening at a rate of 3 cm per year how far (in kilometers) will it spread in a million years? In 1 million year Atlantic ocean is widening 30 km.