Atlantic Ocean is widening due to geologic forces under Earth’s crust – Business Insider – Business Insider

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. But precisely how and why that is happening has been a mystery to scientists, since the geological forces that typically push plates apart aren’t prevalent in the Atlantic. 
A study released Wednesday finally answers that question. The research, published in the journal Nature, suggests the key to the Atlantic’s expansion lies beneath…

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