A research vessel is launching today to conquer Zealandia, the newly discovered submarine continent in eastern Australia. The researchers will have two months to unravel the mysteries.
We all knew that there were seven continents: Europe, Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Oceania and Antarctica. Geologists nevertheless group Europe and Asia into a supercontinent: Eurasia, there were a total of six geological continents, but a study of the earth's crust conducted a few months ago reported a seventh geological continent called "Zealandia" that dissociated itself from the supercontinent Gondwana 75 million years ago And hidden under our noses for millennia, today is the time to go "fishing" to information.
Nearly 95% of its surface is underwater (its two main land areas are New Zealand and New Caledonia), only 25 kilometers separate this mass of the Australian continent in the narrowest part, but the oceanic depression plunges to 3,600 meters of depth according to the scientists, that's why an expedition led by the Australian National University has just been launched. The Joides Resolution, a scientific research vessel used for offshore drilling, left the Australian port of Townsville, Queensland (northeast) on July 28, 2017, to take samples to better Understanding the geological evolution of the area for tens of millions of years.
During this expedition, researchers will examine the Pacific Ring of Fire, a hot spot for volcanoes and earthquakes. Rocks and sediments taken directly on site will be studied on board, allowing to learn more about the oceanographic history of the zone or its climatic and tectonic phenomena, "As Australia drifted north and the Tasman Sea expanded, traffic patterns fluctuated, as did the depths of water around New Zealand," notes Jerry Dickens , Of the University of Texas, "This area has had an important influence on global change."
The main actors in this mission say that Zealandia is ranked seventh after Africa, Eurasia, North America, South America, Antarctica and the Australian continent in terms of size, for them, "the scientific interest of classifying Zealandia as a continent goes far beyond simply adding a name to a list," they say. "That a continent can be so submerged but not fragmented is useful ... to understanding the cohesion and destruction of the continental crust".
Reference : businessinsider