Hello Friends,
Today I came up with an interesting topic *Zealandia The earth's hidden eighth continent* which is facing an uphill battle for 8th continent status here I have tried to depict all the concrete data & facts in favor of this new continent without further ado lets begin......
The New Discovery of the continent was very much in news last year, but being recognized as a new Continent is not an easy task When there is already a confusion about the absolute numbers of continents in the world (is it Six or Seven ...?????)
Whatever ....... Friends just think for a while? if Zealandia ultimately accepted, then it would be the smallest of the world's continents than surely It might a call for you to BUY A NEW ATLAS... ATLAS ...ATLAS ...... :D
Q1: What is the Location of Zealandia?
Coordinates : Latitude: 40° 00' 0.00" S
Longitude: 170° 00' 0.00" E
It is a landmass which is almost completely submerged under the South Pacific Ocean and Only 4% of the Zealandia rises above the mean sea level including New Zealand and remaining 96 % of the landmass or 5 million square kilometers are submerged under the South Pacific ocean.
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Zealandia is also known as Tasmantis or Kiwi Land, the Name & Concept for Zealandia was proposed by Bruce Luyendyk in 1995.
The word Zealandia has its solo debut in an 1857 book/ New Zealand or Zealandia: The Britan of south seas.
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| Map/1a: Spatial limits of Zealandia/ credit: GSA today |
ZEALANDIA: Geology
The Zealandia continent comprised of many diverse types of rocks such as Limestone, Granite, Quartzite, Schist & Siliceous continental rock.Its total area is approx (4,920,000 sq. km) and roughly the size of our country INDIA i.e. (3,287,263 sq.km) Unlike other continents, however, Zealandia has much deeper & wider continental shelves and is - 94% submerged under the South Pacific ocean, It is largely made up of two nearly parallel ridges, which is separated by a Rift and where the Rift breakup of the continent Stops and becomes a filled Graben Fault.
Q2: What is the highest point of Zealandia?
The Mount Cook-Aoraki at 3724m will remain the highest point of Zealandia continent.
The continental crust of Zealandia varies in thickness from 30 to 46 km in contrast to the Average oceanic crust which typically 7 km thick.
As far as Geological time is concerned the Zealandia continental crust got submerged after breaking away from Australia 60-85 million years ago, Which have separated from Antarctica & Australia between 80 -130 million years ago as part of Gondwana land, It was the time when Zealandia made up the 5% area of the Gondwanaland during.Presently Zealandia is now recognized as Thinnest, youngest and most submerged of all continents.
Q4: Zealandia is separated from Australia by which trough??
The Zealandia is spatially separated from Australia by the CATO TROUGH-3600m deep & floored by oceanic crust.
How many major continents do we have on the Earth?
The present number of continents of the world is still vague for many scholars it is seven.....!
Note: As far as the number of continents is concerned many geologists of the world counts Europe & Asia as one giant continent called EURASIA so sadly the new addition of Zealandia doesn't seem to change the official number of the geological continent of the Earth
S.NO
|
NAME OF THE CONTINENTS
|
TOTAL AREA(in Square mile)
|
1
|
ASIA
|
16,920,000
|
2
|
AFRICA
|
11,370,000
|
3
|
NORTH AMERICA
|
9,460,000
|
4
|
SOUTH AMERICA
|
6,890,000
|
5
|
ANTARCTICA
|
5,300,000
|
6
|
EUROPE
|
3,930,000
|
7
|
AUSTRALIA
|
5,300,000
|
#8
|
ZEALANDIA
|
4,920,000
|
Note: As far as the number of continents is concerned many geologists of the world counts Europe & Asia as one giant continent called EURASIA so sadly the new addition of Zealandia doesn't seem to change the official number of the geological continent of the Earth
Q5: JODIES RESOLUTION ??
Last year Sep 2017 / AN EXPEDITION carried out on board research ship JOIDES RESOLUTION by researchers affiliated with the IODP(International Ocean Discovery Programme) to explore Zealandia. This drillship J.R recovered various sample of sediments & rocks lying beep beneath the Seabed.It further addressed issues such as Plate tectonics, Geology, Extreme climates & Sub-seafloor life.The Co-Chief Scientist Jerry Dickens from Rice University(Texas): Stated that this region was a vital area to study changes in Global Climate.
They also said it was a "Distinct geological entity: It met all the criteria applied to Eath's other continents i.e. Elevation, Distinctive Geology, Well defined area & Crustal thickness".
Further, in favor of above statement the geologist from New Zealand, New Caledonia & Australia concluded that Zealandia fulfills all the necessary requirements to be considered a continent, rather than a microcontinent or continental fragment.
The Director of NSF: Jamie Allan, said the Expedition offered insights into Earth's geological history, ranging from the mountain-building process in New Zealand to shifting movement of Earth's tectonic plates, to change in ocean circulation & global climate.
A Prof. Rupert Sutherland from New Zealand's Victoria University saith the expedition had discovered "Big Geographic Changes"
Q6: Is Zealandia truly a continent?
Yes !...Zealandia was declared the Earth's newest continent last year in a paper in a paper in the journal of the GSA(Geological Society of America). It includes Lord Howe island off the east coast of Australia, New Caledonia & New Zealand.
According to the US NSF(national science foundation"Zealandia was confirmed as continent earlier this year 2017.
Q7: What are the Criteria for becoming the new continent?
1-Elevation above the surrounding area.
2-Distinctive geology
3-Well-Defined area ( 4,920,000 km2 )
4-The Crust must be thicker approx( 20km ) than found in Oceanic plates.
5-The land must have a thicker section of crust compared with the ocean floor.
6-It must have 'Well defined limits around a large enough area to be considered a continent rather than a microcontinent or continental fragment'.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
That's all for today.............Goodbye, Sayonara :)
Reference Cited :
1:http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/27/3/article/GSATG321A.1.htm
2:http://earthsky.org/earth/lost-continent-zealandia-drilling-expedition-2017
3:https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2887128/zealandia-new-eight-continent/
Last year Sep 2017 / AN EXPEDITION carried out on board research ship JOIDES RESOLUTION by researchers affiliated with the IODP(International Ocean Discovery Programme) to explore Zealandia. This drillship J.R recovered various sample of sediments & rocks lying beep beneath the Seabed.It further addressed issues such as Plate tectonics, Geology, Extreme climates & Sub-seafloor life.The Co-Chief Scientist Jerry Dickens from Rice University(Texas): Stated that this region was a vital area to study changes in Global Climate.
They also said it was a "Distinct geological entity: It met all the criteria applied to Eath's other continents i.e. Elevation, Distinctive Geology, Well defined area & Crustal thickness".
Further, in favor of above statement the geologist from New Zealand, New Caledonia & Australia concluded that Zealandia fulfills all the necessary requirements to be considered a continent, rather than a microcontinent or continental fragment.
The Director of NSF: Jamie Allan, said the Expedition offered insights into Earth's geological history, ranging from the mountain-building process in New Zealand to shifting movement of Earth's tectonic plates, to change in ocean circulation & global climate.
A Prof. Rupert Sutherland from New Zealand's Victoria University saith the expedition had discovered "Big Geographic Changes"
 |
| Sailing picture of JODIES RESOLUTION |
Q6: Is Zealandia truly a continent?
Yes !...Zealandia was declared the Earth's newest continent last year in a paper in a paper in the journal of the GSA(Geological Society of America). It includes Lord Howe island off the east coast of Australia, New Caledonia & New Zealand.
According to the US NSF(national science foundation"Zealandia was confirmed as continent earlier this year 2017.
 |
| Map/1b: Map of Zealandia |
1-Elevation above the surrounding area.
2-Distinctive geology
3-Well-Defined area ( 4,920,000 km2 )
4-The Crust must be thicker approx( 20km ) than found in Oceanic plates.
5-The land must have a thicker section of crust compared with the ocean floor.
6-It must have 'Well defined limits around a large enough area to be considered a continent rather than a microcontinent or continental fragment'.
..........................................................................................................................................................................
That's all for today.............Goodbye, Sayonara :)
Reference Cited :
1:http://www.geosociety.org/gsatoday/archive/27/3/article/GSATG321A.1.htm
2:http://earthsky.org/earth/lost-continent-zealandia-drilling-expedition-2017
3:https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/2887128/zealandia-new-eight-continent/
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