Mapping Zealand: Scientists explore the seabed off the coast of Australia in hopes of unraveling the mystery of Earth’s eighth “hidden” continent that sank into the sea 23 million years ago
- The “lost” continent of Zealand was first identified by geologists in 2014
- Australian and American experts have mapped the depths of northwestern Zealand
- The team collected a total of 4,286 square miles of bathymetric data
- It will be used by the 2030 Sea Fund project to build a map of the world’s oceans
Scientists have explored the seabed in Australia to unravel the mystery of Zealand, the eighth “lost” continent to sink into the sea 23 million years ago.
The deepest continent – of which New Zealand and New Caledonia remain above the waves – was first identified by geologists in 2014.
Australian and American experts have just spent 28 days at sea on the research vessel Falkor which mapped the depth of the seabed at the north-western edge of Zealand.
They collected bathymetric data worth 14,286 square miles (37,000 square kilometers) that they provided to the 2030 Maritime Fund project.
This effort aims to produce a public bathymetric map of the entire ocean floor of the world by 2030.
Scientists have explored the Australian seabed to unravel the mystery of Zealand (pictured), the eighth “lost” continent to sink into the sea 23 million years ago.
Australian and American experts have just spent 28 days at sea on the research vessel Falkor (pictured, with expedition leader Derya Gürer in the foreground) mapping the depths of the ocean floor at the north-western edge of Zeeland in Coral Sea Marine Park
“We are just beginning to discover the secrets of Zealand – it has remained hidden from view until recently and is notoriously difficult to study,” said expedition leader and geologist Derya Gürer of the University of Queensland.
“Zealandia is a mass almost entirely submerged by continental crust that subsided after separating from Gondwanaland 83 to 79 million years ago.”
Gondwanaland is the name given to the supercontinent that included such land masses that we would recognize as South America, Africa and Antarctica.
It formed about 550 million years ago, before becoming part of the larger supercontinent in Pangea and began 180 million years ago.
Zealandia, Dr. Gürer continued, “covers 4.9 million square kilometers [1.9 million square miles] and is about three times larger than Queensland.
“Our expedition collected topographic and magnetic data on the seabed to better understand how the narrow link formed between Tasman and Coral Seas in the Cato Trough region, the corridor between Australia and Zealand.”
“The seabed is full of clues to understand the complex geological history of both the Australian and Zeeland mainland plates.
These data will also improve our understanding of the complex structure of the crust between Australian and Zeeland plates.
“It is believed to include several small continental fragments or microcontinents that have been separated in the past by Australia and the Gondwana supercontinent.”
The mostly sunken continent – of which New Zealand and New Caledonia remain above the waves – was first identified by geologists in 2014. In the image, a tectonic map of the continent of Zealand of 1,930,511 square miles, only a small part from which it is outside on land. On the map, the continental crust is shown in shades of red, orange, yellow and brown, while the oceanic crust is shaded in blue. The crust of the volcanic island’s arc is pink, while the great magmatic provinces are green
While conducting their bathymetric study in the Coral Marine Park, the researchers took the opportunity to study seabirds and also to monitor the microplastic pollution transmitted by the ocean. In the picture: the researchers took samples for microplastics in the wet laboratory
While conducting their bathymetric study in the Coral Marine Park, the researchers took the opportunity to study seabirds and also to monitor the microplastic pollution transmitted by the ocean.
“Through the ship’s ongoing seawater flow system, we analyzed more than 100 samples for microplastics, in addition to 40 samples collected in a previous voyage,” said Tara Jonell, an earth scientist. also from the University of Queensland.
“A single sample did not contain any visible microplastics,” she added.
According to Dr. Gürer – who is also involved in a citizen science project to combat marine plastic pollution – a clear message was found in the seawater, which was collected at depths of up to 3.5 kilometers.
“There seems to be a higher concentration of microplastic fibers in the deep ocean,” she explained.
ZEALANDIA: “LOST” THE 8TH CONTINENT OF THE EARTH
In the picture, the continent of Zealand
“Zealandia” – also known as “Te Riu-a-Māui” in te reo Māori – is a mass largely submerged by continental crust.
Zealand sank when it broke away from the Gondwanaland supercontinent about 83-79 million years ago.
The concept of Zealandia was first proposed in 1995, but was only recognized as a continent in 2017.
It is twice as large as the largest micro-continent and also meets continental criteria for crust thickness and density.