GSA Today
Zealandia: Earth’s Hidden Continent
Cover Image
2 GNS Science, P.O. Box 30368, Lower Hutt 5040, New Zealand
3 SGEES, Victoria University of Wellington, P.O. Box 600, Wellington 6140, New Zealand
4 Service Géologique de Nouvelle Calédonie, B.P. 465, Nouméa 98845, New Caledonia
5 School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
Abstract
A 4.9 Mkm
2 region of the southwest Pacific Ocean is made up of continental crust. The region has elevated bathymetry relative to surrounding oceanic crust, diverse and silica-rich rocks, and relatively thick and low-velocity crustal structure. Its isolation from Australia and large area support its definition as a continent Zealandia. Zealandia was formerly part of Gondwana. Today it is 94% submerged, mainly as a result of widespread Late Cretaceous crustal thinning preceding supercontinent breakup and consequent isostatic balance. The identification of Zealandia as a geological continent, rather than a collectio
Friday, 19 February 2021, 6:51 pm
NASA has landed a car-sized rover on the red planet to
search for signs of past life.
The vehicle has more
instruments than the four rovers preceding it, and it’s
also carrying gear that could help pave the way for human
exploration of Mars.
The SMC asked experts to comment
on the landing.
Dr Duncan Steel, space scientist,
comments:
“The successful landing by NASA of its
Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars was a triumph of
engineering and technology, which we anticipate will lead to
major scientific advances. The complicated series of
automated manoeuvres that brought it down in speed from 6
Press Release – Science Media Centre NASA has landed a car-sized rover on the red planet to search for signs of past life. The vehicle has more instruments than the four rovers preceding it, and its also carrying gear that could help pave the way for human exploration of Mars. The …
NASA has landed a car-sized rover on the red planet to search for signs of past life.
The vehicle has more instruments than the four rovers preceding it, and it’s also carrying gear that could help pave the way for human exploration of Mars.
The SMC asked experts to comment on the landing.