The ‘hidden continent’ of nearly 2 million square miles that could change climate science
A nearly submerged continent that once had an area larger than India.
The world hides far more than meets the eye, and Zealandia, a nearly submerged continent, is one of its most striking secrets. It began to sink after separating from Asia 60 to 85 million years ago and from Antarctica 130 to 185 million years ago. Where is it located? Beneath the Pacific Ocean. At its greatest extent it covered around 4.9 million square kilometres, making it larger than present-day India.
Only 6% of Zealandia’s surface lies above water, corresponding to the islands of New Zealand and New Caledonia. This long isolation from the other continents has produced a unique flora and fauna.
A continent’s climate history is etched into its rocks, but when most of it is submerged, collecting samples becomes far more difficult. In Zealandia’s case, however, the material recovered has yielded a wealth of data about past climates. These findings are scientifically significant and will help refine climate models.
Research on this hidden continent shows that between 41 and 53 million years ago, during the Eocene, several warming events occurred. Marine ecosystems responded differently in each case, depending on the degree of temperature rise. These unexpected shifts, echoes of past mechanisms, are crucial for anticipating the future effects of climate change.
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Zealandia offers a rare glimpse into how the oceans functioned in a warmer world and is helping scientists rethink their climate models.
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