Around 60-85 million years ago, the land called Zealandia was separated from Australia. The landscape then formed New Zealand.
But not all Zealandian lands can be seen today. Much of the land has sunk beneath the Pacific Ocean. However, scientists believe that the land is a different continent.
To find out what happened along with its characteristics, more than 30 researchers from 12 countries came to learn it. They conduct research using high-tech research vessels.
For two months, they begin drilling the seabed or 4,000 feet below the surface. The result? The researchers collected an 8,000-foot-high sediment core to reveal geological processes over the last 70 years.
"The core (sediment) acts as a time machine to enable us to go further and further into the past, first to look at an ancient underwater landslide and then evidence of rocks forged from its flaming source," wrote Stephen Pekar, one of the scientists involved. from Futurism, Friday (29/09/2017).
"You can imagine somewhere near Zealandia there are mountains that spew volcanoes and rolls of smoke," he added.
Not Just there, Pekar and colleagues also managed to get more than 8,000 fossils. Thus, the diversity of species that inhabit Zealandia before drowning can be described.
It is estimated that land animals once settled in Zealandia. This land is also a liaison between continents.
"The discovery of microscopic skeletons of organisms that live in warm shallow waters, and the spores and pollen from terrestrial plants, reveals that Zealandia's geography and climate is much different in the past," said a statement from Gerald Dickens, expedition leader.
The expedition is expected to bring a new understanding of life that is going on around the South Pacific. Before that, 30 researchers had to publish their analysis and tested by experts. The research ships are also ready to dig in New Zealand, Australia and Antarctica by 2018.
