One reason we see several earthquakes and shifts in our ecosystems is that the earth is constantly moving. However, the colliding of Australia and Asia has caught the researchers’ attention. Australia is the main focus here because it is moving faster and this collision could happen sooner than we think. It is shifting northward at a speed of 7 centimetres per year, according to geologists.
After calculating and observing, researchers state that in the next 50 million years both continents will merge and possibly become one, and this will change the geological system of the Earth. In case you are wondering, this process is called continental drift, where tectonic plates move beneath the earth’s surface. In the process of Australia moving upwards, it is already colliding with the islands of Southeast Asia.
Australia and Asia: The history of the fastest continental collision
Tectonic shifts are normal and common; however, the reason why this one stands out is because of the pace at which it is transpiring. According to research, continental shifts take hundreds of millions of years to change and shape the earth’s surface, but in this case, it is not. There is even an analysis that this movement is moving at a pace similar to the growth of a human being’s nail; now that is pretty fast.
Here is a quick historical fact, in case you did not know. About 80 million years ago, Australia shifted away from Antarctica, and since then it has been shifting northward. Scientists say that the journey is not over yet. Australia’s rapid movement is concerning, especially for the ecosystems, the marine life and all that. What will happen to the natural habitats?
The implications for Australia and Asia’s future merge
There are quite a number of consequences that follow this tectonic continental shift. For instance, people, wildlife, agriculture, and the marine world, just to mention a few. All these will be greatly affected because the climate conditions will also change dramatically. Desert places, urban areas and buildings, and when earthquakes strike, it will be so devastating.
Unfortunately, it is out of our control. As Australia’s distinctive fauna, including kangaroos, koalas, and other indigenous species, encounters new environmental stresses, biodiversity will also be impacted. This will affect them because of the readjustments that these animals need to make to cope with the biodiversity of Asia. According to Daily Galaxy, it could also lead to some animals being extinct if they struggle to adapt.
Technology will be affected by this continental shift and drift
We have mentioned the effects on people and the geographical landscapes, but we also need to understand that technology is affected too. By technology, I do not mean in the future, but currently, because this is a present event transpiring. Take for instance, that in 2016, researchers found that the migration of the continent caused Australia’s entire GPS coordinate system to be 1.8 meters (5.9 feet) wrong.
To maintain the accuracy of GPS systems, Australia was forced to modify its official coordinates by 1.8 meters (5.9 feet). Therefore, as the world is in constant movement, it does disrupt the satellites and technologies put in place and they will need constant updates because it might have a big impact on precision farming, driverless cars, and aviation, where even small errors might cause serious problems.
A sneak peek at the far future
Despite the fact that these tectonic plates will manifest millions of years later, today we are feeling the effects. Scientists should continue monitoring these movements to inform and warn residents if something more dangerous is coming as a result of this shift. At the moment Australians should not worry much about waking up and being on a new continent; they just need to be vigilant. (Australian plate – Wikipedia)