Geologists claim to have discovered a new continent to the east of Australia: Zealandia. At 4.9 million square kilometres of land mass, 94 percent of which is under water, Zealandia would be the world's smallest continent.
地质学家声称，在澳洲以东发现了一块新大陆：西兰洲。西兰洲的陆地面积为490万平方公里，其中94%都浸没在水中，是世界上面积最小的大陆。
The 11 scientists behind the claim presented their findings in the study "Zealandia: Earth's Hidden Continent" in Geological Society of America, making a case for Zealandia to be recognised as the world's eighth continent in its own right.
According to their study, the land mass comprises all the four attributes needed to be considered a continent, including the presence of different rock types and crucially "the high
elevation relative to regions floored by oceanic crust."
"It was not a sudden discovery but a gradual realisation," the scientists wrote.
The term Zealandia was coined by geophysicist Bruce Luyendyk in 1995, at which time it was believed to possess three of the four necessary qualities required for continent status. A recent discovery using satellite technology and gravity maps of the sea floor have revealed that Zealandia is a large
unified area, fulfilling all four requirements.
The political and economic implications of a new continent would be manifold, with the question of clearly defining what belongs to New Zealand and Australia particularly salient in light of
offshore mining in the area.
A six-year study by the GNS Science research institute in New Zealand has revealed that there could be tens of billions of dollars worth of fossil fuels located off-shore in the region.
According to the study, the 94 percent of Zealandia currently submerged broke away from Australia and sank 60-85 million years ago.
相关单词：geologists
geologists解释：地质学家，地质学者( geologist的名词复数 )
geologists例句：
Geologists uncovered the hidden riches. 地质学家发现了地下的宝藏。
Geologists study the structure of the rocks. 地质学家研究岩石结构。
相关单词：elevation
elevation解释：n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高
elevation例句：
The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。
相关单词：unified
unified解释：(unify 的过去式和过去分词)； 统一的； 统一标准的； 一元化的
unified例句：
The teacher unified the answer of her pupil with hers. 老师核对了学生的答案。
The First Emperor of Qin unified China in 221 B.C. 秦始皇于公元前221年统一中国。
相关单词：offshore
offshore解释：adj.海面的，吹向海面的；adv.向海面
offshore例句：
A big program of oil exploration has begun offshore.一个大规模的石油勘探计划正在近海展开。
A gentle current carried them slowly offshore.和缓的潮流慢慢地把他们带离了海岸。
