Why in the News?
A hidden landmass, called the Davis Strait proto-microcontinent, has been discovered beneath the icy waters between Canada’s Baffin Island and Greenland.
About the Davis Strait Proto-Microcontinent:
- The Davis Strait Proto-Microcontinent is a hypothesised landmass located in the Davis Strait, believed to have existed during the Paleozoic era.
- It is composed of 19–24 km thick thinned continental crust, surrounded by two narrow bands of 15–17 km thick continental crust.
- It is thought to have broken apart due to tectonic movements.
- Geological evidence, including similarities in rock formations and tectonic features found in Greenland and parts of the Canadian Arctic, supports the idea of this ancient landmass.
- While its exact nature and extent remain debated, the proto-microcontinent is crucial for understanding the tectonic processes that shaped the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding regions.
About Davis Strait:
- The Davis Strait is a large body of water located between southeastern Baffin Island (Canada) and southwestern Greenland, serving as part of the Northwest Passage.
- It separates the Baffin Bay (to the north) from the Labrador Sea (to the south), and it connects the Atlantic Ocean and Arctic Ocean through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.
- It is an important maritime route for shipping and trade.
- Named after John Davis, the English explorer who navigated the area in the late 16th century, the Davis Strait plays a significant role in the tectonic evolution of the Arctic region.
| [UPSC 2013] Consider the following:
(1). Electromagnetic radiation (2). Geothermal energy (3). Gravitational force (4). Plate movements (5). Rotation of the earth (6). Revolution of the earth Which of the above are responsible for bringing dynamic changes on the surface of the earth? Options: (a) 1 only (b) 2 and 3 only (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None* |
Get an IAS/IPS ranker as your 1: 1 personal mentor for UPSC 2024
