Amasia (continent)
Encyclopedia
Amasia is a possible future supercontinent
that could be formed by the merger of Asia
and North America
and is an alternative to Pangaea Ultima
. This relies mostly on the fact that the Pacific Plate
is already subducting under Eurasia and North America
, a process which if continued will eventually cause it to close. Meanwhile, because of the Atlantic
mid-ocean ridge
, North America would be pushed westward. Thus, the Atlantic at some point in the future would be larger than the Pacific. In Siberia
, the boundary between the Eurasian
and North American Plate
s has been stationary for millions of years. The combination of these factors would cause North America to be combined with Asia, thus forming a supercontinent.
Roy Livermore, now at the University of Cambridge, in the late 1990s created Novopangea, assuming closure of the Pacific, docking of Australia with eastern Asia, and northward motion of Antarctica. Amasia, Novopangea, and Pangea Proxima
are discussed in the book Supercontinent by Ted Nield, and illustrated in "Pangaea, the comeback" in the New Scientist magazine issued 20 October 2007.
Supercontinent
In geology, a supercontinent is a landmass comprising more than one continental core, or craton. The assembly of cratons and accreted terranes that form Eurasia qualifies as a supercontinent today.-History:...
that could be formed by the merger of Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and is an alternative to Pangaea Ultima
Pangaea Ultima
Pangaea Ultima is a possible future supercontinent configuration and an alternative to the Amasia supercontinent. Consistent with the supercontinent cycle, Pangaea Ultima could occur within the next 250 million years...
. This relies mostly on the fact that the Pacific Plate
Pacific Plate
The Pacific Plate is an oceanic tectonic plate that lies beneath the Pacific Ocean. At 103 million square kilometres, it is the largest tectonic plate....
is already subducting under Eurasia and North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
, a process which if continued will eventually cause it to close. Meanwhile, because of the Atlantic
Atlantic Ocean
The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest of the world's oceanic divisions. With a total area of about , it covers approximately 20% of the Earth's surface and about 26% of its water surface area...
mid-ocean ridge
Mid-ocean ridge
A mid-ocean ridge is a general term for an underwater mountain system that consists of various mountain ranges , typically having a valley known as a rift running along its spine, formed by plate tectonics. This type of oceanic ridge is characteristic of what is known as an oceanic spreading...
, North America would be pushed westward. Thus, the Atlantic at some point in the future would be larger than the Pacific. In Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
, the boundary between the Eurasian
Eurasian Plate
The Eurasian Plate is a tectonic plate which includes most of the continent of Eurasia , with the notable exceptions of the Indian subcontinent, the Arabian subcontinent, and the area east of the Chersky Range in East Siberia...
and North American Plate
North American Plate
The North American Plate is a tectonic plate covering most of North America, Greenland, Cuba, Bahamas, and parts of Siberia, Japan and Iceland. It extends eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Chersky Range in eastern Siberia. The plate includes both continental and oceanic crust...
s has been stationary for millions of years. The combination of these factors would cause North America to be combined with Asia, thus forming a supercontinent.
Roy Livermore, now at the University of Cambridge, in the late 1990s created Novopangea, assuming closure of the Pacific, docking of Australia with eastern Asia, and northward motion of Antarctica. Amasia, Novopangea, and Pangea Proxima
Pangaea Ultima
Pangaea Ultima is a possible future supercontinent configuration and an alternative to the Amasia supercontinent. Consistent with the supercontinent cycle, Pangaea Ultima could occur within the next 250 million years...
are discussed in the book Supercontinent by Ted Nield, and illustrated in "Pangaea, the comeback" in the New Scientist magazine issued 20 October 2007.