Australian plate facts for kids
The Australian Plate is like a giant piece of a puzzle that makes up Earth's outer layer. This puzzle piece is a major tectonic plate. It is part of an even bigger puzzle piece called the Indo-Australian Plate. Australia sits right in the middle of this plate. It is very stable, meaning it does not have many earthquakes or volcanoes compared to other places.
Scientists used to think the Australian Plate and the Indian Plate were one big plate. But now, they know they are two separate plates. This was confirmed in a science journal called Earth and Planetary Science Letters (Volume 133).
Contents
What Are Tectonic Plates?
Earth's outer shell is not one solid piece. Instead, it is broken into many large and small sections. These sections are called tectonic plates. They are always slowly moving. This movement causes things like earthquakes, volcanoes, and the formation of mountains.
Where is the Australian Plate Located?
The Australian Plate covers a huge area. It includes the entire continent of Australia. It also extends far into the Indian Ocean. This plate stretches from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific Ocean. It touches other plates, like the Pacific Plate and the Antarctic Plate.
Is the Australian Plate Moving?
Yes, all tectonic plates are always moving. The Australian Plate is moving northwards. It is moving at a speed of about 7 centimeters (2.8 inches) per year. This is roughly the same speed your fingernails grow! Even though it moves, the land on top of it, like Australia, feels very stable. This is because it is far from the edges where plates crash or pull apart.
Australian Plate and Indian Plate: Two Separate Pieces
For a long time, scientists thought the Australian Plate and the Indian Plate were joined. They called it the Indo-Australian Plate. However, new research shows they are actually two different plates. There is a slow-moving boundary between them. This boundary is in the middle of the Indian Ocean. This discovery helps us better understand how Earth's surface changes over time.
