Rocks of the oceanic crust tend to be heavier than those of the continental crust. When the heavy oceanic rocks of the Pacific Plate meet the lighter continental rocks of the Australian Plate (along the North Island’s east coast), they dive (subduct) beneath the Australian Plate. This process influences and largely explains the varied shape of the New Zealand sea floor.
Using this item
Permission of GNS Science must be obtained before any use of this image.
Add new comment