Why Will Maps Look Different in 50 Million Years?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why will maps look different in 50 million years?

The Big Idea

Maps will look different in 50 million years, because plates keep moving! We cannot see it, because the change is so slow. But scientists can predict the pattern, using GPS and what they know about plates.

Atlantic Grows

Step one: the oceans change. The Atlantic Ocean is slowly getting wider. The Pacific Ocean is slowly getting smaller, because its edges are sinking into trenches.

Africa Splits

Step two: Africa may split. East Africa may split off from the rest of Africa along the East African Rift. A new ocean could fill in the gap, in the far future.

Australia Moves

Step three: Australia drifts. Australia is drifting north toward Asia. In 50 million years the coastlines may look very different, though we can only predict the pattern, not the details.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! The Atlantic is growing wider. The Pacific is slowly shrinking. East Africa may break away. And Australia is heading north, a few centimeters every year.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Continents change places too slowly for us to notice. A plate moving 5 centimeters a year moves 2,500 kilometers in 50 million years. That is close to the distance from Toronto to Calgary. Scientists use GPS to predict the pattern.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Sketch what you think the world map might look like in 50 million years. Make the Atlantic wider, and move Australia north. Remember, this is a pattern, not an exact prediction. Nobody knows every detail. Explain one change to a friend.

Outro

Plates keep moving, so the map keeps changing. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!