Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 3.2. Cenozoic plate movements. (After Williams et al.,
1998
,
fig. 2.2
.)
from about one-tenth of the basin area, namely the mountainous headwaters, and the
same is true of other major river systems originating in recently uplifted mountain
catchments (Gibbs,
1967
; Milliman and Meade,
1983
; Milliman,
1997
;Inametal.,
2007
; Meade,
2007
; Singh,
2007
). Continued weathering would cause a slow but
progressive removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, promoting cooling of
the lower atmosphere.
The separation of Australia from Antarctica and its northward movement at the
fingernail growth rate of 5-6 cm/year brought Australia into subtropical latitudes
characterised by dry subsiding air. The eastern margin of Australia moved across one
or more stationary litho-thermal plumes, or hotspots, giving rise to volcanic activity
