What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast

The Earth’s surface is under permanent alteration with the area of some nations growing or shrinking due to natural or man-made processes, for example sea level change. Here, based on the NUVEL 1A model, we forecast (in 10, 25, and 50 years) the changes in area for countries that are located on the...

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Main Authors: Kamil Maciuk, Michal Apollo, Anita Kukulska-Kozieł, Paulina Lewińska
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-11-01
Series:Remote Sensing
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4872
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author Kamil Maciuk
Michal Apollo
Anita Kukulska-Kozieł
Paulina Lewińska
author_facet Kamil Maciuk
Michal Apollo
Anita Kukulska-Kozieł
Paulina Lewińska
author_sort Kamil Maciuk
collection DOAJ
description The Earth’s surface is under permanent alteration with the area of some nations growing or shrinking due to natural or man-made processes, for example sea level change. Here, based on the NUVEL 1A model, we forecast (in 10, 25, and 50 years) the changes in area for countries that are located on the border of the major tectonic plates. In the analysis we identify countries that are projected to gain or lose land due to the tectonic plate movement only. Over the next 50 years, the global balance of area gains (0.4 km<sup>2</sup>) and losses (12.7 km<sup>2</sup>) is negative. Thus, due to the movements of lithospheric plates, the land surface of the Earth will decrease by 12 km<sup>2</sup> in 50 years. Overall, the changes are not that spectacular, as in the case of changes in sea/water levels, but in some smaller countries, projected losses exceed a few thousand square metres a year, e.g., in Nepal the losses exceed 10,000 m<sup>2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>. Methodologically, this paper finds itself between metric analysis and essay, trying to provoke useful academic discussion and incite educators’ interests to illustrate to students the tectonic movement and its force. Limitations of the used model have been discussed in the methodology section.
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spelling doaj.art-429678edbfaf4b3da6c35a82e2ef65f72023-11-23T02:57:39ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922021-11-011323487210.3390/rs13234872What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term ForecastKamil Maciuk0Michal Apollo1Anita Kukulska-Kozieł2Paulina Lewińska3Department of Integrated Geodesy and Cartography, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, PolandHNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College, Hainan University, Haikou 570228, ChinaDepartment of Land Management and Landscape Architecture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 30-149 Krakow, PolandDepartment of Engineering Surveying and Civil Engineering, AGH University of Science and Technology, 30-059 Krakow, PolandThe Earth’s surface is under permanent alteration with the area of some nations growing or shrinking due to natural or man-made processes, for example sea level change. Here, based on the NUVEL 1A model, we forecast (in 10, 25, and 50 years) the changes in area for countries that are located on the border of the major tectonic plates. In the analysis we identify countries that are projected to gain or lose land due to the tectonic plate movement only. Over the next 50 years, the global balance of area gains (0.4 km<sup>2</sup>) and losses (12.7 km<sup>2</sup>) is negative. Thus, due to the movements of lithospheric plates, the land surface of the Earth will decrease by 12 km<sup>2</sup> in 50 years. Overall, the changes are not that spectacular, as in the case of changes in sea/water levels, but in some smaller countries, projected losses exceed a few thousand square metres a year, e.g., in Nepal the losses exceed 10,000 m<sup>2</sup> year<sup>−1</sup>. Methodologically, this paper finds itself between metric analysis and essay, trying to provoke useful academic discussion and incite educators’ interests to illustrate to students the tectonic movement and its force. Limitations of the used model have been discussed in the methodology section.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4872tectonicsplate movementareacountry size
spellingShingle Kamil Maciuk
Michal Apollo
Anita Kukulska-Kozieł
Paulina Lewińska
What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
Remote Sensing
tectonics
plate movement
area
country size
title What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
title_full What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
title_fullStr What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
title_full_unstemmed What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
title_short What Is the Impact of Tectonic Plate Movement on Country Size? A Long-Term Forecast
title_sort what is the impact of tectonic plate movement on country size a long term forecast
topic tectonics
plate movement
area
country size
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/13/23/4872
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