Lateral density variations within the continental areas of Australia and India were found to have a significant effect on the regional stress field in these areas. Predicted stresses for several areas of the plates were found to be robust for a large range in the magnitude of applied boundary forces, including the central India Ocean and northwest Australia. In contrast, stresses in southeast Australia were found to be sensitive to the forces acting along the eastern plate boundary about which little is understood. In as much as a wide range of boundary conditions can be configured to match the large portion of the observed intraplate stress field, the problem is poorly constrained. Predicted stresses for Model 4 incorporating ridge push, collisional boundary and subduction zone forces.
Solid bars indicate deviatoric compression, open arrows indicate deviatoric tension.