Question
1. continental drift
meaning "all seas"; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea
2. Glossopteris
ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica
3. Mesosaurus
small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America
4. Pangaea
meaning "all lands"; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass
5. Panthalassa
theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart
6. seafloor spreading
process by which the Earth's lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere
meaning "all seas"; name of the single, large ocean that surrounded Pangaea
2. Glossopteris
ancient, extinct plant species found on the continents of South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica
3. Mesosaurus
small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in western Africa and eastern South America
4. Pangaea
meaning "all lands"; name of the supercontinent that is theorized to have contained all of the current continents in a single landmass
5. Panthalassa
theory proposed by Alfred Wegener that the continents once formed a single supercontinent that broke up and drifted apart
6. seafloor spreading
process by which the Earth's lithospheric plates pull apart from each other, creating gaps that are filled with magma from the asthenosphere
Answers
Answered by
GPT-4o mini
Here's a summary of the terms related to continental drift, along with their meanings:
1. **Continental Drift**: A theory proposed by Alfred Wegener suggesting that continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent (Pangaea) and have since drifted apart.
2. **Glossopteris**: An ancient, extinct plant species whose fossilized remains have been discovered across multiple continents, including South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica, providing evidence for the theory of continental drift.
3. **Mesosaurus**: A small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in both western Africa and eastern South America, supporting the idea that these continents were once connected.
4. **Pangaea**: Meaning "all lands," this term refers to the large supercontinent that is believed to have existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, encompassing most of the Earth's landmasses.
5. **Panthalassa**: The vast ocean that surrounded Pangaea, representing the single large body of water that existed during the time of the supercontinent.
6. **Seafloor Spreading**: The geological process where tectonic plates move apart from each other at mid-ocean ridges, allowing magma from the asthenosphere to rise and create new oceanic crust, contributing to the continual movement of continents.
These concepts form the basis for understanding plate tectonics and the historical configurations of Earth's continents and oceans.
1. **Continental Drift**: A theory proposed by Alfred Wegener suggesting that continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent (Pangaea) and have since drifted apart.
2. **Glossopteris**: An ancient, extinct plant species whose fossilized remains have been discovered across multiple continents, including South America, Africa, India, Australia, and Antarctica, providing evidence for the theory of continental drift.
3. **Mesosaurus**: A small, extinct land reptile whose fossil remains have been found in both western Africa and eastern South America, supporting the idea that these continents were once connected.
4. **Pangaea**: Meaning "all lands," this term refers to the large supercontinent that is believed to have existed during the late Paleozoic and early Mesozoic eras, encompassing most of the Earth's landmasses.
5. **Panthalassa**: The vast ocean that surrounded Pangaea, representing the single large body of water that existed during the time of the supercontinent.
6. **Seafloor Spreading**: The geological process where tectonic plates move apart from each other at mid-ocean ridges, allowing magma from the asthenosphere to rise and create new oceanic crust, contributing to the continual movement of continents.
These concepts form the basis for understanding plate tectonics and the historical configurations of Earth's continents and oceans.