Geologists discovered that the largest coal deposits were formed around 300 million years ago. How did this observation support the theory of plate tectonics?(1 point)

Question

Responses

Around that time, those regions were located on arid plateaus in temperate regions.
Around that time, those regions were located on arid plateaus in temperate regions.

Around that time, those regions were located near the south pole where coal would likely have formed.
Around that time, those regions were located near the south pole where coal would likely have formed.

Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.
Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.

Around that time, it is thought that those regions were located along the ridge of a long mountain chain.

Answer 1

The correct response that supports the theory of plate tectonics is:

Around that time, those regions were located in tropical climates that were partially submerged on the coasts.

This observation supports the theory of plate tectonics because it implies that the continents were positioned differently in the past, allowing for the formation of coal deposits in tropical environments where vegetation could thrive and later be buried and transformed into coal. This aligns with plate tectonics, which explains the movement and interaction of Earth's lithospheric plates over geological time.