The continental drift may obliterate the Pacific Ocean many years from now, pushing North America into physical contact with Asia. The types of effects these events have on the organisms living at that time. Introduction: The continental drift theory states that the continents of the earth have moved over geological time with respect to each other and they seem to have drifted over the ocean bed. This theory was first given by Abraham Ortelius in 1596. The continental theory was included in the plate tectonic theory, according to which the movement of the continents takes place due to disturbances in the position of the earth’s lithosphere plates.

Question

Want to see the full answer?

Answer 1

Question

Chapter 23, Problem 12TYK

Summary Introduction

To review:

The continental drift may obliterate the Pacific Ocean many years from now, pushing North America into physical contact with Asia. The types of effects these events have on the organisms living at that time.

Introduction:

The continental drift theory states that the continents of the earth have moved over geological time with respect to each other and they seem to have drifted over the ocean bed. This theory was first given by Abraham Ortelius in 1596. The continental theory was included in the plate tectonic theory, according to which the movement of the continents takes place due to disturbances in the position of the earth’s lithosphere plates.

Expert Solution & Answer

Want to see the full answer?

Check out a sample textbook solution

See solution

Students have asked these similar questions

Scientists are examining the possible role of a large asteroid in the cretaceous mass extinction event. A large asteroid strike would likely have caused rapid climate cooling and the diffusion of sunlight. which of the following statements are the best null and alternative hypotheses when scientists look at the geologic evidence of extinction related to the asteroid strike?

The Permian extinction, which was the second most recent mass extinction, occurred about 251 million years ago. What is the leading hypothesis to explain the Permian extenction? An asteroid about 6 km in diameter collided with Earth, which vaporized the caribbean ocean, set fire to north and south America, and expelled enough dust into the atmosphere to block the sun enough to result in a winter like environment all across the globe for several years The Indian sub-continent collided with the Asian techtonic plate, giving rise to the Hymalayan mountains which altered the jet stream and caused the planet to enter an ice age Massive amounts of volcanic activity released tons of CO2, enough to significantly increase the temperature of the planet A new group of predators evolved that were significantly better at capturing prey, to the point that they drove many species (including other predators and eventually themselves) to extinction

The illustration shows roughly how changes in Earth's crust have moved the continents over time. The time line at the base of the figure shows the general geologic periods and eras for each of the continental configurations shown. The faint lines drawn through the ancient supercontinents of Gondwana, Pangea, and Laurasia outline the modern continents that these supercontinents contained. The color difference between the continents helps to draw your attention to which continents formed Gondwana (twice) and which continents formed Laurasia. Imagine that a species of flightless bird lived on the supercontinent Laurasia during the Jurassic period. By the end of the Jurassic period, however, this species had gone extinct. Based on the image above, on which modern-day continents would you expect to find fossils of this species? Check all that apply. South America Europe-Asia North America Australia