Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift

Unit 2 Discussion
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Unit 2: Plate Tectonics and Continental Drift
Part A
Scientists predict that Africa is going to smash into Europe as Australia migrates north to merge with Asia. Meanwhile the Atlantic Ocean will probably widen for a spell before it reverses course and later disappears. View this link https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast06oct_1 (Links to an external site.) for information related to the above statement, then research additional information about present plate motion to predict future continental positions. Using the information that you find, discuss the landmass formation that will occur if they have predicted correctly. What significant change may occur if this would happen? What changes would occur if this were to happen quickly in today’s world?
Part B
“Two hundred and fifty million years ago the land masses of Earth were clustered into one supercontinent dubbed Pangea. As Yogi Berra might say, it looks like “deja vu all over again” as the present-day continents slowly converge during the next 250 million years to form another mega-continent: Pangea Ultima”. Use this link https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#470 (Links to an external site.) to see what Earth looked like where you live today. In the top left corner submit the name of your city, state, and country and review what Earth looked like many years ago. Share with your classmates what Earth looked like from your location. In the upper right hand corner you can also research the different events that took place over thousands of years past. What did the continents look like during the Juriassic Period?
Be sure you post your initial response by Thursday at 11:59 PM. Then respond to two classmates by Sunday at 11:59 PM.

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Part A
Discuss the landmass formation that will occur if they have predicted correctly.
According to a geologist, Dr. Christopher Scotese from the University of Texas at Arlington predicted 250 million years from now, the world’s landmass will collide into one supercontinent called “Pangea Ultima.” The continents will move closer together in the future like they once did before million years ago.
What significant change may occur if this would happen?
The earth’s surface will slowly shift into a process called “plate tectonics.” Africa will collide with Europe. Scotese predicts that Italy, Greece, and almost everything in the Mediterranean will be part of the African plate. Australia will move north and collide with Southeastern Asia. The Americas will shift further away from Africa and Europe, which creates a more immense Atlantic Ocean. Because of the widening of the Atlantic, geologists predict that the “subduction zone” will form on the east or west edges of the ocean.
What changes would occur if this were to happen quickly in today’s world?
If the changes continue to happen in today’s world, the subduction zone will continue to shift, and the west side will pull the seafloor into the earth’s mantle. The Atlantic will become smaller and shrink. Then the Americas will emerge with Europe and Africa continent causing the inland ocean to be trapped.
Part B
In the top left corner submit the name of your city, state, and country and review what Earth looked like many years ago. Share with your classmates what Earth looked like from your location.
20 million years ago in Lake Stevens, Washington, United States, Earth looked similar to today’s Earth. North America didn’t change much. However, I saw little coastline during that period because it is entirely underwater. 20 million years ago was also the Neocene Period. Mammals and birds continued to evolve into modern forms. Early hominids emerged in Africa.
In the upper right hand corner you can also research the different events that took place over thousands of years past. What did the continents look like during the Jurassic Period?
170 million years ago, the continents were closer together using my current location in Lake Stevens, Washington, United States. There was more greenery in the image. In the Jurassic Period, the climate was warm and had no polar ice caps. We know it as the Early Cretaceous. There were giant reptiles, small mammals, and flowering plants that evolved, spreading throughout the world.
References
https://dinosaurpictures.org/ancient-earth#470 (Links to an external site.)
https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2000/ast06oct_1

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