paleogeography
Past continental arrangements
Paleogeography is the study of how the Earth's surface—continents, oceans, mountains, climates—was arranged in past geological ages.
The field reconstructs ancient landscapes and continental positions, showing how landmasses drifted and merged over millions of years: Paleogeography reveals that India was once joined to Antarctica.
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
- plate tectonicsEarth's crust mobility theory
rifting · breakup · assembly · craton · terrane · landmass · Zealandia · Columbia
Remnant magnetism in rocks
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- modelingSimulating or demonstrating form
Earliest geological eon
- ArcheanEarliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
- MesozoicAge of Reptiles
Cenozoic · Cambrian · Ordovician · Silurian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic
Past geological climate conditions
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
- glaciationIce sheet spreading process
- interglacialEpoch between major freezes
- hothouseHeated growing enclosure
Greek sea titaness
- seawayMaritime shipping route
- continental shelfSubmerged perimeter of landmass
- ocean basinLarge undersea geological depression
- mid-ocean ridgeSubmarine volcanic mountain range
Flat highland area
- basinConcave water receptacle
- coastal plainFlat terrain bordering ocean
- floodplainFlood-prone riverside lowland
- deltaSymbol denoting variation
Native to one area
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- land bridgeTerrain joining two continents
- migration corridorRoute for seasonal animal movement
Pangaea
Prehistoric unified landmass
- GondwanaAncient southern supercontinent
- supercontinentCombined planetary landmass
- continental driftGradual landmass repositioning
plate tectonics · rifting · breakup · assembly · craton · terrane · landmass · Zealandia · Columbia
paleomagnetism
Remnant magnetism in rocks
- stratigraphyStudy of rock layers
- sedimentologyStudy of geological deposits
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
modeling · isostasy · orogeny · provenance
Precambrian
Earliest geological eon
- ArcheanEarliest geological eon
- ProterozoicEon before complex life
- PaleozoicEarly complex-life epoch
Mesozoic · Cenozoic · Cambrian · Ordovician · Silurian · Devonian · Carboniferous · Permian · Triassic · Jurassic
paleoclimate
Past geological climate conditions
- ice ageEra of massive glaciation
- glaciationIce sheet spreading process
- interglacialEpoch between major freezes
hothouse · icehouse · Pleistocene · Holocene · Quaternary
Tethys
Greek sea titaness
- seawayMaritime shipping route
- continental shelfSubmerged perimeter of landmass
- ocean basinLarge undersea geological depression
plateau
Flat highland area
- basinConcave water receptacle
- coastal plainFlat terrain bordering ocean
- floodplainFlood-prone riverside lowland
endemic
Native to one area
- dispersalSpreading in many directions
- land bridgeTerrain joining two continents
- migration corridorRoute for seasonal animal movement
geography, geographical, geographic, geographer, geographers, paleo, biogeography, biogeographic, biogeographers