Supercontinents (ATOS 10.0)

Supercontinents

It is widely known that the seven continents on Earth were once connected together as the supercontinent, Pangaea. Pangaea occurred roughly 250 Ma (million years ago). The supercontinent began to shift and separate about 200 Ma, and they continue to drift apart to this day. While Pangaea is Earth's most recent supercontinent, it is not the first. Approximately 1Ga (billion years ago) the supercontinent of Rodinia dominated Earth. Preceding Rodinia, supercontinent Columbia existed 1.8 Ga. Geologists believe Earth will continue to cycle between continental drift and supercontinents as long as it has an active core shifting the tectonic plates which support the landmasses.