One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
The Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving, shifting the positions of the continents over millions of years. As a result, the present shapes of the continents do not fit perfectly into a supercontinent like Pangaea due to the ongoing process of plate tectonics causing changes in their positions and shapes. Additionally, erosion and other geological processes have also played a role in altering the landmasses' shapes over time.
The present shapes of the continents don't fit perfectly into a supercontinent because the Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving due to the process of plate tectonics. This movement causes the continents to drift apart or collide, leading to the current configuration of the continents that no longer resemble a single supercontinent like Pangaea.
The present shape of the continents does not fit perfectly into the shape of a supercontinent because the Earth's tectonic plates are constantly moving. These movements are driven by processes like plate tectonics and convection currents in the mantle, causing the continents to drift apart, collide, and rearrange over millions of years. This results in the continents having different shapes and positions compared to when they were part of a single supercontinent like Pangaea.
One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
Over time, the Earth's tectonic plates have shifted and moved due to processes like seafloor spreading, subduction, and transform faults. This movement has caused the continents to break apart and drift, leading to their current positions which no longer perfectly fit together to form a supercontinent like Pangaea. Additionally, erosion and other geological processes have altered the shapes of the continents.
One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
One reason is because the Coastlines of land masses change over time. If you map the edges of the continental shelves, the fit is much better.
Over time, the Earth's tectonic plates have shifted and moved due to processes like seafloor spreading, subduction, and transform faults. This movement has caused the continents to break apart and drift, leading to their current positions which no longer perfectly fit together to form a supercontinent like Pangaea. Additionally, erosion and other geological processes have altered the shapes of the continents.
Sea level changes, erosion, sedimentation, and uplift and subsidence of the surface can change the shapes of costlines. It has been dound that the present day continental shelves acutally fit together better than the coastlines. This makes sense, as when Pangaea rifted apart, the land immediately around the rifts would have dropped below sea level.
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
As the continents moved further apart, natural erosion of the Coastlines removed and added to the basic shape over billions of years. Much of the evidence relates to the similarities of plants and animals found on now separate continents. Geological evidence points to Antarctica was once further north and had a tropical climate!
They would fit roughly together but not perfectly due to years and years of erosion. As evident as Africa and So. America are that they were once joined. Erosion does not work. Even with that they will not fit. Try it with cut outs. But shrink the size of the earths sphere to about 1/2 its size today and they fit perfect.
What scientific disciplines records the shapes and locations of continents
they can increase or move the size of the continents
The shapes of continents appearing on the map clearly show similar shapes and how the continents might fit together.
What scientific disciplines records the shapes and locations of continents