Drifted Supercontinent!

bbbbbbbbbbbbQ18. What do the Glossopteris fossils tell us about the early positions of the continents?

Glossopteris fossils tell us that the continents especially Southern Africa, Australia, India and Antarctica which are now separated by wide oceans were once connected because the large seeds of this plant could not possibly travel a long journey by the wind or survive a rough ride through ocean waves.

Q14. If Glossopteris fossils were found in Antarctica, what was the climate of this continent before?

Glossopteris fossils were found in Antarctica, these fossils suggest that the continent had a tropical climate because Antarctica was not in its current position long time ago.

Q15. If the climate and the position of a place are relative to each other, where then was the initial location of Antarctica 250 million years ago?

Antarctica was located 250 million years ago below India and Africa while there is the South America on the left side and Australia on the right side.

Q16. What does the presence of Mesosaurus fossils tell us about the initial location and positioning of South America, Africa and Antarctica?

The Mesosaurus fossils tell us that South America, Africa and Antarctica were once connected because it is impossible for these reptiles to swim over the vast oceans and move from one continent to another.

Q17. What clues are useful in reconstructing Pangaea?

The fossils found and the edges of each continents that fits each other were useful in reconstructing Pangaea.

Q18. Which continents do you think were neighbors before?

The continents that were neighbors before were as follows: Eurasia – Africa and North America

North America – Africa and South America

South America – Africa and Antarctica

Africa – India and Antarctica India - Australia

Q19. Is there a possibility that the current location of a continent would be different 100 years from now?

Yes, there is a possibilty that the current location of a continent will be different 100 years from now because the plates move, they either diverge, converge or be a transform fault.

Q20. Where do you think was the Philippines located during the time that the Pangaea existed?

The Philippines were not in the Pangaea during the time that it existed because the Philippines was just formed because of the converging of plates that results to volcanic arcs.

Q21. If the continents will continue to move, try to predict the Philippines’ location 100 million years from now.

If the continents will continue to move, Philippines was predicted to be located near or attached to China.